František Straka

František Straka
Personal information
Full name	František Straka
Date of birth	28 May 1958 (age 65)
Place of birth	České Budějovice, Czechoslovakia
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Michalovce (manager)
Youth career
1966–1977	Dynamo České Budějovice
Senior career*
Years	Team
1977–1979	Dukla Tachov
1979–1988	Sparta Prague
1988–1991	Borussia Mönchengladbach
1991–1992	Hansa Rostock
1992–1996	Wuppertaler SV
1996–1998	SCB Preußen Köln
International career
1983–1990	Czechoslovakia
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
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

František Straka (born 28 May 1958) is a Czech former football player and current manager of Michalovce.^[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]