Liberec initially did not want to comment on a possible change in the position of coach before the end of the season, but after the performance of coach Luboš Kozl, its management is already commenting on the change between the first and second semi-finals of the group for Europe.
“I confirm that on April 3, i.e. the very first day when we took over the club, myself and CEO Jan Nezmar informed coach Kozl that we want to take a different path from the next season,” Ondřej Kania wrote on the X social network in response to Kozlo’s statement after the 0:2 loss in Teplice, in which he was the first to officially confirm speculation about his end.
“We considered this decision for months, because coach Kozel is undoubtedly an excellent coach, but in the end, for many reasons, we came to the conclusion that if we are building a de facto completely new club that will function very differently from how it has functioned until now, there is a big risk, that the head coach (whoever he may be), who was used to operating in a completely different way for three years, would not be able to accept such a change, and it could fundamentally complicate the transformation of the club,” explained the new owner of the North Bohemian club, saying that taking a similar risk under Ještěd they didn’t want to.
“From our point of view, if we transform and modernize the club at this moment after decades, the cleanest option is to start anew also in the position of head coach. I considered it fair not to play any games, not to lie, not to manipulate and to be honest with the coach at the very first moment when we are officially at the club so that he knows what he is up to,” added Kania, saying that he himself wanted to make the decision public in April, but the coach was against it.
Photo: Ondřej Hájek, CTK
Coach Luboš Kozel from Liberec
“The coach preferred that we not comment on the whole thing, regardless of the speculation, until the end of the season. In retrospect, I clearly admit that it was my mistake not to insist on our preferred option and to back down. We should have all realized at that moment that there is a huge media interest in our club and that it is impossible to hide such a fundamental fact for more than a few days. It is quite logical because the club has to work to secure a new implementation team and the outgoing coaches have to work to have a commitment from next season,” he continued.
The Liberec coach prematurely confirmed the growing speculation at the press conference after the 0:2 loss in Teplice. “Information leaks from various sources anyway, and there’s probably no point in walking around the hot mess. It wasn’t pleasant for me either,” explained Luboš Kozel after the loss in the first semifinal of the group for Europe in Teplice.
“I learned about it at the moment when the new management officially entered the club, although there were some signals before. I think that is correct. They simply decided on another coach, which of course they have the right to do. The information leaked out and was quite true, which was a mystery to me when four people knew it…,” Kozel added, adding that if he reached a certain goal, he had an option to extend his contract, which expires in June.
“Last week, the coach announced to us that at the press conference after Teplice, if the question arises, he will not continue lying and will tell the truth. It would certainly make sense to maintain the agreed procedure and be consistent in not commenting on the matter, however, it was the coach’s choice that we cannot prevent him from making. It is therefore logical that I also have to put the situation into perspective from our point of view. It’s unfortunate, but there is a clear lesson from it that we probably all know from life – it’s always easier to tell the truth,” added Kania.
On Sunday, Liberec awaits a rematch of the semifinals of the group for Europe, in which they must win by two goals, otherwise their season will end and for Luboš Kozlo, it will be the last game on his bench. He is to be replaced by Radoslav Kováč, who has not yet commented on a possible change, as he is now concentrating on the fight for survival with Pardubice.
