UEFA Cup 1978/79
Some of these details are still relevant, some were relevant at the time, and some are truly extraordinary historical facts. Here is our comprehensive overview of Lokomotiva Košice’s most famous match: AC Milan vs. TJ Lokomotiva Košice. We decided to spotlight this chapter in our history because, until now, there has been no single, complete archive of this legendary encounter anywhere. So how did it all happen?
Lokomotiva Košice: The Most Successful Team in Czechoslovakia
The year was 1978, and TJ Lokomotiva Košice was coming off its best season ever. In the 1977/78 campaign, Lokomotiva finished third in the first division, just four points behind champions Zbrojovka Brno. According to many experts, Lokomotiva was actually the most successful club in Czechoslovakia, given the achievements that year.
- 1977/78: 3rd place in the Czechoslovak top division
- 1977: Won the Slovak Cup, beating TJ ZVL Žilina over two legs (0:2 and 4:0)
- 1977: Triumphed in the Czechoslovak Cup, winning the final 2:1 against TJ Sklo Union Teplice in Prague
- 1977: Represented Czechoslovakia in the Cup Winners’ Cup (PVP), eliminating Östers Växjö IF (0:0, 2:2) before losing to finalists Austria Vienna (0:0, 1:1)
- Also topped their group in the summer Intertoto Cup, ahead of IS Bryne Stavanger, FC Sion, and Sturm Graz
With a third-place finish in 1977/78, Lokomotiva earned a spot in the 1978/79 UEFA Cup. The draw for the first round resulted in a dream match: a showdown against AC Milan.
Lokomotiva Košice in 1978/79 (known formally as FC Lokomotiva Košice during the UEFA Cup)
Associazione Calcio Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, or AC Milan, was founded in 1899 and has long been one of Italy’s and the world’s most successful clubs. In terms of Serie A titles, it ranks second only to Juventus. In those days, only AC Sparta Praha and TJ Lokomotiva Košice had faced AC Milan in European competitions from what was then Czechoslovakia.
AC Milan in 1978/79
AC Milan’s prior matchups with Czechoslovak clubs:
- 1972/73 season, April 11, 1973: AC Milan 1 – 0 AC Sparta Praha
- 1972/73 season, April 25, 1973: AC Sparta Praha 0 – 1 AC Milan
- 1978/79 season, September 13, 1978: AC Milan vs. TJ Lokomotiva Košice
- 1978/79 season, September 27, 1978: TJ Lokomotiva Košice vs. AC Milan
In the 1976/77 season, Milan narrowly avoided relegation to Serie B but still played in the Cup Winners’ Cup, where they were eliminated by Real Betis, also struggling in the Spanish league at the time. By 1977/78, though, Milan had risen again to the top tier of Serie A, finishing 4th and reaching the semifinal group in the Coppa Italia. That 4th place earned them a berth in the 1978/79 UEFA Cup, and by then they were beginning to assemble the team that would win the Scudetto in 1978/79. The UEFA Cup draw for the first round brought two Italy vs. Czechoslovakia duels: Milan vs. Lokomotiva Košice and Dukla Praha vs. Lanerossi Vicenza.
Czechoslovak Football League in the 1977/78 season. TJ Lokomotívy Košice finished in 3rd place and advanced to the UEFA Cup.
Table of the Italian Football League in the 1977/78 season. AC Milan took 4th place and advanced to the UEFA Cup.
1977/78: A Golden Year for Czechoslovak Football
Czechoslovak football enjoyed global respect in the 1970s, highlighted by the national team’s triumph at Euro 1976 in Yugoslavia, featuring Lokomotiva Košice player Jozef Móder. Italy, meanwhile, celebrated reaching the 1978 World Cup semifinals in Argentina. So a Czechoslovakia vs. Italy matchup was competitive and balanced by the standards of the time. For Lokomotiva, meeting AC Milan was still an unforgettable occasion. The Italians were already two-time winners of the European Cup, two-time Cup Winners’ Cup champions, holders of the Intercontinental Cup, nine-time Serie A champions, and four-time Coppa Italia winners.
Key AC Milan Players
Giovanni “Gianni” Rivera
A legendary midfielder and captain who spent his entire career with Alessandria and AC Milan, scoring 122 goals for Milan. European Footballer of the Year in 1969, he was 35 years old when he faced Lokomotiva and remained Milan’s biggest star. Jiří Repík was tasked with marking him closely.
