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Only a small number of footballers can say a specific technique has been named after them, as with the Cruyff turn and, in different parts of the world, the Papinade and the Pele kick.

Half a century after the penalty that made him famous across the globe, Antonin Panenka is still part of that exclusive group.

The goal-scoring midfielder secured his place in football history in the Euro 76 final, when he stepped up as Czechoslovakia’s fifth and final taker in the shootout against West Germany and delicately chipped the ball down the middle of the goal to seal the trophy for his country.

The calmness and boldness of that moment caught the imagination of football fans everywhere and transformed the career of the then 27-year-old, who was playing for his hometown club, Bohemians Prague.

Panenka later moved to Austria, most notably turning out for Rapid Vienna, where he won two Bundesliga titles. The second of those came as part of a league and cup double, and he also finished as the top scorer in the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1984/85.

Panenka believes he would never have received that opportunity had it not been for that unforgettable moment in the European Championship final. As he told FourFourTwo: “My penalty in 1976 changed everything.

“Not only did I play abroad, I also had the chance to play in exhibition teams with some of the greatest footballers ever, like Eusebio, Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff.

“At first I felt almost intimidated, but I realised they were completely normal people – open and generous with team-mates and fans.

“Even today, people in my country still want to take photos with me. They know who I am and what I did. I’ve left my legacy – to my country through that European Championship trophy, and to my fellow citizens by always behaving well and trying to set an example, both on and off the pitch.

“Of course, people only remember me for that penalty today, even though I trained hard all my life and did far more than just that on the field. Then again, how many footballers are able to say they invented a shot that will forever carry their name?”

That penalty also left a less pleasant legacy for another player: the West Germany goalkeeper Panenka deceived, Sepp Maier.

“My God, how much Sepp Maier hated me afterwards,” Panenka said.

“I think he stayed angry with me for more than 35 years. We have a mutual friend who visited his house in Germany and told me that Maier keeps a dartboard in his garage with a photo of my face on it!

“I couldn’t believe it, but he swore it was true. Later, we met and even drank a beer together, but never brought up the penalty. I don’t think he holds the resentment any more.”