Johnny Madden ( 1865- 1948 ) a former shipyard riveter, a Scot, a Celtic player dressed as a Rangers player who played and managed Slavia Prague. A career with Dumbarton Albion, Dumbarton Hibs, Dumbarton, Gainsborough Trinity, Grimsby Town, and Celtic.
He toured Hungary with Celtic perhaps getting a taste of life in Eastern Europe. He took over the manager’s post in Prague 15 February 1905. The Rangers link, his best friend was a Rangers player who helped him get the job. He took the passing game of Scotland to Czechoslovakia, winning the league title in 1925, 1929 and 1930.
The main stand of Slavia Prague’s Sinobo Stadium is named in his honour.
Scotland played in Prague 1999. The Czechs contacted West of Scotland Tartan Army’s
( world famous Chairman , the wonderful ) Tommy Madden. He was, he thought no relation to Johnny Madden, they however invited him and the Scots fans to a graveside memorial in Johnny’s honour. Tommy immediately spotted the slight flaw in the idea. A ceremony match day timing of 9.00 am would perhaps limit attendance. Perhaps some of our members would attend heading home from a night of cultural imbibing to their respective hotels.
The Czechs had the full works, a ceremony plus speeches plus a full spread. The board of Slavia Prague, city representatives.
Tommy represented his nation wearing a kilt, provided a speech and perhaps Tales of The Tartan Army. Later he recounted how he was the only Scot in attendance.
Later that evening leading 2-0 against the European Champions with a scratch side the Czechs brought on 6’6 Jan Koller. Need I continue? We lost 3-2, perhaps a wheel-chaired Johnny Madden would have instructed us to boot the ball out of the park, 3 times. Stuart Armstrong please note.
Fast forward 10 years and in Slavia Prague’s stadium Levein played his infamous 4-6-0.
It may be that Craig should have chosen a career in riveting rather than fitba management.
