Northern Ireland v Czech Republic

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The Czech Republic head coach was appointed to
the role in July 2016 following the resignation of
Pavel Vrba and the country’s failure to get beyond
the group stage of Euro 2016.
It had been a desperately disappointing
tournament as the Czechs failed to live up to pre-
tournament expectations. They finished bottom of
their group, losing 1-0 to Spain, drawing 2-2 with
Croatia with two late goals, and then losing 2-0 to
Turkey.
Adding to the relatively new coach’s woes are the
loss from the national team of goalkeeper and
captain Petr Cech (124 caps) and injury-plagued
midfield maestro Tomas Rosicky (105 caps).
Playmaker Rosicky, nicknamed The Little Mozart,
is back with Sparta Prague after a year out which
included an achilles tendon injury last March.
The odds look against a qualification for Russia
2018, with the team missing a chance to put
themselves back in contention for runners-up spot
when they conceded a late, late goal to draw 1-1
in Norway back in June, while Northern Ireland
grabbed all three points against Azerbaijan in Baku
with that 92nd minute goal from Stuart Dallas.
As a player Karel Jarolim operated as a midfielder
for Slavia Prague (1980-87) as well as in France
with Rouen (1987-1990) and Amiens before
returning to Slavia in 1991. He won 13 caps (two
goals) for the former Czechoslovakia between
1982 and 1987, retiring as a player in 1995.
The national coach has been in charge of Slavia
Prague three times: in the 2000-2001 season; from
2005 to 2010, and he returned for a few games in
2010-11.
Jarolim also coached in Saudi Arabia from 2010
to 2013 before returning to the Czech Republic.
He took over as boss at Mlada Boleslav in 2014,
winning the Czech Cup in 2016, before taking up
his current role.
His son David played in midfield against Northern
Ireland in a World Cup 2010 qualifier. The game in
October 2009 in Prague ended 0-0..
Words: Roy Kitson
Karel Jarolim admitted he faced
a “daunting task” in looking to
restore the fortunes of a proud
footballing nation when he took
over at the helm last year.
CZECH REPUBLIC
THE COACH
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