Juraj Szikora

Juraj Szikora (; 2 March 1947 – 12 December 2005) was a Czechoslovak footballer who played as a midfielder or striker. Known for his exceptional technical skill and vision, he earned the nickname "biely Pelé" (White Pelé) from Brazilian journalists during a 1966 tour of Brazil. He represented Czechoslovakia 21 times between 1966 and 1971.

Club career Szikora was born in Tvrdošovce, a village near Nové Zámky, into a family of Hungarian heritage. He began his career at Spartak Komárno before moving to Inter Bratislava in 1964, where he would spend the majority of his playing career. He made his first-team debut for Inter at age 17 in a Czechoslovak Cup derby match against Slovan Bratislava. During his time at Inter, he played alongside notable players in what became one of the club's most celebrated forward lines.

1966 Brazil tour In June 1966, Szikora was part of the Czechoslovak squad that toured Brazil and played two friendly matches at the Maracanã Stadium against the reigning World Cup champions. On 12 June, Czechoslovakia lost 2–1 before 88,000 spectators. His performance, particularly his ball control and juggling skills, so impressed Brazilian journalists that they nicknamed him the "biely Pelé" (White Pelé). Szikora later recalled that playing against Pelé was his greatest footballing experience, saying he sometimes found himself watching Pelé rather than following the play.

World Cup and European Championship qualification Szikora played nearly all of Czechoslovakia's qualifying matches for UEFA Euro 1968, scoring in a 2–0 away victory against Ireland in Dublin. However, he broke his fibula during the return match in Prague, which Czechoslovakia lost 2–1 in the final minutes, failing to qualify for the tournament.

He also played all of Czechoslovakia's 1970 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. During this campaign, a 3–3 draw with Hungary in Prague led to controversy: some teammates and journalists accused Szikora of revealing Czechoslovak tactics to the Hungarian coach, whom he knew personally, due to his Hungarian background. The accusations were considered unjust. Czechoslovakia ultimately qualified for the 1970 FIFA World Cup after defeating Hungary 4–1 in a play-off in Marseille.

Managerial career After retiring as a player, Szikora became a manager and worked with numerous Slovak clubs throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. He developed a reputation as a "rescue" manager, often being called upon when teams needed to avoid relegation. His clubs included Lokomotíva Košice, FC Nitra, KOBA Senec, MŠK Rimavská Sobota, ZŤS Martin, FK Nové Zámky, Dukla Trenčín, ŠKP Devín, and multiple stints with DAC Dunajská Streda.

Death and legacy Szikora died suddenly on 12 December 2005 in Bratislava at the age of 58. The Slovak Football Association announced his death, remembering him as an exceptional player and coach.

In a 2000 poll conducted by the newspaper Pravda to determine the best Slovak footballer of the 20th century, Szikora was ranked 42nd. Following his death, Pelé was reportedly informed of the news by Joe Borbély, European manager of the Brazilian football legends team, and expressed his sorrow at the loss of his "white brother".

Career statistics International National team Period Apps Goals Czechoslovakia 1966–1971 21 2