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Former Czech coach Bruckner takes on Austrian team job

Former Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner will take over Austria’s national team, replacing Josef Hickersberger after a disappointing European Championship campaign.

The Austrian soccer federation announced Bruckner’s appointment yesterday. Bruckner, who was missing at the federation’s news conference in Vienna, will be officially presented on Monday.

“He is one of the most experienced coaches of a national team in Europe,” federation president Friedrich Stickler said. “He is a successful coach not just with the national team, but he had also great results in working with youth teams.”

The 60-year-old Hickersberger quit the post after co-host Austria failed to advance past the group stage at last month’s Euro 2008.

Austria lost 1-0 to both Croatia and Germany and drew 1-1 with Poland.

The 68-year-old Bruckner also resigned from the Czech team after they were knocked out in the group stage of Euro 2008. The Czechs conceded three goals in the closing 15 minutes to lose its decisive group match against Turkey 3-2. Bruckner has been replaced by Petr Rada.

“It proves his good reputation as coach abroad,” Rada said. “I am glad that we don’t have the Austrians in our qualifying group for the 2010 World Cup.”

Bruckner took charge of the Czech team after it failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, and led them to the semi-finals of Euro 2004 and a berth in the 2006 World Cup.

It was not immediately clear whether Bruckner would want to work with team manager Andreas Herzog, who also served under Hickersberger, or bring on his own staff.

“No doubt, Bruckner is top draw,” said Herzog, Austria’s most capped player of all time with 103 matches.

“I had some hope that I would get the job but had no chance of course against such a candidate ... I could well imagine to work under Bruckner.”

Bruckner’s first match in charge of Austria will be a friendly against world champion Italy in Nice, France, on Aug. 20.
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