Like a king! Antonín Kinský moves to Tottenham
The son of the Euro 2004 bronze medalist transferred to Eden in July 2021 from Dukla Prague.
"Slavia is a top European club that chooses the best players. If I have the chance to train with them at all, it will be great for me. But I believe that I will succeed," the then 18-year-old goalkeeper said in his first ever interview after signing the contract.
The seemingly "model" answer also revealed Kinský´s nature for the first time. A nature that combines humility and self-confidence. And behind the childish face is a goalkeeper with the utmost ambition.
He started his career in the reserve team and on 22 September 2021 he made his debut for the "A" team in the 4:2 win over Slovan Velvary in the third round of the MOL Cup. For the spring part of the 2021/22 season, he moved on loan to the second league Vyškov, in whose jersey he played 45 matches and helped the South Moravian club to second place in the 2022/23 season and participation in the barrage against Zlín. In June, Kinský went on loan to Pardubice, where he appeared in 18 matches and earned an invitation to Eden.
The goal? Not an easy one, to complement Aleš Mandous, to patch the crater in the goal caused by the serious injury of Jindřich Staněk. The responsibility of guarding the Red and White´s goal eventually fell to the blond guy.
You probably know the rest, but it still deserves a recap. For it will be remembered!
In his league debut for Slavia at Slovácko, Kinský did not score, the day before the second round match against České Budějovice he signed his new contract. And among other things he revealed what he is looking forward to the most.
"Experiencing a sold-out Eden was the biggest motivation for me in recent years. Especially in the periods when things were not going so well, I had problems. I always had this thing in front of my eyes. Every fortnight, when I came here for a game and it was sold out, it would put energy in people´s veins. It gave me motivation. From the stands it´s great, from the field it´s even better," he dreamed.
Twenty-four hours later, that wish could have been crossed off, as 17,839 applauded him and the other Slavs after the four-goal victory. In the league, Kinský´s spell was only cast in the 5th round by Teplice Gning, with only one thing missing to complete the opening month: to open the door to the main stage of the Champions League. But Lille were a goal better, happier...
"I am proud. I think we outplayed such a strong team in the home rematch. When I was a kid, I used to watch my dad and imagine that one day I would be in his place, listening to the Champions League anthem. Against Lille it came true for the first time, I take it as even more motivation to experience it again."
However, it won´t happen in a jersey with a star on it in the next few years. Antonín Kinský will become a new signing at Tottenham, where Radek Černý, together with Štěpán Kolář his goalkeeping coach at Slavia, has already left his mark on the Czech and Slavic goalkeeping schools.
The North London club, which is led by Ange Postecoglou and the goalkeeper is the currently injured Vicario, who is represented by 36-year-old Fraser Forster, currently occupies eleventh place in the Premier League and is ninth in the UEL after six rounds.
The author of 12 clean sheets in 19 autumn league games leaves Slavia.
Holder of the longest streak of 457 minutes without scoring a goal.
The cornerstone of the strongest defensive unit in the competition and the line-up of the leading team in the table.
The ruler of Prague and winner of the 312th derby.
Czech national player.
Great goalkeeper, man.
Tony, thank you! You´re going out like a king.
