Current Affairs Hašek to manage national soccer team
The head of the Czech FA Ivan Hašek announced on Tuesday he was taking an unusual but necessary step: in addition to his current responsibilities, heading the national football squad. The team has floundered in World Cup qualifying and is now at risk at failing to make the tournament in South Africa in 2010 - unless someone turns it fortunes around. It is hoped that Hašek, a highly-respected former player and coach, could be the right man for the post.
Ivan Hašek, photo: CTK
It probably wasn’t the solution Ivan Hašek wanted but it was a decision
that had to be taken: for someone to take responsibility for the troubled
Czech team and give it a fighting chance of reaching next year’s World
Cup. On Tuesday the recently-elected head of the Czech FA announced he
would take on the additional task of leading the team, an unprecedented
move he described as necessary under the circumstances. The reason? Other
suitable candidates for the job were few, not least after Slavia coach
Karel Jarolím turned his offer. On the other hand, few could be arguably
as qualified as Hašek himself, who has said he will manage the team only
through qualification – not in 2010. A little earlier I spoke to Filip
Saiver, who writes for Czech daily Mladá fronta Dnes. Here’s how he
assessed FA head’s decision:
“Certainly it’s an unusual move for him to be both coach the team and head the FA. On the other hand, I can’t think of a better solution, especially after Jarolím turned Hašek’s offer down. It’s certainly a risk. On the other hand, he has a lot of support among players and the league. He has their respect and is capable of turning things around.”
Karel Bruckner
As a player Hašek earned 56 caps for the national squad. He even
captained Czechoslovakia in the 1990 World Cup. Later, he led Sparta Prague
to two league titles, so he is familiar with both success and pressure. He
also won’t be alone in running the Czech team, announcing on Tuesday the
names of several assistants as well former team coach Karel Bruckner as an
advisor. Bruckner led the Czechs in their phenomenal run in Euro 2004 and
has many years of experience. His addition as an advisor won’t hurt,
Filip Saiver says”
“Including Karel Bruckner was important. He was involved with the team in the past and I don’t think anyone can doubt he is capable of raising morale.”
World Cup Qualification will continue in the autumn and for the Czechs to
have a better chance of qualifying it would be ideal if they could win all
four remaining matches. One advantage for the Czechs is that in their group
there is no real runaway leader: the Slovaks are currently first, but the
Czechs can still come back if they redouble their efforts. Slovakia, in
September, will be new coach Ivan Hašek’s first big test.
