Jitka Klimková

Coach Profile
Football

“In 2027 we want to advance out of the group at the World Cup.”

Football Ferns Head Coach, Jitka Klimková, understands the assignment.

“We needed to have the first win at home (at the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup) and learn from it and build it. It’s clear to me we can get out of the group.”

The 1-0 result against Norway in the opening match of the tournament was the Football Ferns first win at a World Cup and set the tournament alight. Football fever swept around the motu and Klimková was at the heart of it.

When the final whistle blew at a packed-out Eden Park, Klimková raised her hands in pure joy as the result she believed the team was capable of was finally achieved.

“Many people believed for many years that that result was possible. It was the best day of their lives to see the potential lived on the biggest stage at home. That’s why you do it as a coach.”

Klimková grew up in a small village in the Czech Republic close to the Slovakian border and not being from a football family, she played her first game of football at the relatively late age of 15. That game changed her life.

“It was not common for girls to play football in our community. It was a tough start playing with the boys, but I knew I wanted to play and when I did I thought, oh my goodness this is my passion!”

When Klimková was 16 she got her first football break at a top Slovakian Club, Sokol Čejč, which was around the same timing of the dissolution of the former Czechoslovakia. Playing well in this league, at age 18 she was selected
to the U19 Slovakian team and was then called up to the national team.

“I have represented both Slovakia and the Czech Republic in my playing careers which is really cool.”

Following her playing career which included time at the prominent Slovácko club in Prague, it was natural for Klimková to move into coaching. A deep love for, combined with curiosity of, performance and a desire to stay connected to football led her into coaching.

When the Football Ferns head coach role was advertised in mid 2021, Klimková knew she had unfinished business after a stint as coach for the U17 New Zealand team in 2013-2014.

Coming back to New Zealand to coach the Football Ferns provided Klimková the opportunity to develop the huge potential she saw all those years ago.

She’s fallen in love with New Zealand, living in Tāmaki Makaurau with her wife who she met when she was coaching in the United States from 2015-2019.

“I want to put all my knowledge and energy in, as I believe women’s football in New Zealand can really grow and be in a better place.”

She says her coaching philosophy is based off her experiences as a player – wanting to create an atmosphere to allow her team (both players and management) to thrive.

“I’ve always wanted to create an environment – regardless of the level – that is the most professional, the safest and the most enjoyable. Those are the values I hold as a coach.”

Klimková believes the best part of coaching in New Zealand is the potential across both the men’s and women’s game.

She is realistic about where football has traditionally sat on the pecking order of sports in New Zealand, but has observed a huge sporting talent pool and she would love to attract more to play the round ball game.

Right now, Klimková is reflective on the World Cup and how the Football Ferns can qualify and do well at the Paris 2024 Olympics and move onto the next World Cup with success.

“We saw at this year’s World Cup the standard has improved so much. We have to get better, but I believe we can.”

The journey to the World Cup was intense, with the Football Ferns utilising every FIFA International window in the lead up to the tournament.

The Football Ferns centralized for nine weeks prior to the tournament which Klimková believes was critical with so many of the players based overseas and usually flying into games a few days before (or even the day before) to join the team.

“The connection piece is essential. When you have a clear goal, a clear vision, we can do so much.”

While the results since Klimková took the reins haven’t always shown wins or goals on the scoreboard, it was always about a higher ambition to excel at the World Cup. In the mission to perform at the World Cup, the next goal was to inspire girls and boys around New Zealand to develop a love of football.

“That first goal by Hannah Wilkinson and the first win is how we want to be seen, but as a coach I have to think, what could have been better? How can we improve?”

Klimková is constantly looking for improvements and has thought deeply about her coaching and what could have helped get the Football Ferns out of the group stages of the tournament.

“As a coach, should I have made some formation choices? For example, changing our formation against Switzerland to more attacking.”

There is no question for Klimková that the base of women’s football is strong as they move into the new cycle, and the team will be richer for the World Cup experience.

There are also no questions about Klimková’s commitment as a coach to New Zealand.

“I love New Zealand. The nature. The people. We feel very at home here.”