Konkov: Football Federation still searching for Ukraine manager

President of the Football Federation of Ukraine (FFU) Anatoliy Konkov has said that the search for the new head coach of Ukraine's national team is continuing according to schedule. 

"Strategic issues linked to the current situation will be discussed tomorrow [on November 20] at a meeting of the FFU presidium. After that, we will again know the opinion of the coaching board. A final decision will be taken by the FFU executive committee. The federation's president expressed confidence that an optimal decision for the national team will be taken," the FFU's press service reported on Monday.

As reported, on Nov. 19, Ukrainian football star Andriy Shevchenko refused to accept Konkov's proposal to take charge of Ukraine's national football team.

"We had a frank and constructive conversation. We have an understanding of the fact that Andriy is not ready to become the head coach. But the federation does not rule out other forms of cooperation with Shevchenko," Konkov said.

At the same time, Ukrainian media reported on Tuesday that English football manager Harry Redknapp was one of the main contenders for the post of Ukraine manager. In June 2012, the 65-year-old manager was dismissed from Tottenham, where he had worked since 2008. He earlier coached West Ham, Portsmouth and Southampton. Redknapp was a candidate for the post of England manager after Italian Fabio Capello's retirement ahead of Euro 2012, but Roy Hodgson was appointed to the post.

As reported, the post of the head coach of the Ukrainian national football team became vacant after Oleh Blokhin agreed to take charge of FC Dynamo Kyiv. The decision on the appointment should be taken by the executive committee of the federation.