Who invented the Panenka penalty?

• The Panenka is a spot kick technique in which the taker gives a light touch underneath the ball, causing it to rise and fall within the centre of the goal
• Zinedine Zidane, Lionel Messi, Andrea Pirlo, Karim Benzema and Francesco Totti are among the top footballers who have scored using this technique
• Czech former footballer Antonin Panenka invented the technique in the Euro 1976 final

We have seen the Panenka penalty like 100 times. Zinedine Zidane, Lionel Messi, Andrea Pirlo, Karim Benzema and Francesco Totti are among the top footballers we have seen use this technique. 

The Panenka is a spot-kick technique in which the taker gives a light touch underneath the ball, causing it to rise and fall within the centre of the goal.

Zinedine Zidane used the Panenka technique to beat Gianluigi Buffon. Photo/ SPORTbible.

This technique is an efficient way of scoring penalties because the goalkeeper usually has guessed aside and committed to diving away from the centre. You can watch it a hundred times, and the wonder never ceases.

It’s just beautiful how the penalty taker approaches the spot and opts for deception instead of power or precision. However, according to studies, a Panenka has a lower scoring probability than power or placement. 

The move is known for only being used by confident penalty takers who can handle the pressure of missing it. Some of the top players who have missed Panenka include Gary Lineker, Brendon Santalab and Sergio Aguero. 

It might surprise many that about 47 years ago, nobody had ever seen this technique of taking penalties. And immediately after its invention, some called it a footballing poem written by a genius. Well, who is the genius who invented the Panenka penalty? 

Who invented the Panenka penalty?

The technique was invented by Czech former footballer Antonin Panenka in the Euro 1976 final. Antonin Panenka beat West German goalkeeper Sepp Maier to win the 1976 Euro title for his nation.

Antonin Panenka beat West Germany goalkeeper Sepp Maier with the Panenka penalty to win the 1976 European title for Czechoslovakia. Photo/ ITV.

The first seven kicks of the penalty shootout were converted until West Germany’s fourth penalty taker, Uli Hoeneß, missed his chance. 

It was Antonin Panenka’s turn to take the fifth penalty for Czechoslovakia and end the game. The attacking midfielder feigned shooting to the side of the goal before gently chipping the ball into the middle of the net. Sepp Maier had already dived to his left. 

Since 1976, we have seen several attempts to emulate Panenka. Whereas some have been successful, some have been unsuccessful and resulted in criticism. 

The penalty was originally called Vrsovicky dloubak in the Czech language in reference to the Prague district of Vrsovice, where Panenka’s home club, Bohemians, is located. 

The Panenka penalty is also called cavadinha (“little dig”) in Brazil, Il cucchiaio (“the spoon”) in Italy, and penal picado (“poked penalty kick”) in South America. 

How Did Antonin Panenka Invent The Panenka?

Antonin Panenka. Photo/ beIN SPORTS.

Antonin Panenka came up with this unique idea of taking penalties as he tried to beat his goalkeeper at the training ground. He used to remain behind with the goalkeeper and play for a bar of chocolate or a glass of beer.

However, the goalkeeper was very good, and it became expensive for Antonin since he was often losing. It was at this point that he got the idea of the Panenka penalty, and he began beating the goalkeeper. As a side effect of winning the bets and eating too many chocolates, he gained weight. 

FAQs 

Who invented the chip penalty? 

Czech former footballer Antonin Panenka invented the technique in the Euro 1976 final. Antonin deceived West German keeper Sepp Maier with his cheeky chipped penalty in the shootout.

What is the point of a Panenka? 

The Panenka is a simple but risky way of taking a penalty kick, which sees the taker chip the ball down the centre of the goal.

Who scored the famous Panenka in the penalty shootout? 

Antonin Panenka beat West German goalkeeper Sepp Maier to win the 1976 Euro title for his nation. 

Why was the penalty kick invented? 

William McCrum, a member of the Irish Football Association, is the man who proposed the introduction of penalty kicks. He was unhappy seeing many defenders professionally foul attackers to prevent them from scoring.