Czech football's greatest midfield legend, he earned the Ballon d'Or in 1962 and steered his nation to the World Cup final that same year. Career record: 63 caps and 10 goals for Czech Republic; club career at FK Teplice, Dukla Prague, K.V.V. Crossing Elewijt; honours include Ballon d'Or.
One rank above: Antonín Panenka at #5.
One rank below: Karel Poborský at #7.
Czech Republic's editorial top five: Josef Bican · Pavel Nedvěd · Petr Čech · František Plánička · Antonín Panenka.