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Baroš sheds bad-boy antics

Falling soccer star seeks redemption by move to Turkey

By František Bouc
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
September 3rd, 2008 issue

Milan Baroš has made a lot of headlines this past year.
In November 2007, French police clocked the Czech soccer star blazing down a motorway near Lyon at 271 kph in his Ferrari — breaking the region’s speed record. This summer, Baroš apparently took part in a Prague pub brawl along with other members of the Czech national team.
Recently the 27-year-old striker stepped once again into the media spotlight, only this time it was for the right reasons.
After a fitful season at Olympique Lyon — and on loan to Portsmouth in England’s Premier League, where he failed to secure a starting role — Baroš signed a three-year deal with Turkey’s Galatasaray worth 7 million euros ($10.3 million/171.8 Kč).
At first glance, the Aug. 26 transfer agreement appears to be a step backward for the once-heralded striker who led Euro 2004 in goals scored. Galatasaray is not one of Europe’s top-tier clubs and it’s unlikely his participation in the Turkish league will earn great amounts of publicity. In Czech soccer circles, however, the move has been perceived as a “last chance” for Baroš to revive his career.
“Moving away from Lyon was perhaps the only possible way forward for Milan,” explains Czech national team head coach Petr Rada. “He was receiving only limited playing opportunities in France and England — and he was fading as a player.”
Baroš admitted that a talk with Rada before the Czech team’s friendly against England Aug. 20 prompted his decision.
“I spoke with the coach and he told me that I could only keep my spot in the Czech team lineup if I play regularly for a club,” he says. “I found it a fair condition.”
Although Galatasaray is not a backwater team and Baroš should see plenty of time on the pitch, it does represent a stumble. He entered the Premier League in 2001 and showed promise at Aston Villa and Liverpool. After he scored five goals at Euro 2004, Spanish powers Real Madrid and Barcelona considered bidding for his services. But his game has faltered over the past two seasons.
With some direction from Rada and an opportunity to play every week, the still-young Baroš refuses to see this as a setback.
“I was thoroughly considering a move,” he says. “Given the options and the conditions that we’ve agreed on, it’s the best contract that I’ve signed in my career.”

František Bouc can be reached at fbouc@praguepost.com


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