Philipp Zadina Relinquishes Reins in Pardubice

Zadina fully took over Pardubice Dynamo on January 18, when the club parted ways with Václav Varaďa, and subsequently promoted Zadina to the position of head coach. He lasted 265 days in that one. Although Dynamo is second in the extra league table, the match failed, the team lost at home to Sparta 0:4 and in overtime it was not enough even against Kometa and Hradec Králové.

Since the beginning of the week, there have been talks about the addition of experienced coach Miloslav Hořava to the coaching staff, which is indirectly confirmed by Dynamo’s sports director Petr Sýkora. However, an official agreement with Hořava has apparently not yet been reached, so hiring Miloš Holána, who worked in Pardubice six years ago, is also an option.

“Marek Zadina had the full support of the club management. The implementation team tried to complement it appropriately. Meanwhile, Marek surprised us with his decision, but we fully respect him,” comments Zadin’s sudden end at the Sýkora club. “Marek always did what he thought was best for the A-Team. He has been in a very difficult position since he started. He also ended his tenure at Dynamo with a decision he thought was best for the team. I wish Mark all the best in his future endeavors and believe that our paths will cross again in time.”

What is interesting is Sýkor’s statement that the coach had full support, but at the same time the management tried to supplement the implementation team appropriately. This is somewhat contradictory and one can speculate that this is why Zadin himself resigned. He might find it undignified. Although he himself justifies it more diplomatically for the club pages.

“I’ve always given everything to Dynamo and I hope that’s how I’ll be remembered here. The start to the season was not ideal from a game point of view, and I believe that my departure will relieve the team of the pressure it was under and will serve as the right impulse. I wish Dynamo to do well,” said Zadina.

During his tenure as head coach, he led Pardubice to the extra-league final, in which the team only lost in overtime of the seventh match. In total, he experienced 30 wins in 42 matches.

In less than a year and a half, this is the third coaching change in ambitious Pardubice. In May of last year, Václav Varaď replaced Radim Rulík, who only later moved to the national team. After him, it was Zadin who took over the scepter, however, the club is suing Varaďa for more than 11 million crowns.