CZECH REPUBLIC COACH:
Karel Bruckner

Back home in the Czech Republic, Karel Bruckner is known as "Kleki Petra," a nickname taken from an American Indian chief from a novel. At 66 and with age creases on his face and grey hair, Bruckner certainly looks like a wise old chief. His actions certainly fit the bill as well. He is a brilliant tactician and demonstrated the fact by coaching the Czech Republic to the World Cup.

The oldest head coach in the finals, Bruckner is expected to retire from coaching after the World Cup. Though he has no experience coaching outside of his country, Bruckner has forged a reputation as an astute coach who understands the modern game. He directed the Czech Republic Under-23 team in the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney and the full national side to the Euro 2004 semifinals in Portugal (on a reported annual salary of only $110,000).

Bruckner's coaching career began in 1973 at Sigma Olomouc, with whom he has had four spells in charge. Despite his long career, Bruckner has won only one championship -- the Slovakia Cup in 1985 with Bratislava. During his younger days as a coach, Bruckner reportedly obsessed over tactics and formations. He would draw various systems on pieces of paper while staying up late into the night. Perhaps there is a good reason.

Bruckner is considered a superb chess player, a game in which strategy must be decided many moves ahead. According to BBC.com, Bruckner devised this strategy in the eighties. He had two players take a free kick, but they collided. While his foes looked on in disbelief, a third player then fired home a goal. His best-known piece of strategy came at Euro 2004. His team trailing the Netherlands, 2-0, Bruckner pulled defender Zdenek Grygera for Vladimir Smicer. Another forward, Marek Heinz, was inserted later on. The Czechs rallied for a rather improbable 3-2 victory as Smicer connected for the game-winner in the 88th minute. Even Dutch coach Dick Advocaat admitted he had been outcoached.