Petr Rada has been appointed the Czech Republic’s new coach, the Czech Football Association has confirmed.
Karel Bruckner stepped down after the team’s group stage exit from the European Championships last month and Rada, who was his assistant in Euro 2008, has been named his successor.
“I would like to see the team uniting and pulling together for a single goal,” Rada said ahead of the selection vote held by the Czech FA on Thursday.
“There is World Cup qualifying (coming up) and there is no time for improvising.”
Rada beat Jozef Chovanec, who led the national side from 1998 to 2001 and currently manages Sparta Prague. Chovanec bowed out as national team coach after failing to qualify for the 2002 World Cup.
Rada, assistant to Bruckner in 2006-2008 and Chovanec in 1998-2001, has coached Czech side Teplice since last year, but his appointment was a surprise because he has not yet won a major trophy as a head coach.
