2023–24 season
On 9 December 2023, Kratky was appointed as the new head coach of Mumbai City after previous manager Des Buckingham parted ways with the club mid-season to join EFL League One side Oxford United. [5] [6] [7] His first game ended in a 0–0 draw away to FC Goa on 12 December 2023. [8] His first win came on 20 December 2023, in a fiery 2–1 win over Mohun Bagan SG, which included 11 yellow cards and seven red cards. [9] [10]
In the 2024 Super Cup, despite being allowed to play six foreign players, Kratky regularly fielded lineups with fewer foreigners. Despite this, Mumbai won all three games and qualified for the semi-final, but lost to Odisha FC following a goal from ex-Mumbai striker Diego Mauricio. [11]
In Mumbai's first game after the Super Cup, the team lost 3-2 at home to Jamshedpur FC. [12] However, Mumbai went on a 9-match unbeaten run after that match, consisting of 7 wins and 2 draws to put the club on top of the table going into the final day. [13] On the final day of the season, Mumbai played against Mohun Bagan Super Giant, with the winner of the match winning the ISL League Shield as well. [14] However, in the match between the two sides on 15 April 2024, Mohun Bagan emerged victorious, winning 2-1. [15] .
Going into the ISL playoffs, in the semi-final first leg on 24 April, Mumbai were 2-0 down away at FC Goa in the last few minutes of the match. However, Kratky continued his trust in Indian players, subbing out Jakub Vojtus for Bipin Singh in the 65th minute, and then Yoell van Nieff and Tiri for Gurkirat Singh and Sanjeev Stalin in the 88th minute. [16] Playing with a single foreigner, Syrian defender Thaer Krouma, on the pitch, Mumbai mounted a late comeback with a brace from Lallianzuala Chhangte and a goal from Vikram Partap Singh. Kratky's substitutes played a crucial part in all three goals, with 64th minute substitute Jayesh Rane assisting both of Chhangte's goals, and Vikram's goal coming from a rebound from a long-range Gurkirat Singh shot. All three goals came extremely late, with Chhangte's first goal being in the 90th minute, Vikram's goal being in the 91st minute, and Chhangte's second goal being in the 96th minute. [17] In the second leg back in Mumbai, the club won 2-0 with goals from Jorge Pereyra Diaz and Lallianzuala Chhangte to progress to the ISL Cup Final. [18]
In the final, Mumbai were to face off against Mohun Bagan again, aiming to stop their opponents from winning the ISL Shield and ISL Cup double. [19] This time, though, Kratky was able to get a win as Mumbai won 3-1 with goals from Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Bipin Singh, and Jakub Vojtus. This secured the second ISL Cup in the club's history, and the first trophy for Kratky as a head coach. [20]
