High Lavicka and Karol Kisel with the A-League grand final trophy. Photo: Getty Images

Vitezslav Lavicka is ready for an emotional farewell, writes Michael Cockerill.

Vitezslav Lavicka will say his goodbyes away from the spotlight, and before most of the crowd have settled into their seats for Sydney FC's final, and decisive, game of the season. It will take place perhaps 45 minutes before kick-off, when the players are just getting ready to warm-up and only the most devoted fans are inside Allianz Stadium. Lavicka will do a lap of the stadium, walking around the perimeter fence, chatting to those who are interested, perhaps posing for a photograph or signing an autograph. It is, what he describes as, his ''old-fashioned habit''. To engage the supporters, whether it be with former clubs such as Slovan Liberec or Sparta Prague, or, over the last three seasons, with Sydney FC.

Many coaches would not dream of putting themselves so close to the firing line. Football stadiums are, almost by definition, a refuge for malcontents. Fans are usually passionate, opinionated, and often quite vicious. But Lavicka - a polite, respectful, and patient man - generally manages to disarm them. True enough, one ''supporter'' midway through the low point of this season, charged down to the fence to yell abuse and throw his membership card at the Sky Blues coach. Lavicka barely flinched. Now, as he gets ready for his final appearance in the Allianz Stadium dugout, he has only kind words to say about the supporters. ''The Sydney FC fans, they are great, really great,'' he says. ''For me, it will be emotional when I do my walk around the stadium on Sunday. Usually it is just to say hello, and maybe speak a couple of words. But this time, it will be goodbye. It was the same at Slovan, and Sparta. I always leave part of my heart at the clubs where I work. And for me, Sydney FC has been the greatest coaching experience of my life.''

Anything less than a win in the final match of the regular season against Newcastle Jets and the Sky Blues will miss out on the finals for the second year in a row. After the euphoria of winning the championship in 2010, his first season at the club, Lavicka is in danger of departing with, at best, mixed reviews. Barring a miraculous charge through the finals series, it may be he finishes his time at Moore Park in the red. Whatever the case, the former Czech international will be remembered with kindness, even fondness. There's been no burning of bridges, no trail of destruction in his wake. Lavicka is a nice guy, some might argue too nice for the cesspit of professional sport. But he's won a championship in both his homeland (Slovan Liberec) and in Australia. That's a record to be proud of. Not that he's in the business of self-promotion.

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Low Vitezslav Lavicka shortly after Sydney FC's 4-0 home defeat to Melbourne Heart in December. Photo: Anthony Johnson

Talk to Lavicka about his time with Sydney FC, and he has a habit of deflecting the credit. He talks about the ''great people'' behind the club, and the ''co-operation'' he has enjoyed with members of his coaching staff such as Tony Popovic, Steve Corica and Ian Crook. ''I am a democratic coach, and I like to co-operate with my coaches very closely,'' he says. Most European coaches would never acknowledge they have learnt from the Australian game. Not Lavicka. He readily concedes he is a better coach than when he arrived.

''This was my first overseas experience and many, many people in the Czech Republic ask me to make a comparison,'' he says. ''I always say it is a different style to Europe, there are many different styles in the A-League, and the quality is going up all the time. You see a team like Brisbane Roar, and you can see how the game here is growing up. It is a young league, and of course there are things to improve, but people here should be proud of the A-League. I know I am.''

Despite the roller-coaster ride which has followed the championship season, there has never been a moment when Lavicka has regretted his decision to come to Sydney. It's been hard since his family returned to Prague last year, and that is a factor in the parting of ways. But for Sydney FC's longest-serving coach, the overwhelming impression has been a positive one. Both personally and professionally. In his office, there is a DVD collection of every game. All 88 of them. He can't take them all back to Prague, but one tape will definitely be in his luggage. The grand final win over the Victory in Melbourne. ''This is one of the best moments of my career, it is staying in my mind, in my heart, forever.''

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'Sydney FC has been the greatest coaching experience of my life'