The success of the Czechoslovak footballers at the European Championships in Belgrade in 1976 was absolutely phenomenal. Perfect consistency of our players gradually displaced all dangerous rivals from the competition. Offence and defense showed a masterful concert. They eliminated the Soviets, then the Dutch in the semifinals, and in the finals the reigning European and World Champions, Germans. A distinctive football star appeared in defense - Karol Dobias. A gold quarter-ounce coin 10 NZD from The Czech Mint is a beautiful tribute to his contribution to national football.

The defender Karol Dobias was remarkable due to his speed and fighting spirit, that`s why the Premier League contracted him. First he reinforced FC Spartak Trnava, he reached five times the title League champion and three times won the Czechoslovak Cup with them. Karol left Spartak after eleven years and joined FC Bohemians Praha for three years in 1977. He was contracted in Belgium after 1980. He came back to the Czech football pitch as a coach. He returned to FC Bohemians Praha, Hradec Králové, Zbrojovka Brno and Sparta Praha, and with them he won the championship on two occasions. Among the most successful moments of his football career, in addition to the already mentioned victory at the European Championship in Belgrade in 1976, was the participation at the World Championship in Mexico in 1970. In Czechoslovakia he played a total of 67 matches and scored six goals. In the Premier League he appeared in 344 matches, and scored 20 goals.

Distinctive facial features of this great sportsman wonderfully excelled in the form of carving on the reverse side of the pure gold quarter-ounce coin. For the Czech mint it was prepared by the great artist MgA. Petr Horak and he added the name and the signature of the player with the inscription: MISTR EVROPY 1976 BĚLEHRAD. Every coin of this successful series will become the pride of the collection of passionate sports fans and collectors of attractive modern mintage.

The obverse side of the coin is formed by the issuer`s attributes and the motif of a ball in the shape of a heart - a symbol of Nadace fotbalových internacionálů (International Football Foundation), which will support our former football champions with the part of the earnings from the sale of these coins !