The next time we met was at the end of the Europa Conference League Final in Prague in 2023. He happily posed for photos with my pal DC (pictured above) and myself and again he was great with us two delirious fans. Another memory of Ludo is when I was writing for Fortunes Always Hiding fanzine and we published the exclusive Ludek Miklosko column — it was written in indecipherable Czech apart from odd phrases like "Ford Escort Turbo", "Romford Market" and "Benjy's nightclub".
Ludo was Lou Macari's best signing and played 374 times for the Irons and of course we all remember his performance against Man United in 1995 that sent the title to Blackburn. He was Mr Consistency and it's hard to remember him making many mistakes. And of course there was the "Ludo Launch" when playing out from the back wasn't a thing. At 64 cancer got him much too early.
If St Peter is asking, "Oi Big Boy what's your name?" we will all know the answer. Rest in Peace Ludo.
2 comments:
The fledgling Mission fanzine sponsored Ludo’s shirt for several years and I’ve still got that special green and black one tucked away safely - still covered in mud, dust and grass stains - from that final game that denied the Mancs the title in favour of Blackburn. Possibly our finest defensive performance ever, anchored by the big guy from ‘near Moscow’.
Met him a few times as part of the sponsorship deal and he was, as everyone else says, a really ‘nice’ bloke.
RIP, Ludo - in an era where the word ‘legend’ is bandied about far too easily, you were a giant among us.
You will be sorely missed, but your song will live on.
Do you still have a copy of that interview? It would be amazing if you could publish it. I remember reading it on the district line home and I still remember him talking about being a locksmith and the mistake of having an English lesson before a game. I was going to ask North Bank Norman on the ol' socials.
Graham in occupied Washington, DC
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