Milan Čvirk

Milan Čvirk (14 September 1976 – 2 December 1997) was a Slovak professional football player.

Milan Čvirk

Personal information
Date of birth	(1976-09-14)14 September 1976
Date of death	2 December 1997(1997-12-02) (aged 21)
Place of death	Košice, Slovakia
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
	1. FC Košice
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1994–1997	1. FC Košice	14	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

He made his senior debut for 1. FC Košice in the 1994/95 season and went on to win the 1996–97 Slovak Superliga with them, qualifying for the 1997–98 UEFA Champions League.

Death

Čvirk died on 2 December 1997 in a car crash, in which his teammate Albert Rusnák suffered fractures to both legs.^[1] It was reported that the vehicle had slipped in bad weather conditions and hit a street light, instantly killing the young midfielder.^[2] The crash also ended the playing career of Rusnák, who was driving the car.^[3]

When Košice played Feyenoord in the Champions League a week later, Čvirk's shirt was held up during the taking of the squad's photo.^[4] Also, Feyenoord's players wore black armbands during the match in memory of Čvirk.^[5]

References

1. Speler van Kosice verongelukt – NRC (in Dutch)
2. Obeťou nehody v Košiciach i futbalista 1. FC Milan Čvirk – SME (in Slovak)
3. NO-HEADLINE – Independent
4. Kosice schenkt winstpremie aan Feyenoord – Volkskrant (in Dutch)
5. Feyenoord speelt met rouwband – NRC (in Dutch)