His first challenge will be the 2016 World Cup of Hockey in Toronto in September. The contract also includes the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Germany and France, the edition one year later in Denmark and the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, Korea.

“The choice of the executive committee was unanimous,” said Tomas Kral, the President of the Czech Ice Hockey Association. “With Josef Jandac we agreed on a two-year contract and he will exclusively work for the national team. His first task will be working on a roster for the World Cup of Hockey.”

The 47-year-old has been working for Sparta Prague for the last four years and was named assistant to current men’s national team coach Vladimir Vujtek for this season, a position he also held at the 2009 and 2010 World Championships and the 2010 Olympics.

Until May Vladimir Vujtek will remain as head coach of the men’s national team. The future of Vujtek, who originally planned to retire, is yet open and after discussions with the Czech Ice Hockey Association the door will be open for him to work in another capacity for the organization after the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in May if he decides to continue his coaching career.