Vaclav Hladký has started the season in fine form for Ipswich Town. Stuart Watson spoke to the Czech keeper about his journey to this point and hopes for the future.
Take a close look at Václav Hladký’s gloves.
The one on his right bears his own name and squad number. The one of his left, however, reads 'Josef Šural 23'.
Born the same year, Václav and Josef grew up together in the Czech city of Brno. They played together as youngsters for club and country. The childhood friends went on to be best men at each other's weddings.
In January 2019, the pair parted ways to set off on big European football adventures. Hladký signed for Scottish club St Mirren, while Šural - by now a 20-cap senior international - joined Turkish outfit Alanyaspor. They spoke every day on the phone.
Then, on April 28, 2019, tragic news broke. A minibus hired by Alanyaspor players had crashed on the way home from a game. Reports state the driver fell asleep at the wheel. Several were injured. Šural had died.
"He was my best man, he was my best friend...” says Hladký, before tailing off. “We grew up together. Yeah... it’s hard to talk about. He’s always on my mind.”
Fast forward to the summer of 2021. Hladký’s career is on the up. He’d been a penalty shootout hero for St Mirren just weeks after Šural’s funeral, saving three spot-kicks to keep the Buddies in the top-flight. He’d later moved south of the border and enjoyed a superb debut campaign for Salford City, claiming the League Two Golden Glove award. Now Ipswich Town, a league higher, had come calling.
The Czech keeper was signing number five of 19 during a hectic summer transfer window for the Blues, self-styled ‘Demolition Man’ Paul Cook completely rebuilding a squad that had fallen short of the play-offs.
Hladký was given assurances he was coming in as the No.1. But then, after a five-game winless start in the league, Christian Walton arrived on loan from Brighton. Walton conceded five goals on his debut (against Bolton), Hladký reclaimed his place for the next six league games, but soon found himself consistently warming the bench.
“That was just not an enjoyable time for my football,” he reflects.
“There were lots of things going on behind the scenes from a personal point of view. We had a new baby. My missus was in Manchester, I was here. I was trying to be with them as much as I could.
“It was hard. When you’re new at a big club you expect there to be a warm welcome from the lads who have been here ages, but there wasn’t that here. Everyone was new.
"It was basically a whole new squad trying to settle in properly and get to know each other on and off the pitch.
“Obviously the start wasn’t great for anybody. I didn’t play well. Then the new coaching staff brought in Christian. That was a tough time. I’m not going to lie, I was disappointed by that.”
The death of a friend, the birth of a child. It’s a reminder that footballers are human beings and not robots. We are all guilty of forgetting that sometimes.
“Yes, but that’s football though,” shrugs Hladký. “If I’m a fan, I come to the stadium wanting to see my players perform. I’m not really interested in what’s going on behind the scenes. It is what it is. I don’t want to go too deep on that period because it wasn’t a good time for me.”
In the summer of 2022, Hladký’s former St Mirren boss, Jim Goodwin, tried to sign him for Aberdeen. A move back north of the border didn’t transpire though.
The likes of Luke Woolfenden and Kayden Jackson have revealed just how close they were to leaving the club at various stages recently. Can Hladký say the same?
“Since I moved to the UK I had always been number one. I came to Ipswich to carry that on and make another step and make another progress,” he replies.
“If you’re not playing you always consider the situation and the options you get. I was speaking a lot with the club, with the manager, also with my family.
“If something had come up that was good for myself and my family, and was good for the club as well, I think it would have happened. Ultimately, we decided to stay at Ipswich though and do the best we can.”
The main reason Hladký decided to stay was the manager.
“Kieran McKenna and his staff coming in was the turning point for me mentally,” he says, keen to move on to the revival arc part of his Ipswich story.
“Everything changed when they arrived. Completely. Absolutely completely. Since then I’ve been enjoying every day.
“I’m not going to be the only one here to say that he’s the best manager they've ever had.
“They just create an environment here where all the squad – all 25 players – are enjoying their role. Even if people are not playing regularly, they are happy here. It’s not just the players either. The chef, the physios, everyone is made to feel valued in their role. That’s huge credit to them.”
