New Zealand coach Jitka Klimkova Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Football Ferns coach Jitka Klimková has resigned as coach of the New Zealand women's football team.
Her resignation comes after she missed the side's Paris Olympics campaign in the wake of an investigation into an employment matter in May.
She also missed games against Japan in the lead up to the Olympics due to the employment investigation.
Klimková, 39, was at the helm of the side for the past three years but was contracted for six years through until the 2027 World Cup.
She oversaw the first ever win for a New Zealand national team at a senior FIFA tournament with the 1-nil win over Norway at Eden Park in the opening game of last years World Cup.
In a statement New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell said Klimkova played a major role in bringing through a new generation of players but there was no mention of the employment investigation.
Ahead of the Olympics Pragnell wrote to the players after the investigation, inviting both players and team management to be part of a "restorative process" to "build or rebuild constructive relationships".
In the statement Pragnell said Klimokva "will forever be remembered as the coach who led us to our first ever FIFA Women's World Cup win, a historic, game-changing moment for football in Aotearoa New Zealand.
There was no mention of the employment investigation with Klimkova saying she "very much enjoyed working with the players, the coaches, the support staff."
"This experience was a challenge and made me stronger. I believe now is the right time to step away and let another coach carry on."
Klimková will remain working for New Zealand Football for the next six months, supporting the high performance department and national team activity.
Michael Mayne, who led the team in the June international window and in Paris, will continue as interim head coach.
- RNZ