Šilhavý stays with the Czech national team and may become its second longest serving coach

Failure in the fight for the World Championship did not sink Jaroslav Šilhavy. Although there was talk after the barrage loss to Sweden that there might be a change in the head coach of the national team, everything remains the same. The 60-year-old coach will lead the Czech Republic in the next qualification cycle.

After negotiations between Šilhavy and the Czech Football Association took place, it was announced on Monday afternoon that the Pilsen native will continue on the national team bench. He sealed the contract with Petr Fousek at a press conference.

“We have been with the national team for over three and a half years, and I think we don’t have to be ashamed of our results,” said Šilhavý, adding that he has a lot to build on with the national team.

He has led the team in 40 matches so far, three of which he was absent from the bench, where he was replaced by assistant Jiří Chytrý. His record so far is positive, with 21 wins and 14 losses. The draw has occurred five times in Šilhavy’s matches.

The new contract is valid until the end of 2023. If the team manages to qualify for EURO 2024, the contract will be automatically extended. Assuming the current coach is not sacked, he will become the second longest serving coach of the independent Czech national team by seniority.

In terms of the number of games played, Šilhavy will move into third place in the historical statistics during the June reunion. Only two legends will be ahead of him – Dušan Uhrin with 50 games and Karel Brückner with 72 matches.

“If we could even come close to the great number of Karel Brückner, with whom I started as an assistant years ago, it would signal that the following years have been successful in terms of results,” said Šilhavý, a former member of the successful coach’s management team.

And what are the goals for the future? “We would like the national team to stay in this year’s very difficult group of the Nations League. And the clear task for the current implementation team is to qualify for the European Championship, which will be hosted by Germany in 2024,” FAČR chairman Fousek is clear.

The next programme for the national team, which unveiled its new logo and visual identity last Tuesday, is scheduled for June. The first four matches of the new edition of the Nations League will be played. The Czechs will face the Swiss (2 June) and the Spanish (5 June) in Prague, then they will play the Portuguese in Lisbon (9 June) and finish with a second match against Spain in Málaga (12 June).

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