František Straka

František Straka
Straka in 2011
Personal information
Full name František Straka
Date of birth (1958-05-28) 28 May 1958 (age 66)
Place of birth České Budějovice, Czechoslovakia
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 České Budějovice (manager)
Youth career
1966–1977 Dynamo České Budějovice
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1977–1979 Dukla Tachov
1979–1988 Sparta Prague 233 (10)
1988–1991 Borussia Mönchengladbach 81 (1)
1991–1992 Hansa Rostock 34 (0)
1992–1996 Wuppertaler SV 93 (7)
1996–1998 SCB Preußen Köln 35 (8)
International career
1983–1990 Czechoslovakia 35 (0)
Managerial career
1999–2001 Wuppertaler SV
2001–2002 Teplice (assistant)
2002–2004 Teplice
2004 Sparta Prague
2005 LR Ahlen
2006 Viktoria Plzeň
2006–2007 FC Wacker Tirol
2007–2008 České Budějovice
2008 OFI Crete
2009 Czech Republic
2009–2010 Ružomberok
2010–2011 North Queensland Fury
2011 Arka Gdynia
2011–2012 Slavia Prague
2014 Slovan Bratislava
2016–2017 Ismaily SC
2017 Smouha SC
2018 Al-Ansar SC
2019 Karviná
2020–2021 Třinec
2023 AS Trenčín
2024 Michalovce
2024– České Budějovice
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

František Straka (born 28 May 1958) is a Czech former football player and current manager of Dynamo České Budějovice.[1]

Biography

Playing career

Straka played most notably for Sparta Prague. In 1988, he moved to Germany 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.[2]

Coaching career

After retiring from playing, he began coaching. Straka led several top flight Czech clubs, including FK Teplice, 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.[3] 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.[4]

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 affable personality and fashion sense.[5] 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,[6] 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.[7] His appointment as a new manager of Slavia sparked controversy and protests from Slavia fans, who saw Straka as a rival Sparta's patriot.[8] Straka's appointment was also criticized by Sparta fans, who saw Straka as a traitor[9] After just five months in the job, Straka resigned in March 2012.[10] Straka returned to the Czech First League after a year's break in March 2013, joining bottom of the table side 1. FK Příbram.[11] He lasted only half a year in this job before being replaced by their former manager, Petr Čuhel.[12]

In December 2016, he was appointed as manager of Egyptian side Ismaily SC signing a 1.5-year contract. It was the first time position in the Arab region or Africa of his career.[13]

On 20 February 2024, Straka was appointed as manager of Slovak side Michalovce.[14]

On 28 July 2024, Straka was appointed as manager of Dynamo České Budějovice.[15]

Personal life

Straka holds German citizenship and is fluent in German. Fans often call him Franz Straka.

Honours

Managerial

Teplice

Sparta Prague

Slovan Bratislava

References

  1. ^ "Straka znovu na ligové scéně! Čeká ho záchranářská mise". sport.cz (in Czech). Czech News Agency. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  2. ^ František Straka at FAČR (in Czech)
  3. ^ "Straka selected new Czech Republic soccer coach". Sports Illustrated.com. 12 May 2009. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
  4. ^ "Interim Czech coach Straka axed". Sky Sports. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  5. ^ "Franz Fever Inspires His Side". Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  6. ^ "Ex-North Queensland coach Straka wants Melbourne Victory job". Tribal Football. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  7. ^ "Novým trenérem Slavie se stal Straka, Petrouš váhá, jestli vzít béčko". Mladá fronta DNES (in Czech). 2 October 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  8. ^ Šedivý, Petr (17 October 2011). "Straka je škodná, protestovali fanoušci Slavie při pochodu Prahou". Mladá fronta DNES (in Czech).
  9. ^ Novák, Miloslav (14 October 2011). "Sparťanští chuligáni útočí na Straku: Jsi zrádce, napsali na jeho dům". Mladá fronta DNES (in Czech).
  10. ^ "Trenéra Straku proti Jablonci nahradí dosavadní asistent Poustka". Mladá fronta DNES (in Czech). 9 March 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  11. ^ "Fotbalový trenér Straka se vrací do ligy, převezme poslední Příbram". Mladá fronta DNES (in Czech). 10 March 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  12. ^ "Trenér Straka skončil ve fotbalové Příbrami. Nahradí ho Čuhel". Mladá fronta DNES (in Czech). 7 October 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  13. ^ Straka, František (27 April 2017). "Straka o konci v Egyptě: Zkolaboval kvůli mně Facebook, fanoušci brečeli". Blesk (in Czech). Interviewed by Radek Špryňar. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Struhára na lavičke strieda Straka". MFK Zemplín Michalovce (in Slovak). 20 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  15. ^ Bartoš, Jonáš (28 July 2024). "Čistka v Dynamu: Vedení odvolalo trenéry, do ligy se vrací Straka". Blesk (in Czech). Czech News Center. Retrieved 28 July 2024.