Dušan Fitzel

Dušan Fitzel
Personal information
Date of birth (1963-04-15) 15 April 1963 (age 61)
Place of birth Bojnice, Czechoslovakia
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 FC Viktoria Plzeň (asst coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1979–1982 FK Dukla Banská Bystrica
1983 FK Letek Hradec Králové
1983–1992 Dukla Prague 158 (3)
1992–1994 EPA Larnaca FC 42 (3)
1994–1995 FK Chmel Blšany
Managerial career
1995–1998 SK Slavia Prague (academy)
1998–2005 Czech Republic (youth teams)
2006–2009 Malta
2016 FC Anzhi Makhachkala (assistant)
2017– FC Viktoria Plzeň (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Dušan Fitzel (born 15 April 1963) is a Czech football coach and a former player. He is an assistant coach with FC Viktoria Plzeň.

He managed the Malta national team from 2006 to 2009.

Playing career

For the most part of his career Fitzel played in the Czechoslovak First League for Dukla Prague in the position of defensive midfielder. In 158 appearances he scored three goals.[1] In 1992, he left for EPA Larnaca in Cyprus where he made 42 appearances and scored three goals. Fitzel retired from his career as a professional footballer in 1995 for FK Chmel Blšany.

Coaching career

Fitzel started his coaching career with the youth team of SK Slavia Prague. From 1998 to 2005 Fitzel worked within the Football Association of the Czech Republic, coaching teams from U18 to U21 level. His greatest achievement came when with him as assistant coach the Czech U21 team won the European Under-21 Championship in 2002.[2] In January 2006 he was appointed the head coach for Malta as the successor to Horst Heese. His contract was to expire with the end of 2007.[3]

The Maltese national team results under Fitzel were promising, including a 2–1 victory over Hungary[4] (first win for the team in official games since 1993) and a 2–2 draw against the 2002 World Cup bronze medalists Turkey.[5] Fitzel was nicknamed "La Valette" in Malta after the Maltese grandmaster and hero Jean de la Valette. In July 2009 health problems made it necessary to give up the role of manager.[citation needed]

He is a lecturer in coach education as well as a contributor of articles on football and coaching in Fotbal a trénink.[citation needed]

Personal life

He is married and has two children.[citation needed]

Honours

References

  1. ^ Jeřábek, Luboš (2007). Český a československý fotbal – lexikon osobností a klubů (in Czech). Prague, Czech Republic: Grada Publishing. p. 51. ISBN 978-80-247-1656-5.
  2. ^ Dušan Fitzel biography at uefa.com, retrieved 21 November 2007
  3. ^ "Fitzel fits the bill for Malta". Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2007.
  4. ^ "Malta upsets Hungary 2-1". Archived from the original on 18 October 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2007.
  5. ^ Malta holds Turkey in 2-2 draw