Sparta Prague Parts Ways with Lars Friis After MOL Cup Final Loss

Sparta Prague fires head coach Lars Friis after MOL Cup final loss to Olomouc, with Lubos Loucka taking over temporarily. Check out the latest news and updates on Sparta Prague's performance this season.

Sparta Prague parted ways with head coach Lars Friis following a 3-1 loss to Olomouc in the MOL Cup final. Friis's tenure lasted less than 12 months. Lubos Loucka, the reserve team coach, will take over temporarily.

“We couldn't wait any longer,” the club stated, referencing the team's fourth-place league standing and four-game losing streak. “After the huge disappointment of the Olomouc game...” highlighted the need for a change.

“The current season is a big disappointment for all of us. Lubos Loucka is taking over the team temporarily and will give the team new energy. And the players have only two more games to prove that they care about the club,” announced AC Sparta Prague sporting director Tomas Rosicky on the club's website.

“I thank Lars very much for everything he has done for Sparta and for his great contribution to the club's recent successes,” the former player added.

Lars Friis joined Sparta Prague as assistant coach to Brian Priske in December 2022. Together, they won two championship titles and a MOL Cup. Friis took over as head coach after Priske left for Feyenoord.

Under Friis, Sparta became the first team in 19 years to reach the Champions League league phase, achieving this through wins over Shamrock Rovers, FCSB, and Malmo in qualifying rounds. However, the team struggled in the league phase, earning just four points from eight games with a notable win over Salzburg and a draw at Stuttgart.

Sparta Prague initially showed promise under Lars Friis, building on Brian Priske's work. However, they encountered issues in the autumn, particularly in domestic competitions. The team suffered losses to Slavia, Plzen, Banik Ostrava, and Sigma Olomouc, and also dropped points against Dukla and Teplice.

A key challenge for Sparta Prague was improving their defensive performance, which led to changes in the coaching staff. Jens Askou, Friis' assistant, departed and was replaced by Michal Vavra.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮, Lars! 🙏 #acsparta pic.twitter.com/j39SHChd0K

— AC Sparta Praha (@ACSparta_CZ) May 15, 2025

The club was active in the transfer market, making several notable signings. These included the return of Jan Kuchta, the arrival of defender Emmanuel Uchenna from Banik Ostrava, Magnus Kofod Andersen from Venezia, and the return of youth internationals Patrik Vydra and Adam Sevinsky from loan spells.

Sparta Prague's reinforcements, including Jan Kuchta, Emmanuel Uchenna, Magnus Kofod Andersen, Patrik Vydra, and Adam Sevinsky, have yielded mixed results. The team initially showed promise, winning their first six games in the new year, notably claiming victory in the home derby against Slavia Prague. However, their performance faltered towards the end of the regular season, with the team struggling to maintain consistency.

Sparta Prague's struggles continued with a 1-0 loss in Liberec, followed by a disappointing 4-2 home defeat against Plzen. The team's performance didn't improve in their match against Banik, where they settled for a 1-1 draw in the 28th league round.

Heading into the championship round, Sparta Prague sat in fourth place. With two rounds left, it's now certain they'll finish no higher than fourth. However, their European football spot is under threat due to fifth-placed Jablonec trailing just two points behind.

The final blow came when Sparta lost the MOL Cup final, prompting the management to take decisive action. This led to the departure of Lars Friis as the team's head coach.