I was just browsing my World Soccer and saw Jan Lastuvka’s name (Czech squad possibles list). So I surfed around and ended up at Wikipedia:
According to the Ukrainian League regulations there have to be four domestic players on the field. Because of this rule they didn’t want to take Laštůvka back. So he went on a loan to German side VfL Bochum until the end of the 2007-2008 season to replace his compatriot Jaroslav Drobný, who left the club for Hertha BSC Berlin.
Laštůvka started the season as first keeper. But after some mistakes his position was threatened by the reserve keepers. After an injury third keeper René Renno got his place. Ironically second goalkeeper Philipp Heerwagen had a minor injury at that time. Renno started quite well but also made some mistakes before the winter break. So coach Marcel Koller claimed that all three keepers started at zero in the preparations for the second season half. After the winter break Laštůvka was first keeper again and started with a very good match against Werder Bremen which was rewarded with a nomination in the ‘Team of the Day’ by Germany’s leading football magazine Der Kicker. However, he couldn’t stabilise his performance and even lost for a few matches his position in the goal again. However, at the end of the season Bochum was interested to sign him but due to the high transfer fee (4 million Euro) they decided to sign the Portuguese keeper Fernandes from PAOK F.C.. Laštůvka will return to Shakhtar Donetsk in the coming season.
Trivia
He studied philosophy for a time at the University of Kiev.
Oh well. Hopefully his studies will have helped him deal with the whole ‘troubled goalkeeper’ thing.