He continues: “In training, the goalkeepers have 45/50 minutes separate from the rest and then we join the team for an hour-and-a-half to go through all the situations and exercises. It’s pretty much 60/40.
"We’re trying always to find little details – crossing position, shooting position, build-up patterns. When we go to the game we all know what we’re going to do, we know the game plan, we know every detail. The games just become enjoyable.”
With Walton in fine form, games did remain in short supply for Hladký last season. However, some impressive FA Cup performances against Championship winners elect Burnley reminded everyone just how good a back-up keeper the club had.
It was around that time that master motivator McKenna declared 'I don’t think there are many better in English football with his feet than Vaz’.
“Somebody told me they’d read that in the newspaper,” grins Hladký. “I’m pleased he was thinking like that because that’s a part of the game I enjoy.
“All the way up until I was 15 I had a role attacking and a role goalkeeping. I was always switching between the positions. I wouldn’t say it was 50/50, but 70/30 for sure.
“When the national team came in for me at Under-16 level they said ‘listen, you have to figure out what you’re going to do’. So I decided to be a goalkeeper.”
Asked what sort of attacker he was, Hladký replies: “I was a striker or a number 10 – not the best one, but there were loads of assists and loads of goals.
“It was brilliant. That’s what I like, having the ball at my feet. I took that experience into my goalkeeping. I think it’s helped me adapt to modern football.”
Talk of a scenario where he might come up for a late corner to score a crucial goal elicits a broad smile.
“That’s my dream, to score a goal!” says Hladký. “If the gaffer gives me the nod to get up there I won’t need asking twice! I will be buzzing!”
A few months on from those Burnley games, McKenna made a point of bringing Hladký on as a late sub in the promotion-sealing 6-0 home win against Exeter City. The message was clear, ‘you have played a part in this’.
“Obviously I didn’t get much playing time in the league last season, but I got so much off the pitch - so much. It was really enjoyable,” says Hladký.
“That made me happy every day to come in, work hard and wait for my chance.”
Out of the blue, that chance came just a few days before the start of the season when it was announced that Walton was going to be ruled out for ‘several months’ with a foot injury.
Hladký made a clutch late save as Town clung on for a 2-1 win in front of 44,000 fans at Sunderland on the opening weekend. He then produced vital stops at key moments in the 2-0 home win against Stoke and 1-0 victory at QPR.
Yes, he was then at fault for one, arguably two of Leeds’ goals in a 4-3 defeat at Portman Road. But the response in the subsequent 3-2 comeback home win against Cardiff was superb – many had Hladký down as the man-of-the-match in that one.
Asked if he would have believed me had I painted the above picture back in July, Hladký replies: “Do you know what, that’s football, isn’t it? The situation can change in a split second.
“You have to always be ready. You have to work hard. You have to look after your body and always feel as if you are the number one keeper even when you aren’t.
“I’m pleased to get the opportunity, step in and be there with the team. It’s been brilliant. Every game at this level is something special. We’re enjoying it as a group.
“For me personally it’s been nice. I just want to carry on with the performances. At this level the opposition team will always get some chances, so you have to be there for the team and help them as much as you can.
“I’ve been dreaming about being number one under Kieran McKenna and Rene Gilmartin. The chance has now come and I want to take it. I want to be number one as long as I possibly can.”
Hladký’s three-year contract at Portman Road is set to expire at the end of this season. He’ll turn 33 in November – an age where most keepers are only just starting to peak.
“There’s plenty of football ahead of me I hope, but plenty behind me as well,” he says, in familiar sage fashion.
“Physically I feel as top as I’ve ever been. Obviously I’ve now got loads of experience. Add into the mix of what we’re doing now, here at this club, and it’s all come together.
"It was a big gamble five years ago to come over to the UK, to try to settle and try to improve myself. I knew there was a long journey ahead, but I followed the dream and now I’m here.
“As a club we all have a big goal ahead of us. How quick we can get there, I don’t know, but it’s a big goal and we’re all working as hard as possible every day to get there.
“For me personally, the goal is to be number one keeper and – like everyone else is hoping for here – be in a Premier League team at some point.
“The main thing though is that I’m enjoying myself again.”
Hear, hear. You're doing Josef proud, Vaz.
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