Plzeň's Vrba accepts Czech Republic challenge

Pavel Vrba will end his tenure with FC Viktoria Plzeň on 15 December at the conclusion of their UEFA Champions League campaign after agreeing to lead the Czech Republic through UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying.

Vrba, 49, triggered a release clause in his contract after being offered the national-team post vacated by Michal Bílek in September; Josef Pešice took charge of three games on an interim basis. "I am delighted that we have secured a coach with a lot of outstanding results behind him," said Football Association of the Czech Republic (FAČR) president Miroslav Pelta. "He is respected and supported by footballing authorities and public alike."

The announcement spells the end of Vrba's glorious spell with a Plzeň side that had never won a major title before his arrival in 2008. The former MŠK Žilina boss led his side to a 2-1 win against FK Jablonec in the 2009/10 Czech Cup final and trumped that the following season, the club's centenary, winning the league title and taking Plzeň into the UEFA Champions League group stage. A second Czech First League crown followed in 2012/13.

Vrba has just four games to go at the Plzeň helm, two league games and two in the UEFA Champions League as his side, out of the running for the last 16, seek a UEFA Europa League spot. The club's general manager Adolf Šádek is confident the team will be able to thrive despite the distraction, saying: "We respect Vrba's decision and believe that though the situation is complicated, the team will handle the rest of the autumn successfully."

Vrba's contract with the Czech Republic begins on 1 January 2014, with his first game in charge a friendly against Norway in March. The Czechs failed to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.