Enrico “Ricky” Albertosi
A famous goalkeeper and the oldest player in Serie A. He was 38 at the time of these matches, already a Coppa Italia winner with Milan (1976/77) and eventually a Serie A champion in 1978/79. He had been a reserve for Dino Zoff with the Italy national team that won Euro 1968. Notably, his heroics played a significant role in Milan’s progress against Lokomotiva.
Aldo Maldera
A defender but highly attack-minded, scoring 30 goals for Milan between 1973 and 1982. He was considered threat number two for Lokomotiva, closely guarded by Peter Jacko.
Fabio “Il Bello” Capello
A stylish midfielder who later became a famous manager, guiding AC Milan to three Champions League finals and winning the trophy in 1995/96. But in 1978/79, he was still a key Milan player who faced Lokomotiva in both matches.
Walter “Alfredo” Novellino
An attacking midfielder signed from Perugia. In the first leg against Lokomotiva, he scored the match’s only goal in the 34th minute at San Siro.
Franceschino “Franco” Baresi
A defender who also never left AC Milan during his entire career. At the time of this clash with Lokomotiva, Baresi was only beginning what would become a storied run, ultimately winning multiple European titles. His penalty in the shootout at Košice became part of the match’s 2.5-hour drama.
Alberto “Bibi” Bigon
A midfielder and a feared finisher for Milan. He had already won numerous trophies with the club but missed the first leg against Lokomotiva due to injury. In the second leg, he came on as a substitute in the 104th minute.
The Memorable Match
Four Czechoslovak teams competed in European competitions in that 1978/79 first round. Reigning champion Zbrojovka Brno was held to a 2-2 draw by Újpesti Dózsa in the European Cup, Baník Ostrava beat Sporting Lisbon 1-0 in the Cup Winners’ Cup, Dukla Praha defeated Lanerossi Vicenza 1-0 in the UEFA Cup, but all eyes were on Lokomotiva’s trip to face AC Milan.
TJ Lokomotíva Košice in a photo before the kick-off of the AC Milan – TJ Lokomtíva Košice match, September 13, 1978.
Top left: Jozef Suchánek, Peter Jacko, Stanislav Seman, Peter Fecko, Ján Kozák, Ladislav Józsa, Bottom left: Gejza Farkaš, Jiří Repík, Ladislav Móder, Dušan Ujhely, Vladimír Dobrovič.
Match details
UEFA Cup 1978/79, First Round
First Leg, September 13, 1978, Milan, Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
AC Milan 1 – 0 TJ Lokomotiva Košice
Goal: 34th minute, Walter Novellino.
In the 81st minute, Aldo Maldera (AC Milan) missed a penalty.
Referee: Charles Scerri (Malta)
Attendance: 60,000 (sold out)
AC Milan:
Enrico Albertosi, Giorgio Morini, Aldo Bet, Franco Baresi, Gianni Rivera (77’ Roberto Antonelli), Walter Novellino, Aldo Maldera, Walter de Vecchi, Fabio Capello, Ruben Buriani, Stefano Chiodi (77’ Giovanni Sartori).
Coach: Nils Liedholm (Sweden)
Lokomotiva Košice:
Stanislav Seman, Vladimír Dobrovič, Jozef Suchánek, Jiří Repík, Peter Fecko, Gejza Farkaš, Dušan Ujhely (46’ Jozef Kubašovský), Jozef Móder, Ján Kozák, Ladislav Józsa (46’ Ladislav Sviežený), Peter Jacko.
Coach: Jozef Jankech (Czechoslovakia)
An incredible view of AC Milan’s Giuseppe Maezza stadium before the match.
Milan pushed hard from the start, backed by 60,000 fans, but did not impress as much as expected. Lokomotiva’s travelling fans were amazed by the performance of their team. Walter Novellino’s 34th-minute strike made it 1-0. Gianni Rivera was subdued by Jiří Repík, prompting coach Liedholm to substitute Rivera in the 77th minute, further reducing Milan’s attacking drive. The referee’s decisions came under scrutiny from both Italian media (which criticized the standard of officiating) and Lokomotiva, particularly regarding the penalty call in the 81st minute, but Maldera’s shot struck the post.
After the match, assistant coach Michal Baránek credited the advanced scouting reports on Milan and singled out Lokomotiva’s Seman, Repík, Suchánek, and young Kubašovský for praise. Despite the narrow loss, optimism grew for the second leg in Košice, if only key players like Ladislav Józsa could fully recover.
