Iconic Moments in Football No.95
It is often said that modern footballers complain too much about having to play too many games. If that is the case, these players would be in for a real shock if they hear about this!
On 11th November 1987, Mark Hughes was selected for the Welsh national team to play away to Czechoslovakia in Prague. He was playing his club football at Bayern Munich, who were playing the same night against Borussia Monchengladbach in a German Cup match.
This was before international breaks and Bayern needed their star striker. A plan was hatched where they could arrange a flight from Prague back over into West Germany so he could feature against Monchengladbach.
After scoring and setting up a goal on his debut for Bayern four days earlier, his manager Uli Hoeness was keen for him to keep up his good form. However, Hughes was desperately needed by his national team. Victory against the Czechs would guarantee a place at the European Championships and they would reach their first major tournament for the first time in thirty years.
The game in Prague ended in a 2-0 defeat for Wales, but Hughes was quickly whisked away to the airport and brought on as a second-half substitute in Munich.
Bayern won the game 3-2 after extra time and Hughes had completed an unbelievable achievement by playing in two matches in two separate countries just a few hours apart!
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