• croatiantimes.com
• romaniantimes.at
• salzburgtimes.at
• viennatimes.at
• austrianindependent.com

Today

• Vienna - Unknown Underground
• Vienna - Cats
• Vienna - Andy Warhol
• Vienna - Laser Tag
• Vienna - Circus Art

© www.neumayr.cc

14. 09. 11. - 17:00

• more Sports news
• RSS Feed Sports

14. 09. 11. - 17:00

Constantini quits after Euro2012 flop

Dietmar Constantini decided to resign instantly as coach of the national team just days after he agreed to stick around until the end of the year.

Constantini and Football Association (ÖFB) boss Leo Windtner decided it would be best if he stayed in charge for the remainder of his contract after the squad’s encounter with Turkey in Vienna last week ended in a goalless draw. The result meant Austria is robbed of the last small chance to qualify for next year’s European Football Championship. The tournament will be organised by Poland and Ukraine.

ÖFB director Willibald Ruttensteiner announced yesterday (Tues) Constantini eventually decided to step down with immediate effect – and revealed he would take over himself in the last two Euro2012 qualifiers against Azerbaijan (7 October) and Kazakhstan on 11 October.

The initial agreement between Constantini and Windtner was widely criticised. Sport newspaper columnists claimed it would have been better to hire a new coach immediately. However, Windtner pointed out he was not in a rush regarding the issue, adding that finding a competent and affordable manager would take some time.

Ruttensteiner stressed yesterday he would certainly not continue managing the team regardless of how they performed in the two games next month. The ÖFB director already acted as caretaker boss of the national team for two matches in 2005. SV Ried manager Paul Gludovatz, ex-Borussia Dortmund star Matthias Sammer and former Rapid Vienna midfielder Dietmar Kühbauer have chances of becoming new manager of the national team, according to reports.

However, Sturm Graz boss Franco Foda is seen as being in pole position after celebrating the Bundesliga title last season. Sturm Graz President Gerald Stockenhuber disclosed he would allow the German to leave the club if the ÖFB were interested while Foda said he would continue focusing on his responsibilities at Sturm as the federation was yet to get in touch.

Austria – who were thrashed 2-6 by Germany shortly before the 0-0 against Turkey – are currently in fourth place in their qualification group. The team garnered eight points in as many matches. Their Euro2012 qualification group A is headed by Germany (24 points). Turkey is second with 14 points followed by Belgium (12 points). Azerbaijan are currently fifth (seven points), while Kazakhstan are last on the table with only three points.

Austria are only 68th in the global ranking of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). Constantini succeeded Czech Karel Brückner as manager of the team in 2009. He was attacked for failing to consider ex-captain Andreas Ivanschitz despite strong performances by Mainz 05 in the German Bundesliga. At the same time, Constantini aroused the ire of many supporters by pardoning Marko Arnautovic shortly after making clear the striker would not be nominated in the foreseeable future.

The wayward Werder Bremen ace reportedly clashed with teammates in the locker room after the team’s 0-2 loss against Turkey in Istanbul in March. Arnautovic insulted striker Stefan Maierhofer for failing to score from a penalty, according to reports.

Asked whether he may nominate Ivanschitz, Ruttensteiner said today every player would have equal chances to be called up and play for the national team in the upcoming games.

Constantini’s reputation among sport reporters worsened when he stood up and left after a journalist criticised the team’s defence and tactics in a recent press conference. A few minutes later, assistant manager Manfred Zsak and goalkeeping coach Franz Wohlfahrt were caught calling the writer an "idiot" as they whispered to each other while microphones placed at the podium by radio and TV stations were still on.

Constantini has fallen out with some of Austria’s most versatile players – including Borussia Mönchengladbach defender Martin Stranzl and Bologna right-back György Garics – over the past months. Newspapers angered the ex-Austria Vienna boss after he had claimed that tactics were "overestimated" in football.

Austrian Times

Related articles: football

1. Foda farewell prolongs FK Austria coach quest

   » Sports 2012-05-24

   German second-league team 1. FC Kaiserslautern have presented Franco Foda as their new coach.

2. Man Utd chase Austrian ace

   » Sports 2012-05-23

   Manchester United have signalised interest in David Alaba.

3. Bulls snatch ÖFB Cup

   » Sports 2012-05-22

   Red Bull Salzburg (RBS) have won the ÖFB Cup.

more related articles tagged "football"

Related articles: EU

1. Pecik defends TA engagement

   » Business 2012-05-24

   Telekom Austria (TA) investor Ronny Pecik has declared himself a team player.

2. IV demands focus on industry in crisis

   » Business 2012-05-24

   The general secretary of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) has appealed on Europe’s political leaders to strengthen the continent’s industry.

3. FW turnover takes off

   » Business 2012-05-24

   Austria’s biggest airport has managed to increase its profit.

more related articles tagged "EU"

Turks flattened by lone asylum seeker
A furious Nigerian went on the rampage at a refuge for asylum seekers in Leibnitz, attacking several people and damaging property.

Woman bites toddler
A woman who bit a two-year-old tot during a road rage row with her mother is being quizzed by police in Wiener Neustadt, Austria.

New Dany Boon comedy to be filmed in Austria
The French film star Dany Boon, one of the highest paid actors in Europe after his hit film "Welcome to the Sticks", is filming in Salzburg.

China meets Hallstatt
After a long time of speculation and anticipation the exact copy of Austrian world heritage village of Hallstatt-Dachstein in China will be unveiled, and there will be real-life Austrians present for the ceremony.

Skier in court after accident
A man from Graz is in court today accused of having inflicted negligent injury upon a five-year-old when skiing in Carinthia last year.

Two fires in Ottakring claim one life
Two fires started on Thursday evening in the Vienna district of Ottakring, one of which claimed a man’s life. Several people were evacuated as a result of the two blazes.

Cows zapped to death by lightning
Four cows were zapped to death after a lightning strike hit the barbed wire fence they were leaning on in Reith im Alpbachtal, Austria.

Wolf babies born in Schönbrunn
These cuddly Artic wolf cubs have got every right to look a bit frosty - after they emerged into the world for the first time in the middle of a 27 degree heatwave.

Cleaned Out
A Hungarian cleaning woman who stole tens of thousands of pounds worth of antique jewellery from an Austrian Countess and then sold it for "pocket money" unaware of its real value has been jailed by a court in Austria.

Great expectations for summer tourism season in Vorarlberg
The Vorarlberg tourism industry is currently riding high after a record breaking winter season, and the summer season is expected to follow that same trend.

Jobs in Austria