Jaroslava Rinnerová received a state medal for sports merits from Czech President Petr Pavel on October 28, 2024, honoring her pioneering career as the first female professional with a foreign engagement in the West. Seznam Zprávy reported that the honor coincided with her 71st birthday, marking decades of contribution to domestic women’s football both on the pitch and in management.
State Honors on a Milestone Birthday
President Petr Pavel awarded the medal Za zásluhy o stát v oblasti sportu on October 28, 2024. The date marked exactly 71 years since Rinnerová’s birth in Nová Ves pod Pleší in 1955. Dušan Žovinec, a prominent figure in Czech women’s football who has been at Sparta Prague since 1988, welcomed the recognition. Žovinec praised her elegance and financial sacrifice in supporting the sport during difficult eras, noting that she often funded Slavia Prague’s women’s team out of her own pocket while running a business.
Rinnerová Secured a Legal Transfer Through Marriage
Rinnerová, née Poláčková, won eight titles with Slavia between 1970 and 1983 before playing for rival Sparta from 1983 to 1985. Her exceptional talent caught the attention of Italian scouts at a tournament organized by the magazine Mladý svět. Because standard emigration was impossible under the communist regime, she secured a legal transfer to AC Milan in 1985 through a arranged marriage with an Italian citizen. She recalled that her husband simply wanted to help a Czech girl fulfill her dream without asking anything in return.
Life Inside the Rossoneri Super-Team
From 1985 to 1990, Rinnerová played for AC Milan. She described being completely stunned during a joint press conference on the 12th floor of a Milan building where she sat alongside Carlo Ancelotti, Paolo Maldini, Marco van Basten, and Ruud Gullit. Interviewed on RAI Uno by former striker Mazzola, she corrected him when he introduced her as “Polaka,” insisting she was from Czechoslovakia. She played on a small stadium on the outskirts of Milan, noting that facilities matched those in Eden, where Pepi Bican once sat on the bench with Slavia players.
Post-Communist Management at Slavia
After her divorce from her husband—an Italian hockey goaltender—she returned to a free Czechoslovakia and built a successful career running a travel agency. She utilized her earnings to support Slavia Prague, driving to Germany to purchase equipment when the women’s team lacked proper gear. From 2003 until February 2024, she served as the manager of Slavia’s women’s section, capturing nine league titles, six cup triumphs, and regular appearances in the Champions League.
Common Questions About the Career of Jaroslava Rinnerová
When did Jaroslava Rinnerová play for AC Milan?
She played for the Italian club from 1985 until 1990, becoming the first female professional with a foreign engagement in the West.
How many domestic titles did she win with Slavia Prague?
She won eight titles as a player between 1970 and 1983, and later secured numerous additional trophies during her tenure as the team’s manager from 2003 to 2024.
Why did she need an arranged marriage to move to Italy?
Before the fall of communism, female footballers faced strict travel restrictions under the Iron Curtain, making marriage to a foreign citizen the only viable administrative path to a legal transfer abroad.
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