Spanish Coach Santi Denia to Lead Czech Republic Football Team

The Czech Football Association (FACR) has appointed Spanish coach Santi Denia as the new manager of the national team for the next two years, with an optional third year. The 52-year-old succeeds Miroslav Koubek, who departed after the Czechs' group stage elimination from the World Cup.

Denia, a former Atlético Madrid defender, brings a wealth of experience from his time coaching Spanish youth national teams. He guided Spain to victory in the U-17 Euro in 2017 and the U-19 Euro in 2019. Most notably, he led the Spanish U-23 squad to a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, defeating Thierry Henry's France.

This appointment marks a historic moment as Denia becomes the first foreign national to manage the Czech Republic's senior men's team. His contract begins with the team's first official matches scheduled for late September in the Nations League. The Czechs will face tough competition against England, Croatia, and Spain in their opening fixtures.