Machek was born in Hradec Králové, Kingdom of Bohemia, back then part of Austro-Hungary, nowadays of Czech Republic, Machek started playing football in the local club, FC Hradec Králové debuting for the first team at age of 16. In 1912, he became a metallurgic employee at the Škoda factory in Plzeň and played for SK Češký lev Plzeň.50. godina BFS, page 116 He received a message from his friend and compatriot, Eduard Mifek, who was already playing football in Serbia; Mifek invited him to become a player of a newly founded club, SK Velika Srbija. Machek met an envoy from the club, Serbian footballer Josip Furjanović, in Vienna, who presented him the proposal, and Machek accepted.Fudbal u Srbiji 1896.-1914. , by Srbislav Todorović, Belgrade 1996, pag. 55 He arrived in Belgrade, capital of Kingdom of Serbia, in 1913 at the age of 18.
