VÃÂtÃÂzslav LaviÃÂka (; born 30 April 1963) is a Czech football manager and former player.
As a player, LaviÃÂka played for several Czech clubs, including à  koda Plzeà Â, RH Cheb and Sparta Prague. He played one season towards the end of his career in the Czech First League after the Czech Republic's national league commenced play in 1993.
In 2006 and 2007, he was voted Coach of the Year at the Czech Golden Ball awards and Coach of the Year in 2006.
In June 2008, LaviÃÂka signed a two-year contract as the manager of Sparta Prague. However, after just four months in the position, he resigned following a humiliating 4âÂÂ1 home defeat against Sparta's rivals Slavia.
On 4 February 2009, he was appointed the new manager of Australian A-League club Sydney FC, along with Czech counterpart Michal Zach as assistant coach.
In the pre-season to 2009âÂÂ10 A-League season, LaviÃÂka guided the team through a program of 12 matches against local teams and A-League opponents undefeated, scoring 25 goals and conceding 1 goal.
In LaviÃÂka's first league match, Sydney FC ran out 3âÂÂ2 winners against expansion team North Queensland Fury, played in Townsville. The match also featured the A-League debut of Robbie Fowler for the Fury. He has been praised for bringing an impressive new style of football to the club.
Sydney then went on to win the A-League Minor Premiership after finishing narrowly ahead of Melbourne Victory and Gold Coast United, also securing them an Asian Champions League spot.
LaviÃÂka was voted A-League Coach of the Year for the 2009âÂÂ2010 season by players in the league as part of the Professional Footballers Australia awards. His brilliant first season was rounded off as Sydney FC defeated Melbourne Victory in the A-League Grand Final after a penalty shootout victory at Etihad Stadium.
LaviÃÂka's second season started poorly, with the team not winning a game until round 11 against Perth Glory. LaviÃÂka, who is afraid of heights, said that if his team won, he would climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which he did.
It was announced on 3 February 2012 that LaviÃÂka would not have his contract renewed by Sydney FC, a mutual agreement between the board and LaviÃÂka himself, believed to have come about after he expressed that he was missing his family back in the Czech Republic. Lavicka stayed as manager until the end of the 2011âÂÂ12 A-League season before departing.
After joining Sparta Prague in 2012, LaviÃÂka took them to the knockout stages of the 2012âÂÂ13 Europa League. Sparta defeated Feyenoord 4âÂÂ2 on aggregate to reach the group stage, where they finished second behind Lyon. Sparta were knocked out in the round of 32 by Chelsea, losing 1âÂÂ2 in aggregate which included a 1âÂÂ1 draw at home.
In the 2013-14 Czech league, Sparta Prague finished first, obtaining 79 points from 30 games and losing only once. LaviÃÂka followed up this success by winning the Czech cup in the same season, defeating Rivals (and league runner up) Viktoria Plzen on penalties. Sparta went on to win the 2014 Czech Supercup 3âÂÂ0, once again against rivals Plzen.
LaviÃÂka signed on as the Under 21 Czech Republic manager in 2015, prior to the start of qualification for the 2017 UEFA Euro Under-21. LaviÃÂka guided the team to the top of their qualification group with 7 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss from 10 games, resulting in direct qualification to the final tournament.
On 21 February 2022, LaviÃÂka became the manager of Kuwait national team.
After failing to qualify for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup with defeats to Indonesia and Jordan, LaviÃÂka resigned from his post.
On 22 May 2023, Sparta Prague announced that LaviÃÂka would become the director of their football academy, starting from 1 June 2023.