Vítězslav Lavička

Vítězslav Lavička
Personal information
Date of birth (1963-04-30) 30 April 1963
Place of birth Plzeň, Czechoslovakia
Playing position Midfielder
Youth career
1972–1980 Plzeň
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1980–1982 Plzeň 25 (4)
1983–1984 Sparta Prague 46 (4)
1985–1986 RH Cheb 53 (7)
1987–1989 Sparta Prague 53 (9)
1990 Hradec Králové 5 (1)
1990–1992 Sparta Prague 33 (5)
1992–1994 Bohemians Prague 35 (2)
1994–1996 SK Chrudim 45 (9)
Total 295 (41)
Teams managed
2002 Sparta Prague
2002–2003 Viktoria Žižkov
2004–2007 Slovan Liberec
2007–2008 Czech Republic U21
2008 Sparta Prague
2009–2012 Sydney FC
2012–2015 Sparta Prague
2015– Czech Republic U21

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (goals)

Vítězslav Lavička (Czech pronunciation: [ˈviːcɛslaf ˈlavɪt͡ʃka]; born 30 April 1963) is a Czech football manager and former player.

Playing career

As a player, Lavička played for several Czech clubs, including Škoda Plzeň, RH Cheb and Sparta Prague. He played one season towards the end of his career in the Gambrinus liga after the Czech Republic's national league commenced play in 1993.[1]

Managerial career

In 2006 and 2007, he was voted Coach of the Year at the Czech Golden Ball awards and Coach of the Year in 2006.

In June 2008, Lavička signed a two-year contract as the manager of Sparta Prague.[2] However, after just four months in the position, he resigned following a humiliating 4–1 home defeat against Sparta's rivals Slavia.[3]

On Wednesday 4 February 2009, he was appointed the new manager of Australian A-League club Sydney FC along with Czech counterpart Michal Zach as assistant coach.[4] Lavička has re-signed to manage Sydney FC for the 2010–2011 season in a bid to get the club another A-League title. He was successful in managing Sydney to their second title in the 09/10 A-League season. It was 05/06 when Sydney won their first title. He will also be looking to guide them to an Asian Champions League title in 10/11.

Sydney FC

In the pre-season to A-League season 2009/2010, Lavička guided Sydney FC through a program of 12 matches against local teams and Hyundai A-League opponents undefeated, scoring 25 goals and conceding 1 goal in over 1080 minutes of football.[5]

In Lavička's first league match of the 2009/2010 season Sydney FC ran out 3–2 winners, against expansion team North Queensland Fury, played in Townsville. The match also featured the A-League debut of Robbie Fowler for the Fury.[6] He has been praised for bringing an impressive new style of football to the club.[7]

Sydney then went on to win the A-League Minor Premiership after finishing narrowly ahead of Melbourne Victory and Gold Coast United, also securing them an Asian Champions League spot.[8]

Lavička was voted A-League coach of the year for the 2009–2010 season by players in the league as part of the Professional Footballers Australia awards.[9] His brilliant first season was rounded off as Sydney FC defeated Melbourne Victory in the A-League Grand Final after a penalty shootout victory at Etihad Stadium.[10]

Lavička's second season started poorly, with the team not winning a game until round 11 against Perth Glory. Lavička who is afraid of heights, said that if his team wins he will climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which he did.[11][12]

It was announced on 3 February 2012 that Lavička would not have his contract renewed by Sydney FC, a mutual agreement between the board and Lavička himself, believed to have come about after he expressed that he was missing his family back in the Czech Republic. Lavicka stayed as manager until the end of the 2011-12 A-League season before departing.[13]

Honours

Managerial

FC Slovan Liberec
Sydney FC
AC Sparta Prague

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Vítězslav Lavička" (in Czech). gambrinusliga.cz. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  2. ↑ "Lavička se Spartě upsal na dva roky, Chovanec je generálním manažerem" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 4 June 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  3. ↑ "Potvrzeno: Fotbalovou Spartu vede Chovanec, trenér Lavička skončil" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  4. ↑ "Czech Vitezslav Lavicka appointed new Sydney FC coach". The Sunday Times. 2009-02-04. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  5. ↑ "Sydney FC 2009/10". FourFourTwo. 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  6. ↑ "North Queensland Fury 2–3 Sydney FC: Fowler Strike Not Enough". Goal.com. 2009-08-09. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  7. ↑ Super slick Sydney FC machine eyeing first prize, The Roar, Retrieved on 11 January 2010
  8. ↑ The World Game, Retrieved on 7 March 2010
  9. ↑ SMH – Players vote Lavicka coach of the year
  10. ↑ The World Game, Retrieved on 21 March 2010
  11. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/24/3046838.htm?site=sport&section=all
  12. ↑ Hassett, Sebastian (29 October 2010). "Bridging the gap: Sydney FC revival faces stern test". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  13. ↑ "Vitezslav Lavicka Out At End Of Season". FourFourTwo Australia. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.

External links


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