Frantià ¡ek Straka (born 28 May 1958) is a Czech former football player and current manager.
Straka played most notably for Sparta Prague. In 1988, he moved to Germany and spent the rest of his playing career there. Straka played for Czechoslovakia and participated at the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He played total 35 matches for the national team from 1983 to 1990.
After retiring from playing, he began coaching. Straka led several top flight Czech clubs, including FK Teplice, Sparta Prague and Viktoria Plzeà Â. He also coached abroad in Austria, Slovakia and Greece. In 2009, he was selected as temporary manager of the Czech Republic national football team. On 30 June 2009, after only one game in charge he left the position. He won his only match, a 1âÂÂ0 friendly victory against Malta on 5 June 2009.
In June 2010, Straka was appointed head coach of the North Queensland Fury in Townsville, Australia. He became a fan favourite in Australia due to his affable personality and fashion sense. Straka was ready to lead the North Queensland Fury for another season, but the club folded in 2011 because of financial difficulties.
After speculation that he was going to replace Ernie Merrick at Melbourne Victory, Straka returned to Europe, where he was announced manager of Polish Ekstraklasa club Arka Gdynia. In October 2011, he was announced as the replacement for Michal Petrouà ¡ as manager of SK Slavia Prague. His appointment as a new manager of Slavia sparked controversy and protests from Slavia fans, who saw Straka as a rival Sparta's patriot. Straka's appointment was also criticized by Sparta fans, who saw Straka as a traitor After just five months in the job, Straka resigned in March 2012. Straka returned to the Czech First League after a year's break in March 2013, joining bottom-table club 1. FK Pà ÂÃÂbram. He lasted only half a year in this job before being replaced by their former manager, Petr ÃÂuhel.
In December 2016, Straka was appointed as manager of Egyptian club Ismaily SC signing a 1.5-year contract. It was the first time position in the Arab region or Africa of his career.
On 20 February 2024, Straka was appointed as manager of Slovak football club Michalovce. The same year on 28 July, he was appointed as manager of Dynamo ÃÂeské BudÃÂjovice. On 10 January 2025, Straka was sacked by Dynamo ÃÂeské BudÃÂjovice following poor match results that resulted in the club being the bottom of 2024âÂÂ25 Czech First League table. On 17 March 2025, he was appointed as coach of Dukla Banská Bystrica. On 8 October 2025, he was appointed as coach of Koà ¡ice. On 11 November 2025, Straka was sacked after only six matches.
Teplice
Sparta Prague
Slovan Bratislava