Italian newspaper La Stampa about the match AC Milan – TJ Lokomotiva Košice
Second Leg: TJ Lokomotiva Košice vs. AC Milan
Lokomotiva Stadium, September 27, 1978
Lokomotiva faced a packed schedule before the return fixture, including domestic league matches and the Slovak Cup. Injuries were a growing concern. Milan, on the other hand, played only one more Coppa Italia match (a 2-2 draw with Catanzaro) and was eliminated from that competition.
Lokomotiva’s results before the second leg:
- Sep 17, 1978: Lokomotiva 1 – 0 Internacionál Bratislava
- Sep 19, 1978: Slovak Cup, Petržalka vs. Lokomotiva
- Sep 23, 1978: Dukla Praha 5 – 0 Lokomotiva
AC Milan’s fixture before the second leg:
- Sep 17, 1978 (Coppa Italia): AC Milan 2 – 2 US Catanzaro
Match Details
UEFA Cup 1978/79, First Round
Second Leg, September 27, 1978, Košice, Czechoslovakia, Lokomotiva Stadium
Referee: Ruedi Renggli (Switzerland)
Attendance: 30,000 (sold out)
Final Score (after 120 minutes):
Lokomotiva Košice 1 – 0 AC Milan
Aggregate 1 – 1. Penalties were required.
Goal: 81st minute, Ján Kozák
Lokomotiva Košice:
Stanislav Seman, Jozef Suchánek, Jiří Repík, Vladimír Dobrovič, Dušan Ujhely, Jozef Móder, Ján Kozák, Peter Fecko, Gejza Farkaš, Ladislav Józsa (91’ Jozef Kubašovský), Peter Jacko.
Coach: Jozef Jankech (Czechoslovakia)
AC Milan:
Enrico Albertosi, Giorgio Morini, Fulvio Collovati, Aldo Bet, Franco Baresi, Walter Novellino, Aldo Maldera, Walter de Vecchi, Fabio Capello (80’ Ruben Buriani), Alberto Bigon (104’ Roberto Antonelli), Stefano Chiodi.
Coach: Nils Liedholm (Sweden)
Coach Liedholm famously admitted: “We did not deserve to advance.” Lokomotiva was stronger than in the first leg, but only one team could go through. Lokomotiva lacked several key players for various reasons, including suspension and injuries. Milan played a near-flawless defensive game, often dropping multiple players behind the ball. Ján Kozák broke the deadlock in the 81st minute, sending the crowd into euphoria heard clear across Košice. Moments later, Ladislav Józsa broke free on goal but could not beat Albertosi to secure the upset.
The match ended 1-1 on aggregate. In the penalty shootout, AC Milan initially stumbled when Novellino missed, but Lokomotiva’s Jiří Repík also failed to convert, and Milan goalkeeper Albertosi eventually sealed the Italian side’s victory. Despite the heartache, Lokomotiva’s Seman, Suchánek, Repík, Kozák, and Móder were praised for their resilience and skill, while Milan relied on top performances from Maldera, de Vecchi, Collovati, and Buriani.
TJ Locomotive Košice 1978/79
Top row from left: Michal Baránek – coach, Jozef Kubašovský, Jozef Gašpar, Milan Suchánek, Peter Fecko, Jozef Suchánek, Peter Jacko, Ján Kozák, Stanislav Seman and Ladislav Józsa.
Bottom row from left: Gejza Farkaš, Dušan Ujhely, Viliam Barényi, Ondrej Mantič, Vladimír Dobrovič, Jozef Móder, Jiří Repík.
Aftermath of the 1978/79 UEFA Cup
In the second round, Milan faced Levski Spartak Sofia (Bulgaria):
- First leg in Sofia: Levski 1 – 1 Milan
- Second leg in Milan: Milan 3 – 0 Levski
Following that match on November 23, 1978, UEFA fined AC Milan 14,000 USD for attempting to influence officials by offering them luxury shopping trips before the Levski Sofia game. However, UEFA did not discipline the referees themselves, though the Scottish FA suspended them immediately. In the third round, AC Milan was eliminated by Manchester City (2-2 home, 0-3 away), while Borussia Mönchengladbach ultimately won the trophy.
Czechoslovak club Dukla Praha had a notable run in the same competition, reaching the quarterfinals by knocking out Vicenza, Everton, and Stuttgart before falling to Hertha BSC Berlin.
The Greatest Match in Lokomotiva History
This was a milestone event for both Lokomotiva Košice and the city itself. No single archive offered such a detailed look at these famous UEFA Cup ties, so we compiled all the information we could find from available print and online sources in Košice and Italy. Perhaps you were at one of these matches in person or have your memories to share. One thing is certain: Lokomotiva’s battling spirit and performance left a lasting impression on everyone. Nech žije Loky!
