Ukraine could have a permanent manger named for its national soccer team on April 21 when the nation’s soccer federation meets next.
With just 431 days left before the Euro 2012 soccer championship being co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland, the nation’s top soccer governing body failed to appoint a manager during its much anticipated March 30 executive committee meeting.
According to football federation president Hryhoriy Surkis, four potential candidates were discussed during the gathering.
Current caretaker manager Yuriy Kalytvyntsev, former manager Oleh Blokhin, current under-21 national team manager Pavlo Yakovenko as well as Italy’s former manager Marcello Lippi were considered.
However, Surkis didn’t rule out that other candidates might be considered prior the federation’s next meeting.
“Perhaps, you’d like to hear right now from me that the executive committee confirmed a new manager, Surkis said in a press briefing on March 30. “We would’ve not weighed the criteria and assessments properly had we came to a decision today.”
Besides, Surkis emphasized that the national team’s performance isn’t the executive committee’s main criterion for replacing or keeping Kalytvyntsev as permanent coach. Ukraine had on March 29 lost 2-0 to Italy in their friendly match.
“Naturally, we’re not satisfied with the results being demonstrated by the national team. However, let me remind you that on the eve of the 2006 World Cup, [then-manager Oleh] Blokhin didn’t achieve any victories,” said Surkis referring to the team’s subsequent advance to the World Cup quarterfinals, the most by any post-Soviet country.
Ukraine’s national soccer team has lacked a head coach ever since Myron Markevych resigned in August 2010 amid a match fixing scandal invovling a soccer club he coaches in Kharkiv. Yuri Kalytvyntsev took over as caretaker coach while the federation’s management seeks a permanent replacement.
