Hladky: An Amazing Three Years
Sunday, 7th Jul 2024 20:08
Departing Town keeper Vaclav Hladky says he loved every moment of his journey with Town.
The 33-year-old Czech left the club on Monday having been unable to agree a new contract with the Blues.
Hladky was a key man in Town’s promotion from the Championship, playing all bar the final couple of minutes of the league campaign having been second choice for much of his time at Portman Road following his move from Salford in the summer of 2021.
“It’s been an amazing three years, and as my time here comes to end, I wanted to say a huge thank you,” he wrote on Instagram.
“From day one, you’ve made me feel at home, and I’ve loved every moment of this journey with you all.
“Getting promoted to the Premier League last season was a massive highlight, and I’m so grateful for the support from my teammates, the staff, and, of course, the fans. You guys are incredible, and playing for you has been an honour.
“I’ll always look back on my time at Ipswich with great memories and a big smile. Though it’s time for a new adventure, I’ll be cheering you on and following you in the Premier League closely.
Thanks for everything, and here’s to Ipswich’s bright future! Ipswich Town will stay always in my heart 💙”
No destination club has yet emerged, however, former St Mirren keeper Hladky had previously been linked with a return to Scotland with Aberdeen having been keen at one point in his Town career and Celtic linked in January.
Photo: Matchday Images
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| ArmaghBlue added 20:10 – Jul 7
Still seems a little strange just walking away from something he “loved’. But good luck to him. |
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| itfcskayman added 20:23 – Jul 7
As much as he contributed and how many points he saved us, I think it’s clear that McKenna wanted a better keeper in the Premier League and didn’t want to promise him first team football. It’s certainly a shame but we’re moving forward |
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| Stu_boy added 20:25 – Jul 7
Good luck and all the best to him, hope everything works out well for him and I’ll never forget the significant contribution he has made throughout his time at the club |
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| RobsonWark added 20:29 – Jul 7
Very sad to see Vaclav go. He was amazing for us last season. He was a great shot stopper with a weak defence in front of him. Morsy was my player of the season with Vaclav a close second. |
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| ronnyd added 20:46 – Jul 7
Amargh While i agree with you, i think perhaps that he realises that he may not get many games with us in the prem. |
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| Bert added 20:48 – Jul 7
He made the keeper’s jersey his own on merit. Good luck and best wishes to him as he ends his time with us on a high. |
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| foreverchurchmans added 20:56 – Jul 7
As a season ticket holder at both Portman Road & Pittodrie, I would be VERY happy to see Vaclav move to Aberdeen (where the incumbent – Kelle Roos – has just departed) … |
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| Yppswyche added 21:10 – Jul 7
All the best Vas, wish you weren’t going. Remember being gobsmacked watching him ping balls about like Paul Scholes in the warm before that opening day game against Morecombe. |
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| Ipswich1977 added 21:30 – Jul 7
Can’t help but think that this is a really bad decision on his part. Sad to see. |
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| cooper4england added 21:31 – Jul 7
I’m very surprised he didn’t stay for one season. Even if KMK brought in a new number one he’d:
Be on Premier league money |
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| LegendofthePhoenix added 21:38 – Jul 7
I don’t believe it is at all “clear that McKenna wanted a better keeper”. I am certain that Vaz is a victim of the fact that his contract had expired and Walton’s hadn’t. It is obvious that Vaz is preferred to Walton, that’s why he played last season. But one has to go, Walton is on high wages, about 3x that of Vaz, and unsurprisingly Vaz wanted to be on at least the same. But his contract was up. I’d have preferred that Walton goes and Vaz stays, but contracts sometimes dictate more than what we see on the pitch. |
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| Karlosfandangal added 21:54 – Jul 7
Cooper4england
Might have been part of the problem he might not been on Prem wages |
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| SamMaxwell added 22:01 – Jul 7
Nothing but admiration for Vaclav. Great keeper and really one of the keys to our promotion last season. Not many keepers with ball control at their feet like him. Genuinely disappointed to see him go but I get it, he’s left on his own terms. Good luck VH. |
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| Gforce added 22:50 – Jul 7
Best of luck with your new club Vas, I’ve a feeling it might still be Celtic |
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| PhuketPete added 04:00 – Jul 8
It’s a right puzzle. Maybe we’ll eventually find out what really drove this. Whatever, Vas was a revelation after CW’s foot injury. It was immediately clear a year’s coaching in our GK Dept had worked wonders. He was vastly improved.
All said, aside from his age (but 32 is nothing for a GK), I don’t see where we find anyone who can immediately be better for us at PL level without paying a small fortune. Unless perhaps KMc will rely less in PL on playing out from the back against faster attackers. Thus negating Vas’ key strength? But its puzzling esp as Nick H has gone and Cieran S is rumoured to be going out on loan. Leaving only one senior GK where normally a squad has three. Suspect CS loan may not be a done deal by any means! Or include an instant recall option. Curiouser and curiouser. |
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| dirtydingusmagee added 07:00 – Jul 8
Good luck to him ,when you think back to him having to step in for Walton, many didnt think he would be good enough he certainly proved he was . |
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| ChrisFelix added 08:16 – Jul 8
Some of his saves rank up there with the Town best ever. But was prone to the odd mistake.
I suspect he was told early on this year he wasn’t guaranteed the no1 slot. Personally I still feel that Walton is a premier league keeper |
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| Wonky added 08:54 – Jul 8
I doubt we offered him more than one year and that would be the issue. |
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| baxterbasics added 09:01 – Jul 8
Sorry to see him go but that’s his choice if we were not offering him the contract he wanted. Wish the man well. |
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| EC2_Blue added 09:07 – Jul 8
Apart from some fairly heart-stopping moments when playing out from the back, I felt VH was an excellent keeper when he came in and fully deserved to retain his place.
I hope we don’t repeat the 2001 mistake of letting our settled No1 go. Never did feel that the line ‘Much better than Wrighty’ in Sereni’s song was much more that wishful thinking. Still, in KMcK we trust and best wishes and thanks to Vaclav- a thoroughly decent bloke and a keeper whose endeavours were a significant contributory factor to last season’s outcome. |
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| bluebullet29l added 09:27 – Jul 8
Mixed feelings on this one…although he made some vital contributions he also had plenty of comedy clown moments… |
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| Linkboy13 added 10:03 – Jul 8
We will need a keeper who dominates his area much better In the Premier league than Hladky and McKenna knows this otherwise he would have been offered better terms. |
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| Paddy39 added 10:38 – Jul 8
I think England’s number 2 has warmed the bench long enough, is it possible we could put in a tester bid for Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal. He would do well here at PR. |
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| Flight_of_Shefki added 11:37 – Jul 8
Thank you Vaz, your superb efforts helped us achieve what others said would be impossible. We are eternally grateful. |
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