As a player, Lavička played for several Czech clubs, including Škoda Plzeň, RH Cheb and Sparta Prague.

[3] On 4 February 2009, he was appointed the new manager of Australian A-League club Sydney FC, along with Czech counterpart Michal Zach as assistant coach.

[5] In Lavička's first league match, Sydney FC ran out 3–2 winners against expansion team North Queensland Fury, played in Townsville.

[7] Sydney then went on to win the A-League Minor Premiership after finishing narrowly ahead of Melbourne Victory and Gold Coast United, also securing them an Asian Champions League spot.

[8] Lavička was voted A-League Coach of the Year for the 2009–2010 season by players in the league as part of the Professional Footballers Australia awards.

Lavička followed up this success by winning the Czech cup in the same season, defeating Rivals (and league runner up) Viktoria Plzen on penalties.