Under-fire Austria football coach Krankl resigns
First Published: Sep 28, 2005
Austrian coach Hans Krankl smiles after the 2-0 victory over Wales in a World Cup qualifying match in March 2005. Krankl has resigned -- two days after the Austrian football federation announced that his contract would not be renewed after the last two qualifing matches for the 2006 World Cup.
Austria coach Hans Krankl resigned, two days after the Austrian football federation announced that his contract would not be renewed after the last two qualifing matches for the 2006 World Cup.
Austria cannot qualify from Group Six after drawing 0-0 in Azerbaijan and losing 3-2 in Poland but still have matches against England and Northern Ireland to come.
The Austrian federation announced Monday that the contract of 52-year-old Krankl, formally one of the best players in Europe who scored 34 goals in 69 games for the Austrian team, would not be extended when it comes up for renewal next month.
Krankl took over from Croatian Otto Baric in January 2002 and is expected to be succeeded by Josef Hickersberger, current coach of Austrian champions Rapid Vienna.
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