Lavicka to lead Sydney FC

Hyundai A-League Championship winning coach Vitezslav Lavicka will lead Sydney FC through its 2011 AFC Champions League campaign, Vice-Chairman Scott Barlow said today.

Lavicka steered the Sky Blues to a historic Premiership and Championship double in his first year at the helm of Sydney FC and with five games remaining in the 2010/11 season the Sky Blues are still in contention for a berth in the finals series.

“What Vitezslav achieved for the club in his first season as coach in the Hyundai A-League, winning both the Premiership and Championship, is a credit to him and his management skills,” Barlow said.

“He qualified the club for the 2011 AFC Champions League, a goal we set from day one with him. He led us to the most successful season in the club-s history.

“Obviously, this season has not been up to the high standards we set for ourselves. We acknowledge that but as a collective group we are working as hard as ever to put Sydney FC back to where it belongs; at the top of Australian football.

“We have endured a terrible season with player injury. Vitja has only been able to play a full strength Sydney FC a handful of times this season and this has severely hampered us in achieving the goals we set ourselves this year.

“Everyone at Sydney FC is working extremely hard to achieve our goal of Sydney FC becoming the preeminent club in Asia. It is a process we are steadfastly dedicated to.”

The Sydney FC board will meet during the upcoming offseason to determine the coaching staff set-up for the 2011/12 Hyundai A-League season.

Assistant coach Michal Zach will head home at the conclusion of his Sydney FC contract on March 31, 2011.

“Michal indicated he wanted to return to the Czech Republic to be closer to his family and we accepted that. On behalf of Sydney FC, I thank him for his major contribution to the club over the past two years and wish him and his family all of the best.”