Klimkova the first international coach | (Credit: Czech FA) Klimkova the first international coach | (Credit: Czech FA)

Canberra United CEO, Heather Reid has announced that Jitka Klimkova has been appointed as Head Coach for the coming season.

The former Czech Republic international player holds a UEFA Professional license and has coached at high levels within the Czech Republic national league and internationally at youth levels. Klimkova played for the Czech national team from 1998 through to her retirement in 2003 where she then started her coaching career.

Since then Klimkova has been the Head Coach for the Czech U19 National side and Head Coach for Czech women's First division side l . FC Slovack for five seasons during which time her side did not drop below third place.

On making the announcement, Reid said "Canberra United is once again at the forefront of the W-League by securing the services of the first international coach. Jitka Klimkova is sure to provide a major boost for individual players, the Canberra United team and the Westfield W-League."

"Her UEFA coaching qualifications and experience in leading national level teams, along with her pedigree as a former national player will provide a different approach to coaching and it's expected she'll inspire a great deal of competition for places in the final 20 player roster."

Speaking from the USA where she's working with the April Heinrichs Soccer School, Klimkova said she was delighted to meet Reid at the FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany recently and very enthusiastic about coming to Canberra to be head coach of one of the WLeague's leading clubs."I am very excited about the opportunity that I will have with Canberra United and I have every intention of taking the team to the final. I am ready to lead this team and show it can be the best in the W-League come finals time, " Klimkova said.

Reid noted that Klimkova, who turns 35 on Saturday, will arrive in Canberra on 21 September and will meet the team on the following day when she'll immediately start to look at players with a view to finalising the player roster by the end of the month.Reid expects that the majority of last year's squad will be re-signed by Klimkova but there will clearly be some competition for places with a large amount of interest coming from players in Australia as well as overseas.