Czech football (i.e. soccer) is well known abroad thanks to many excellent football players. One of the most significant figures of the Czechoslovak football history was undoubtedly Josef Masopust. He was named European Footballer of the Year in 1962 and in 2003 he was selected as the Golden Player of the Czech Republic by the Football Association of the Czech Republic as our most outstanding player of the past 50 years. Czech Mint decided to pay respect to this great player by issuing a beautiful silver coin denominated 2 NZD in proof quality.

Josef Masopust, born in 1931 near the town of Most, played football professionally from 1950 until 1970 as centre midfielder. His football club -- ATK Praha, later on Dukla Prague, won eight master titles and four times the Czechoslovak Cup. Masopust represented Czechoslovakia 63 times scoring 10 goals. After 1968 he worked as a playing coach in Belgium and, later on, in Indonesia. At home he trained Dukla’s A team and others.

Silver coin Josef Masopust is the first of eleven coins in the new series Czechoslovak Football Legends struck by Czech Mint. The obverse features the attributes of the issuer and a motif of the soccer ball. Masopust is portrayed on the reverse next to his signature and text „JOSEF MASOPUST VÍCEMISTR SVĚTA 1962 CHILE“ (JOSEF MASOPUST WORLD VICE CHAMPION 1962 CHILE). Both sides were designed by experienced medallist Martin Dašek. The silver coin appears in a limited edition of 500 pieces and will certainly please every collector-patriot and all fans of excellent Czech football.