Lukáš Vorlický’s story is one of raw talent, lost time, and quiet resilience. At just 23, the Czech midfielder has faced more setbacks than most players experience in an entire career.
Once seen as one of Atalanta’s brightest young prospects, his rise was cruelly interrupted by a series of devastating knee injuries that changed everything.
Now playing for Slavia Praha, Vorlický can’t help but imagine what might have been and believes that, if not for his injuries, he could have been starring for clubs like Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester United today.
In an interview with Czech newspaper DNES, Vorlický reflected on his career so far with honesty and humility. He made it clear he wasn’t trying to sound arrogant but admitted that he truly believed in his potential.
“I don’t want this to sound cocky, but yes,” he said when asked if he thought he could be at a Premier League club like Tottenham or Manchester United. “People have told me since I was a child that I could grow up to be a great footballer.
Even more so at Atalanta, because everyone at the club believed in me. But I was also aware that I was just a boy from Boskovice who used to play football on a gravel pitch after school with my friends.”
Those early days at Atalanta were full of promise. Vorlický trained alongside top talents like Dejan Kulusevski and Amad Diallo both now thriving in the Premier League.
Scouts and coaches saw him as a technically gifted midfielder with vision, composure, and creativity beyond his years. But fate had other plans.
A string of serious knee injuries, followed by five surgeries in seven years, completely derailed his progress. Every time he tried to come back, another setback followed.
After leaving Italy in 2024, Vorlický joined Slavia Praha in a bid to rebuild his career. Yet even there, his struggles have continued. The same knee problems still linger, making it difficult for him to regain his rhythm and confidence.
Despite everything, he doesn’t blame anyone. When asked if he held his doctor responsible for the poor treatment that may have led to recurring problems, he simply replied, “Why? He’s only human. He operated on ten people that day I was just unlucky. It happens. I can’t change it.”
It’s that kind of attitude that makes his story both heartbreaking and inspiring. Instead of bitterness, Vorlický has chosen acceptance.
“Who knows what would have happened if I had been healthy?” he reflected. “I’m happy as a person. Would I have been the same if I had continued playing? I have no idea. I’m just sorry I didn’t get to play.”
For many young footballers, injuries are part of the game. But for Lukáš Vorlický, they were the defining factor between what might have been and what is.
He may not be playing in the Premier League alongside his former teammates, but his humility, perspective, and quiet strength have made him an example of what it means to persevere even when life doesn’t go as planned.
