Luděk Mikloško is a Czech retired football goalkeeper. Starting his career in his native Czechoslovakia, he played over 200 games for Banik Ostrava before moving to England where he played over 300 games for West Ham United. He later played for Queens Park Rangers where he was also goalkeeping coach; a role he later held with West Ham United. He played 40 games for Czechoslovakia and two games for the Czech Republic.
Club career
Mikloško started his career in his native Czechoslovakia with Baník Ostrava.
West Ham United
Mikloško's talent was noted by West Ham United manager Lou Macari, who signed him in February 1990, just before his resignation and the appointment of Billy Bonds as his successor, for a fee of £300,000. His first game was on 18 February 1990 in a 2–2 away to Swindon Town. His fourth game was the second leg of the League Cup against Oldham Athletic. West Ham had lost the first leg, 6–0 with Phil Parkes in goal in what proved to be his last game for West Ham after an eleven-year association with the club. From this point until season 1997-98, Mikloško was the first-choice 'keeper. In season 1990-91 he played 56 games for West Ham including every league game as they were promoted as runners-up from the Second Division. This had included conceding only 16 goals in away games, the best in the league. West Ham also made the semi-finals of the FA Cup, before losing to Nottingham Forest, with Mikloško playing in all of their seven cup games. He was named Hammer of the Year in 1991. Although the Hammers were relegated the following season and missed out on being founder members of the new FA Premier League in 1992, he helped them win promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt — beginning a 10-year unbroken spell at this level. He is well remembered for a Man of the Match performance against Manchester Unitedon the last day of the 1994–95 season where West Ham drew 1–1 with Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground to help secure Manchester United's rivals, Blackburn Rovers, their first league title in over 80 years. In his final season, he vied with Craig Forrest for the goalkeeper's position. His last game came on 6 December 1997 in a 2–0 away defeat by Derby County. Mikloško scored an own goal in the game. The following game he was replaced in goal by Forrest. A brave and excellent shot-stopper with a huge clearance kick, he played 374 times for the team.
Mikloško was sold to Queens Park Rangers in 1998 for a nominal fee after a successful loan spell. His last professional game came on 3 March 2001. In new manager, Ian Holloway's first game in charge, QPR lost 3–1 at home to Sheffield United. Later in 2001 he retired due to injury.
International career
Mikloško received 40 caps for Czechoslovakia and two caps for the Czech Republic.
Post-football career
After retirement, Mikloško returned to West Ham to take up a goalkeeping coaching role. He left the club in March 2010; neither club nor Mikloško commented as to why.
