Pavel Nedved-A end of an era

Pavel Nedved today retired from football and this is certainly the end of an era. What more can you say about a man who replaced no one less than the great Zidane at Juventus and was able to fill those huge boots.
Nedved a Checz Republic player shot to fame in Italy.He joined the Italian club Lazio in 1996 from PSV after the Euro 1996. Nedved had driven Czech Republic to the final with his role as their key playmaker. He won Copa Italia in 1997-98 and WEFA Super Cup in 1999 with Lazio. He was transferred to Juve for a fee none less than Euro 41 million which was huge then.He won the Scudetto with Juventus almost regularly infact too easily in the seasons 2001-02, 2002-03, 2004-05, and 2005-06. He captained Czech from 2000 onwards and continued to be their tallest player in the midfield. Nedved had to sit out 2003 UEFA Champions league finals but was named the European Football of the Year. Followin Juve's relegation due to match fixing allegations it was thought a player of the calibre of Nedved would move away from the maligned club.
He was forced to come out of retirement because of his stature when the Czech qualified for the World Cup for the first time since they became a independent republic after breaking away from Chechslovakia.He retired permanantly after the tournament and even though everyone felt he should not; he stuck to his decision.
He remained but had a tumultous season and was given a one year contract which sparked the discussions of his retirements. Nedved came into negative spotlight in 2007-08 season because of his tackle on the great playmaker Luis Figo. But he continued to be Juve's first choice winger on the left flank.
Nedved's last claim to fame was perhaps the first goal he scored for Juve's seasson in 2008-09 against Florentina. The game against Chelsea which saw Nedved getting injured was his last on the European stage.
Nedved's individual honour role is huge. He was a Serie A player of the year in 2003 and the best midfielder in the Champions League the same year. Perhaps his gretest trophies were Ballon d'or won in 2003 and the Czech Player of the decade in the very same year. He was the Czech player of the year till the year 2008. He won the Golden Foot in 2004.
I salute this maestro who made the ball do things unimaginable and future Hall of Famer. Hope we'll see him coaching and passing his knowledge to the kids and wish him the best for the future.