Die Rytíři Kladno gehen mit einem neu zusammengestellten Trainerstab in die Saison 2026-2027. Cheftrainer wird Radim Rulík, der an der Bande von Marek Židlický und Ondřej Pavelec unterstützt wird. Zum Trainerstab gehören weiterhin auch Radek Jirátko und Tomáš Plekanec, der in seiner Rolle als Assistenztrainer für die Kontinuität des diesjährigen Erfolgs stehen wird.
“I first worked with the guys from the national team coaching staff three years ago. We have a great group, our cooperation has worked well for a long time, and we also get along well on a personal level. When Tomáš Drastil offered me the position of Sporting Director at Rytíři Kladno, it felt natural to approach Radim Rulík, Marek Židlický, and Ondřej Pavelec as well. I’m pleased that Kladno’s vision appealed to them and that we were able to finalize our cooperation,” said Rytíři Kladno Sporting Director Tomáš Plekanec.
Radim Rulík joins Rytíři Kladno as head coach as one of the most respected Czech coaches of his generation. He arrives in Kladno from his role as head coach of the Czech national team, with whom he won gold at the 2024 IIHF World Championship and previously, as an assistant coach, also captured world championship gold in 2005. With the Czech U20 national team, he won a gold medal at the 2020 World Junior Championship and a silver medal in 2023. During the 2014-2015 season, he led Litvínov to the Czech Extraliga title.
Kladno native Marek Židlický was one of the most prominent Czech defensemen of his generation. He joins the Knights from his position as assistant coach of the Czech national team. During his NHL career, he played hundreds of games for clubs such as the Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, and New Jersey Devils. At the international level, he won an Olympic bronze medal at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin and IIHF World Championship gold medals in 2005 as a player and in 2024 as an assistant coach. He also added a bronze medal from the 2011 World Championship on home ice. In 2012, he reached the Stanley Cup Final with the New Jersey Devils.
Kladno-born Ondřej Pavelec brings extensive top-level goaltending experience to the coaching staff. He joins the team from his role as goaltending coach of the Czech national team. During his NHL career, he appeared in more than 400 games and left a significant mark with the Atlanta Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets organizations. With the Czech national team, he won gold at the 2010 IIHF World Championship, bronze a year later, and another gold medal in 2024 as the team’s goaltending coach.
The goal of the new coaching staff, consisting of Radim Rulík, Marek Židlický, Ondřej Pavelec, Tomáš Plekanec, and Radek Jirátko, is to build on the rich tradition of Kladno hockey and establish the club as one of the top teams in the Czech Extraliga. Another important objective will be strengthening the connection with the youth program and developing homegrown players. Tomáš Plekanec will continue to serve as the club’s Sporting Director alongside his coaching responsibilities.
