The executive committee of the Czech Football Association CMFS appointed Frantisek Straka as new coach of the Czech national soccer team, CMFS deputy chairman Jaroslav Vacek said on Tuesday.

"It is a fulfilled dream, but I am not the main issue at the moment. I'd like the national team to get out of the difficult situation that has arisen after the (World Cup) qualification matches," Straka said.

The Czech team performed dismally in the qualifier matches and its chances to advance to the World Cup are very modest, according to the Czech News Agency CTK.

Straka is expected to choose Italian Massimo Morales as one of his assistants, CTK said.

Straka was born on May 28, 1958 in Ceske Budejovice, South Bohemia area of the Czech Republic.

Straka factfile:

Career as player: Ceske Budejovice (1966-77), Tachov (1977-79), Sparta Praha (1979-88), Borussia Moenchengladbach (1988-91), Hansa Rostock (1991-92), SV Wuppertal (1992-96), Viktoria Cologne (1996-98).

Czech national team: 35 matches/0 goals (1983-90).

Four-time champion of the Czech First League (1984-85, 1987-88),three-time winner of the Czech Cup (1980, 1984, 1988).

Career as coach: SV Wuppertal (2000-02), FK Teplice (2002-04), Sparta Praha (2004), LR Ahlen (2005), Viktoria Plzen (2006), Wacker Tirol Innsbruck (2006-07), Ceske Budejovice (2007-08), OFI Crete (2008).