Austria to name new coach after Brueckner's departure

Austria will appoint a new coach in time for their next World Cup qualifier after severing ties with Karel Brueckner, the Austrian Football Federation (OeFB) said yesterday.

"(It will be) within the next ten days," a federation spokesman said.

Austria face Romania in a European Group Seven match in Klagenfurt on April 1.

The OeFB cut short its contract with seasoned Czech trainer Brueckner, who was appointed in mid-2008, on Monday after a string of defeats.

"Everyone was dissatisfied with the way things were going, including Brueckner himself," a OeFB spokesman was quoted as saying. The split was amicable.

Former 69-year-old Czech Republic coach Brueckner made a fine start to the 2010 World Cup qualifiers with a 3-1 home win over France last September but it was downhill from there.

Austria have taken four points from four matches in Group Seven. They have lost their last three matches, a qualifier against group leaders Serbia and friendlies against Turkey and Sweden, leaving Brueckner with a record of one win and two draws in seven games.