Canberra United coach Jitka Klimkova will head to New Zealand. Photo: Melissa Adams
Canberra United is scouring the globe to find a replacement for championship-winning coach Jitka Klimkova, who is off to New Zealand to fulfil her dream of leading a team to a World Cup.
Klimkova's successful two-year stint with United is over after the former Czech Republic international was appointed as the head coach of the Young Football Ferns in the lead-up to next year's under-17 World Cup in Costa Rica.
She will also be the assistant coach for New Zealand's women's under-20s team.
United chief executive Heather Reid said she was head-hunting several potential candidates for the position and hoped to have a new coach installed by the end of May.
Reid admitted her preference was for a female coach and that it was unlikely there were many in Australia who held the credentials as required by Football Federation Australia.
''I'm looking locally, but the number of qualified and experienced people within Australia is extremely limited because they have to have an A-licence,'' Reid said.
''We're also looking for someone who has the experience, preferably of coaching females at that level.
''The first point is to try to maintain our intention to appoint a female if possible, because we want to uphold our push to have more women in coaching positions.
''It's quite clear there's an absence of females in the coaching ranks.''
Once the new coach is appointed, the next task will be to try to retain the bulk of the playing roster.
''Clearly that [player recruitment] is a concern, but I've spoken to players and Jitka's been honest with the players as well, they've all been given the heads up that this was a possibility,'' Reid said.
''The most important thing is that Canberra United, as the benchmark club, is strong enough that the players that we currently have will want to stay and trust me in finding that suitable replacement.
''The quality of the players we have here will be attractive for some others from overseas.''
Klimkova made an immediate impact in her inaugural season with United, guiding the club to its maiden championship in 2011-12 and winning the W-League coach of the year award.
United was eliminated in the semi-finals last season, coinciding with Klimkova being overlooked for the Matildas coaching job this year.
''It's a great loss for Canberra and a great loss for Australian football,'' Reid said. ''She made an amazing impression, not just on our family, but on the wider football community in Australia and was recognised through getting the W-League coach of the year for season four.
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