Poland to name new coach on July 10

Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland will name a new coach within two weeks to replace Franciszek Smuda, who stood down after the Poles went out in the group stage, the Polish football association (PZPN) said on Wednesday.

"The names of the candidates will be made known on July 10, and the new coach will be chosen then," said PZPN spokeswoman Agnieszka Olejkowska.

"Time is marching on, and we need a quick decision in order to ensure that the team are prepared for their World Cup qualifiers," she added.

Drawn in Group H for the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, Poland will face Euro 2012 quarter-finalists England, Montenegro, Moldova, minnows San Marino and fellow Euro 2012 hosts Ukraine.

They kick off their campaign on September 7 away to Montenegro, before taking on Moldova at home four days later, and then host England on October 16.

Olejkowska said the PZPN was poised to interview candidates for the post.

Among the three names circulating, the front-runner is seen as Waldemar Fornalik, currently in charge of Ruch Chorzow, where he was a defender in the 1980s and early 1990s.

The 49-year-old steered Ruch, who are based in Poland's industrial Silesia, to second in the top flight this season, thereby securing a Europa League berth. They also reached the Polish Cup final.

Another man being touted as a likely candidate is 40-year-old Maciej Skorza, who recently left Polish powerhouses Legia Warsaw, and was Poland's assistant coach during their lacklustre showing at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

The other man tipped to be in the running is 39-year-old Michal Probierz, coach of 2011 champions Wislaw Krakow.

There had been reports that England's Swedish former coach Sven-Goran Eriksson could be a possible option, but the PZPN has decided it wants a Polish boss to ensure smooth communication with the players, Olejkowska said earlier.

Only one foreigner has ever managed Poland.

Dutchman Leo Beenhakker took the helm after the 2006 World Cup, became a hero for steering them to their debut European championship in 2008, but lost favour after their poor performance there and was axed after failing to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

PZPN board member Jacek Masiota said it was also a matter of moving quickly.

"We'll only be considering Polish candidates due to lack of time," he said.

Poland's first game under their new coach is set to be an August 15 friendly away to Estonia - who caused a surprise in the Euro 2012 qualifiers by making it as far as the playoffs where they lost to the Republic of Ireland.

Many Polish fans had big expectations for Euro 2012, seeing it as a chance to revive the country's long-lost footballing glory days of the 1970s and early 1980s.

Smuda, in charge since October 2009, had said his minimum goal was to advance from the group stage.

But despite being buoyed by their supporters, Poland only managed 1-1 draws with Greece and Russia, and their fate was sealed when they lost 1-0 to the Czech Republic on June 16.

Smuda announced right after that game that he would be stepping down, though the 64-year-old's contract had in any case run only until August 31.

The early exit has renewed the pressure on PZPN chief Grzegorz Lato to quit.

After rebutting claims of corruption at the PZPN in the run-up to the tournament - in the wake of a corruption scandal last year - the 62-year-old former Poland great has refused to fall on his sword following the team's failure.

However, he is expected to announce next week whether he will seek a new term in the PZPN leadership election on October 26.

There were high hopes in 2008 when Lato first won office, as he symbolises the golden era, having been the top scorer at the 1974 World Cup when Poland finished third.
 

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