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PRESS:I Soak in sea waves and I still enjoy football, says striker Koller

Monte Carlo – He put on his running shoes  and he heads from his apartment near the tennis courts in Monaco to the coast and immediately thinks of his achievements in the National team. And why not, while running he sees  the footprint of Pavel Nedved. The top scorer in the history of Czech Jan Koller runs at the training through the Champions Promenade, which is located near the port of Monaco.  

Individual training is one of the privilege of thirty seven year old striker who plays for the second year in Cannes. Koller is the only one in the team who lives 55 kilometers away in the principality, therefore the coach forgives him the afternoon trainings.

"I don’t have to persuade myself to run. "I like running and i run near  the beach which is nice." And also it’s quiet  here. In season the tourists sometimes stops him ,but the locals don’t bother him.

"In  Monaco is such a mix of professions and nations that they won’t notice any footballer. They would have to stop him all the time," he smiles. But in Cannes they consider Koller.

The club wants to go to the second division, they just need  a single point. And  Czech footballer irritate opponents  like once in the National team: he is the best scorer of the competition with 11 goals. "Football still makes me happy," says. "I found a club that suits me. We have already agreed to extend  the contract for another year."

He also get on well with much younger teammates which adds to his enjoyment there. But it took a while them to overcome the respect. "In summer we have built a new team, only four players remained. But the new soon discovered that I am completely normal, and they even make fun of me," he says. "I feel between them younger and I am pleased that they take something from my approach."  

He enjoys here not only football but the climate which makes him physically fit and also family life. Third league usually plays on Friday and so he can makes trips over the weekend with his wife and children. "We go skiing a lot. In the range of a hundred miles we have six centers," he said.

"We also ice skating at the port." But it’s not for hockey matches. However, Koller enjoys playing hockey very much. "He miss hockey. After the autumn season, all football players go to traditional games, but here  not," he complains. But you won’t her from him more complains "I'm happy here, I do not miss anything," he says.


zdroj: idnes.cz