Josef Bican

photo credit: https://www.90min.com/

Full Name
Josef “Pepi” Bican

Position
Striker

Born
25 September 1913

Died
12 December 2001

Country
Austria/Czechoslovakia

Clubs
Schustek (Austria)
Farbenlutz (Austria)
Rapid Vienna (Austria)
Admira (Austria)
Slavia Prague (Czech Republic)
FC Vitkovice (Czech Republic)
FC Hradec Kralove (Czech Republic)
Dynamo Prague (Czech Republic)

Professional Career
1928-1955

International Caps/Goals
19 caps/14 goals (Austria)
14 caps/12 goals (Czechoslovakia)

Honours
NA

photo credit: https://www.sportskeeda.com/

Recognised as the most prolific footballer of all time, Josef Bican was credited with 805 goals in all official competitions played at the highest level, including 607 league goals. A speedy player who could score with both his feet, Bican started at the Austrian league, before moving to various Czech football clubs. He played until the age of 42, in a football career that spanned almost three decades from 1928 to 1955. In total, Bican scored 607 goals in 406 league matches, an incredible goal-to-game ratio of 1.5.

Playing in a chaotic period, Bican did not feature much for his national team. He played for Austria in the 1930s and scored 14 international goals in 19 games. He later became a Czechoslovakia citizen, but could not appear in the 1938 World Cup due to a clerical error. Nevertheless, for Czechoslovakia, Bican represented them 14 times with 12 goals.

After his retirement, Bican went on to manage a host of Czech football clubs with considerable successes.