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Hašek passes Czech mantle to Bílek

Michal Bílek has stepped up to become coach of the Czech Republic, with his predecessor and former team-mate Ivan Hašek returning to his role as president of the national football association.

Michal Bílek is the new coach of the Czech Republic
Michal Bílek is the new coach of the Czech Republic ©Getty Images

Michal Bílek has stepped up to become coach of the Czech Republic, with interim boss Ivan Hašek returning to his role as president of the national football association.

Old team-mates
Football Association of the Czech Republic (CMFS) president Hašek took on his dual role in the autumn with the 44-year-old Bílek working as his assistant, but the former AC Sparta Praha team-mates were unable to rescue the national team's FIFA World Cup qualification hopes. Bílek also played alongside Hašek in the Czechoslovakia side that reached the 1990 World Cup, and ended up scoring eleven goals in 35 international appearances. He played abroad with Real Betis Balompié from 1990 to 1992 and was Czechoslovakia's Player of the Year in 1989.

Colourful career
Bílek won a domestic double as a coach with Sparta in 2006/07 having previously led Costa Rican side CS Cartaginés, the Czech Republic's Under-19 team and, most recently, Slovakia's MFK Ružomberok. The new coach has agreed to take charge of the national team until UEFA EURO 2012™, and kicks off his tenure at a friendly tournament in Dubai from 15-18 November.