Josef Kadraba — Czech forward and 1962 World Cup silver medallist

Playing profile

Kadraba played as a forward and was valued for his finishing ability and intelligent movement in the attacking third. Contemporary reports and later summaries describe him as a team player who combined goal-scoring with creating chances for teammates. He competed in an era when the tactical game was shifting and international tournaments gained greater global attention.

International career and 1962 World Cup

Between the mid-1950s and early 1960s Kadraba appeared regularly for the Czechoslovakia national team. His international record of 17 caps and nine goals reflects a productive scoring rate at the highest level. At the 1962 World Cup in Chile the Czechoslovak team advanced to the final and ultimately finished second, losing to Brazil in a match that remains one of the high points in Czechoslovak football history. Kadraba's presence in the squad linked him permanently to that achievement.

Domestic career and later life

On the domestic front Kadraba spent his playing years in the Czechoslovak league system, contributing to club competition and the development of the sport at a national level. After retiring from playing he remained part of the wider football community in various capacities and was remembered for his contributions when he died in August 2019.

Notable facts

• Full name and lifespan: Josef Kadraba (29 September 1933 – 5 August 2019).
• International record: 17 caps, 9 goals for Czechoslovakia.
• World Cup: Member of the team that won the silver medal at the 1962 World Cup.
• Context: Part of the postwar generation that raised Czechoslovakia to prominence in global tournaments and contributed to the history of Czech football.

As with many players of his era, Kadraba is celebrated less for headline statistics than for being part of a nationally significant achievement: the 1962 World Cup run that remains a defining episode in Czechoslovak sporting history.