PRAGUE (AP) — Sparta Prague promoted assistant coach Lars Friis to lead the Czech champion on Wednesday, replacing coach Brian Priske who is moving to Dutch team Feyenoord.
Sparta said the 48-year-old Friis was given a multi-year contract. Before joining the coaching staff 18 months ago as assistant to Priske, Friis was head coach of Danish clubs Viborg and Aalborg.
“It was most important for us to continue in our work according to a clearly set club system,” Sparta sport director Tomáš Rosický said.
Both Friis and Priske are Danish.
Priske came to Sparta two years ago and immediately led struggling Sparta to its first title after nine years. He successfully defended the title this year and did the double by winning the Czech Cup. Under Priske, Sparta reached the round of 16 in the second-tier Europa League this season where it was eliminated by Liverpool.
Sparta agreed to release Priske before the end of his contract to take over Feyenoord whose coach Arne Slot became the Liverpool manager as the replacement for Jurgen Klopp.
“Thank you for two wonderful years,” Sparta told Priske.
According to Czech media reports, Feyenoord paid Sparta 2.5 million euros ($2.7 million) for the coach’s transfer. Feyenoord finished second to PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie last season.
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