František Straka
Encyclopedia
František Straka is a Czech former football player and manager.
and spent the rest of his playing career there. He played for Czechoslovakia
and was a participant in the 1990 FIFA World Cup
. He played total 35 matches for the national team from 1983 to 1990.
, Sparta Prague and Viktoria Plzeň. He also coached abroad in Austria
, Slovakia
and Greece
. In 2009 he was selected as temporary manager of the Czech Republic national football team
. On 30 June 2009, after only one game in charge he left the position. He won his only match, a 1-0 friendly over Malta
on 5 June 2009.
In June 2010, he was appointed head coach of the North Queensland Fury in Townsville, Australia
. He became a fan favourite in Australia, due to his personality and fashion sense. Straka was ready to lead the North Queensland Fury for another season, however the club folded in 2011 because of financial difficulties.
After speculation he was going to replace Ernie Merrick
at Melbourne Victory
, Straka returned to Europe, where he was announced manager of Polish Ekstraklasa club Arka Gdynia
. In October 2011, he was announced as the replacement for Michal Petrouš
as manager of SK Slavia Prague. His appointment as a new manager of Slavia sparked a heightened controversy and many protests from Slavia fans, who see Straka as a rival Sparta's patriot. Straka's appointment was also criticized by Sparta fans, who see Straka as a traitor.
citizenship and is fluent in German
. Fans often call him Franz Straka.
Playing career
Straka played most notably for Sparta Prague. In 1988 he moved to GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and spent the rest of his playing career there. He played for Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
and was a participant in the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
. He played total 35 matches for the national team from 1983 to 1990.
Coaching career
After retiring from playing, he began coaching. Straka led several top flight Czech clubs, including FK TepliceFK Teplice
FK Teplice is a Czech football club based in the city of Teplice, 80 km north of Prague. The club currently plays in the Gambrinus liga.The club was founded after World War II in 1945. The club advanced to the Czechoslovak First League in just three years after being founded and played mostly...
, Sparta Prague and Viktoria Plzeň. He also coached abroad in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. In 2009 he was selected as temporary manager of the Czech Republic national football team
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
. On 30 June 2009, after only one game in charge he left the position. He won his only match, a 1-0 friendly over Malta
Malta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
on 5 June 2009.
In June 2010, he was appointed head coach of the North Queensland Fury in Townsville, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He became a fan favourite in Australia, due to his personality and fashion sense. Straka was ready to lead the North Queensland Fury for another season, however the club folded in 2011 because of financial difficulties.
After speculation he was going to replace Ernie Merrick
Ernie Merrick
Ernest 'Ernie' Merrick is the Scottish former head coach for the Australian A-League football team, Melbourne Victory.-Melbourne Victory:...
at Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
, Straka returned to Europe, where he was announced manager of Polish Ekstraklasa club Arka Gdynia
Arka Gdynia
Morski Związkowy Klub Sportowy Arka Gdynia is a Polish professional football club, based in Gdynia, Poland, that plays in the Polish 1 Liga. The club was founded as Klub Sportowy Gdynia in 1929. Its activities were interrupted between 1939–1945 due to the German occupation of Poland...
. In October 2011, he was announced as the replacement for Michal Petrouš
Michal Petrouš
Michal Petrouš is a Czech former football player who has also worked as a football manager, most recently for Slavia Prague. His younger brother Adam is also a football player.He participated in the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship....
as manager of SK Slavia Prague. His appointment as a new manager of Slavia sparked a heightened controversy and many protests from Slavia fans, who see Straka as a rival Sparta's patriot. Straka's appointment was also criticized by Sparta fans, who see Straka as a traitor.
Personal
He has GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
citizenship and is fluent in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
. Fans often call him Franz Straka.