Jitka Klimková has stood down as head coach of the Football Ferns with immediate effect after three years in the role.
Klimková (50) oversaw 39 international games for a record of 11 wins, seven draws and 21 losses.
Appointed in September 2021, she became the first women coach appointed on a full-time basis to the role and was given a six-year contract, through to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Her wins included the historic first-ever win for a New Zealand national team at a senior FIFA tournament with the 1-0 victory over former champions Norway at Eden Park in the opening game of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
During her time in charge, Klimková gave 18 players their senior international debuts and took 10 players to the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time.
Klimková will remain working for New Zealand Football for six months, supporting the high-performance department and national team activity.
Michael Mayne, who led the team in the June FIFA international window and at the Paris Olympics, will continue as interim Ford Football Ferns head coach while campaign planning for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 continues.
Jitka Klimková said: “I would like to thank New Zealand Football for the opportunity to coach the Football Ferns these last three years, it was a great honour representing Aotearoa around the world.
“I very much enjoyed working with the players, the coaches, the support staff, and the many great people in football and high-performance sport across New Zealand.
“This experience was a challenge and made me stronger. I believe now is the right time to step away and let another coach carry on.
“I will forever cheer for the Kiwis in sports.”
New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell said: “I want to thank Jitka for her time as Ford Football Ferns head coach and the major role she has played in bringing through a new generation of players.
“She will forever be remembered as the coach who led us to our first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup win, a historic, game-changing moment for football in Aotearoa New Zealand.
“We wish her the absolute best in whatever she chooses to do next.”
Background
May 26, 2024
NZ Football announced Klimková had chosen to take a leave of absence from her role while an employment-related matter was independently investigated.
In her absence, assistant coach Michael Mayne would act as head coach for the Ferns’ two games against Japan in Spain, played in early June.
READ MORE: Ferns coach Jitka Klimková takes leave of absence while investigation underway >>>>
June 8, 2024
NZ Football released a statement, saying Klimková would return to work with immediate effect after the conclusion of the independent investigation.
“With the investigation, commissioned by New Zealand Football and carried out by an independent workplace investigator, now concluded, Klimková will return with immediate effect,” the statement said.
READ MORE: Jitka Klimková returns to role after completion of workplace investigation >>>>
June 20, 2024
RNZ News reported NZ Football had called in independent facilitators in a bid to repair rifts in the Ferns team.
The broadcaster reported it had received a leaked letter from NZ Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell to players, inviting them and team management to take part in a “restorative process” in an effort to “build or rebuild constructive relationships”.
“There are many people in the environment who want [to be] working towards a more cohesive and high performance environment that is founded on high trust,” Pragnell wrote in the letter, according to RNZ.
“Despite the work the team and staff have put into this area over the past nine months there is still further work to be done. To that end NZF and NZPFA [NZ Professional Footballers’ Association] have agreed to providing a restorative process with trained independent facilitators to assist in building relationships with some players and staff.”
The process was voluntary, the letter said.
“A restorative process seeks to build or rebuild constructive working relationships. This first stage of a process would be the facilitators having preliminary meetings, with people who are interested, on an individual and confidential basis,” the letter stated.
“This meeting would be a chance for the facilitators to explain these principles, to hear about your experience and perspective and to explore with you what type of process may meet your needs and be a safe, respectful and accessible process for you.”
READ MORE: Leaked letter to Football Ferns players reveals a ‘restorative process’ is underway >>>>
June 28, 2024
NZ Football announced that Klimková had opted to stand aside from her role for the Paris Olympics.
“The decision comes following conclusion of an independent workplace employment investigation which cleared Klimková to lead the team at Paris 2024, however, in consultation with New Zealand Football, Klimková has taken the view that due to concerns in relation to the team environment, her wellbeing, and a restorative process having not been completed, it would not be the right time for her to return,” a statement said.
Michael Mayne was appointed interim coach for the Olympic Games tournament.
READ MORE: Football Ferns head coach Jitka Klimková to ‘stand aside’ for Paris Olympics >>>>
This story was first published on September 13, 2024.
More football stories
