The ways of destiny are sometimes unpredictable, and now 51-year-old Martinec is convinced of it. Most recently, on Friday in Vítkovice, he was on the Sparta bench as assistant manager, but the next day he and manager Patera were sent off due to a string of unsatisfactory results and performances.
Just one day before the long-planned holiday event that precedes the duel with Pardubice, when the Spartan legends club expanded by five new members to 37. And one of the newcomers was Martinec …
🎖️ It is a great honor to welcome Patrik Martinec to the Club of Legends! The skilled striker has shone in Sparta for eight seasons. In 2000, he helped end Vsetín’s rule, a year later he became the most productive player @telhcz. During 454 games in Sparta, he collected 432 points. Thank you! pic.twitter.com/X70mBUeDrm
– HC Sparta Prague (@HCSpartaPraha) November 6, 2022
Despite the miserable current season, logically behind him, the man who scored 432 points in 454 games in Sparta and celebrated the title with them in 2000 received a standing ovation and applause from the fans.
He greeted them with his hand raised and thanked them, then took a commemorative watch from the club’s general manager, Barbora Snopková Haberová, and shook hands with another Spartan legend and patron of the current season, Jiří Hrdina, who also features in lo Sparta Legends Club.
Together with Martinec, former defender Karel Masopust, other former defenders Jan Reindl and Jiří Kročák and forward David Výborný have joined in memoriam this year. The five-time world champion thus joined his father František in the club.
