Hrebík pays the price

AC Sparta Praha have sacked coach Jaroslav Hrebík following the club's UEFA Champions League exit and recent loss of top spot in the Czech first division.

Laviècka promoted
Hrebík's assistant, Vitezslav Lavička, who spent nearly a decade with Sparta as a player, has been confirmed as the club's new coach. "We needed a change to gain back the self-confidence and high spirit," said president Vlastimil Koštál. Lavička's first match will be the visit of SK Slavia Praha for tomorrow's Prague derby.

'Disastrous' performance
Sparta dropped down to second place in the domestic table, a point behind FC Slovan Liberec, after last Saturday's 2-0 away defeat by FK Jablonec 97. The performance was described as "disastrous" by Koštál and means Sparta are in danger of not winning the title for the first time since 1996.

Comings and goings
Hrebík took over at the Letná stadium last summer and managed to guide his side to the second group stage of the Champions League, but there were conflicts with some of his squad. There were a number of comings and goings during the winter break, including the sale of Radek Sloncík to Újpesti TE and Josef Obajdin to Omonia FC.   

Injury ended career
Lavička's playing career was ended by injury in 1987. The 38-year-old returned to the Prague club four years ago from second division AFK Chrudim where he had been assistant to Zdenek Scasny, who is now with FK Viktoria Zizkov.