Slavia Prague coach Jarolim quits

Karel Jarolim has quit as Slavia Prague coach, the 2008 and 2009 Czech champions confirmed on Wednesday.

“The coach decided Wednesday to no longer carry out his functions,” the club said in a statement.

“The media pressure of which he is a victim is disturbing the team.”

Jarolim, 54, will provisionally be replaced by his 40-year-old assistant, Michal Petrous.

In addition to winning back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009, Jarolim also led the team to the group stage of the Champions League for the first time in 2007/08.

But Slavia have struggled this season and are just 12th in the Czech league, only one point ahead of tailenders Zbrojovka Brno.

Their poor run continued last Friday with a 3-0 defeat at FC Slovacko.

A former international with 13 caps and once Slavia Prague’s star midfielder, Jarolim previously coached Slavia in 1999-2001 and had been at the club since 2005 in his most recent stint.