Vladas Tuckus
Encyclopedia
Vladas Tučkus was a Soviet Lithuanian football
goalkeeper who played for Spartak Vilnius, Spartak Moscow
and FK Daugava Rīga
.
, a year later he won the 3rd place in the USSR youth championship and after just one more year he already played 20 matches for Spartak Vilnius in the Soviet B league. In 1953 with Tučkus in goal Spartak earned a promotion to Soviet Top League
.
In 1954 Tučkus joined one of the strongest teams in Soviet football - Spartak Moscow
and in the first season with Spartak won silver medals. The same result (with Tučkus playing approximately half of matches) was repeated in 1955. In 1956 Spartak and Tučkus won Soviet gold, in that season Tučkus was the undisputed number one goalkeeper in Spartak (he played in 20 matches out of total 22), he was also a candidate for the USSR national football team
. 1957 was his last season with Spartak - he played in only 10 matches and Spartak finished third in the championship.
Because of problems with discipline off the field Tučkus' career seemed finished and by 1960 he was living in Brocēni
, Latvia
without a job and a perspective. But then he was offered to return to football and to play for FK Daugava Rīga
which in 1960 because of a decision from above had got a place in the Soviet top league. Tučkus returned to training and soon proved that he still was a very good goalkeeper and it was largely his contribution that allowed Daugava to finish in the middle of the table in 1960. However because of problems with discipline Tučkus had to leave Daugava in 1961. He continued playing on amateur level for Kompresors Rīga for some years.
Tučkus died at the age of 56 in Riga
, Latvia.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
goalkeeper who played for Spartak Vilnius, Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow is a Russian football club from Moscow. Having won 12 Soviet championships and 9 of 19 Russian championships they are one of the country's most successful clubs. They have also won the Soviet Cup 10 times and the Russian Cup 3 times...
and FK Daugava Rīga
FK Daugava Riga
Previously FK Daugava 90 is a Latvian football club located in Riga and currently playing in Latvian First League. Formerly under the name Daugava the team was the headliner of Latvian football where played most of the countries top players but with the collapse of the Soviet Union the team ceased...
.
Playing biography
Aged just 17 Tučkus won the Lithuanian Cup with Eļņias ŠiauliaiŠiauliai
Šiauliai , is the fourth largest city in Lithuania, with a population of 133,900. It is the capital of Šiauliai County. Unofficially, the city is the capital of Northern Lithuania.-Names:...
, a year later he won the 3rd place in the USSR youth championship and after just one more year he already played 20 matches for Spartak Vilnius in the Soviet B league. In 1953 with Tučkus in goal Spartak earned a promotion to Soviet Top League
Soviet Top League
The Soviet Top League since 1970 was officially known as the Supreme League serving as the top division of Soviet Union football since 1936.It was one of the best football leagues in Europe ranking second among the UEFA members in 1988-1989 seasons...
.
In 1954 Tučkus joined one of the strongest teams in Soviet football - Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow is a Russian football club from Moscow. Having won 12 Soviet championships and 9 of 19 Russian championships they are one of the country's most successful clubs. They have also won the Soviet Cup 10 times and the Russian Cup 3 times...
and in the first season with Spartak won silver medals. The same result (with Tučkus playing approximately half of matches) was repeated in 1955. In 1956 Spartak and Tučkus won Soviet gold, in that season Tučkus was the undisputed number one goalkeeper in Spartak (he played in 20 matches out of total 22), he was also a candidate for the USSR national football team
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
. 1957 was his last season with Spartak - he played in only 10 matches and Spartak finished third in the championship.
Because of problems with discipline off the field Tučkus' career seemed finished and by 1960 he was living in Brocēni
Broceni
Brocēni is a town in southern Latvia along the river Ciecere in the Brocēni municipality. The town is near lake Ciecere, which contains a large deposit of limestone, which is used in the manufacture of cement. During the Second World War, a cement and slate factory was built in the town. It is...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
without a job and a perspective. But then he was offered to return to football and to play for FK Daugava Rīga
FK Daugava Riga
Previously FK Daugava 90 is a Latvian football club located in Riga and currently playing in Latvian First League. Formerly under the name Daugava the team was the headliner of Latvian football where played most of the countries top players but with the collapse of the Soviet Union the team ceased...
which in 1960 because of a decision from above had got a place in the Soviet top league. Tučkus returned to training and soon proved that he still was a very good goalkeeper and it was largely his contribution that allowed Daugava to finish in the middle of the table in 1960. However because of problems with discipline Tučkus had to leave Daugava in 1961. He continued playing on amateur level for Kompresors Rīga for some years.
Tučkus died at the age of 56 in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Latvia.
Achievements
- Soviet Top LeagueSoviet Top LeagueThe Soviet Top League since 1970 was officially known as the Supreme League serving as the top division of Soviet Union football since 1936.It was one of the best football leagues in Europe ranking second among the UEFA members in 1988-1989 seasons...
- Winner: 1 (1956)
- Runner-up: 2 (1954, 1955)
- 3rd position: 1 (1957)
- Soviet First LeagueSoviet First LeagueThe Soviet First League was the second highest division of Soviet football, below the Soviet Top League. The division lasted from the inception of Soviet league football in 1936 to the dissolution of the USSR in 1991.-Overview:...
- Runner-up: 1 (1952)
- Soviet CupSoviet CupThe Soviet Cup, or USSR Cup , was the premier football cup competition in the Soviet Union.-Finals:-Performance by club:-Performance by republic:-References:*, rsssf.com. Accessed on 16 May 2006....
- Runner-up: 1 (1957)