Sydney FC's hunt for a new coach will begin immediately with the emphasis on bringing entertaining football to the harbour city after it was announced on Friday that coach Vitezslav Lavicka and the club had mutually agreed to part ways at the end of the season.
Sydney FC's hunt for a new coach will begin immediately with the emphasis on bringing entertaining football to the harbour city after it was announced on Friday that coach Vitezslav Lavicka and the club had mutually agreed to part ways at the end of the season.
Lavicka's future had been a constant source of speculation over the last month with the club deciding at a board meeting last week it was time to go in a 'new direction'.
The Czech boss, who is in his third year with Sydney and is the club's longest serving manager, will return to Europe to be closer to his family.
After winning the double in Lavicka's debut season in 2009/10, the Sky Blues have struggled over the last two campaigns, missing the finals last season, while they're currently in sixth position this year with eight games to go until the finals.
Although the focus remains very much on securing a berth in the finals and pushing for the title, Sydney chief executive Dirk Melton said the search for a new manager would begin immediately, with a strong focus on bringing the excitement factor to the SFS.
"We're in a tough town, this is the toughest sporting landscape in the world with 19-20 professional sporting franchises," Melton said.
"This is a media town and it's about entertainment. It's really important that consistent, entertaining football is something we portray."
"Different people are going to have different ideals on that. The football purists will think one thing, the mum taking her son to a game is going to think another. And the people we're trying to bring here week in, week out will have another perspective."
"At the end of the day there'll be a joining of all of those and as a club we've got to make sure that is the best it can possibly be."
Melton said the Sky Blues wouldn't just look at local candidates but also scour the international scene for the best man for the job.
Central Coast boss Graham Arnold has been heavily linked with the position and is the early favourite although Italian great and former West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has also been mentioned.
But the current manager is still very much focused on achieving all he can in his final few months in the job.
"I have enjoyed my time at Sydney FC and I want to continue to do my best and work hard with the players and staff at to be as successful as possible this season," Lavicka said.
"I'm proud to have been a part of Australian football. When I came here for my first season to now, the A-League has grown and I'm very proud to be a part of this."
"I am happy with what I have achieved here, especially that first season, it was like a dream."
"I will always have good memories of my time in Sydney, especially the Sydney FC members and fans."
Lavicka told the players of the decision before training on Friday morning and skipper Terry McFlynn said it would serve as an extra motivating factor heading into the final few months of the season.
"The boss is a fantastic man, humility and integrity is very close to him and it's something we value as a club as well," McFlynn said.
"The longevity he's had here, he-s been the longest serving manager, he's won the most trophies, that speaks for itself."
"Someone once told me that the team takes on the personality of their manager and that's evident this season with the never-say-die attitude we've got."
"It's important for us now as a group of players to send him out a winner."
Melton also announced Lavicka's contribution to the club would be honoured with the Sky Blues' annual Clubman of the Year award to be named in coach's honour.
In team news, Qantas Socceroos star Brett Emerton has failed to recover sufficiently from his hamstring injury and won't play in Sunday's vital clash with Newcastle at the SFS.