Defeat against Albania, Poland dismisses coach Santos, only formalization is missing

2023-09-11 17:33:43Sport SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Defeat against Albania, Poland dismisses coach Santos, only formalization is
Fernando Santos

After the defeat in Tirana, Poland has decided to fire coach Fernando Santos. The adventure of the Portuguese at the top of the bench lasted only 5 games in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. He was accused as the main culprit for the downfall of the team, which has lost the chances to qualify for the most important continental activity.

According to the Polish media, the football federation in Poland has made the decision and is working to resolve the contract with class, to make the separation as less painful as possible. For breaking the agreement with Santos, the Poles may have to pay around 320,000 euros, the salary of the remaining two months of the agreement with the coach.

In the last decade, the fate of the Lusitanian coach has been closely linked to the Albanian National Team. After Albania's historic victory in Portugal, in 2014, Santos was appointed head of the representative bench. With the Portuguese he won two international trophies, Euro 2016 and Nations League in 2019.

Albania again influenced the career of the 68-year-old, but in the opposite direction. After the fight with Cristiano Ronaldo in the representative team and the failure on the bench of Poland, the Reds and Blacks may have sealed the early retirement of Fernando Santos.

After the challenge of 'Air Albania', Santos has admitted that he will not give up the contract he has with Poland and now the ball remains in the federation's court.

"We tried until the end and did not lose our will. This is football, the players did not deserve this result. I can't be sure that there is never anything precise. However, I believe in the success of the mission, but we do not depend only on ourselves. I'm not the type of coach to give up. I am ready to continue the cooperation. It all depends on the federation. If the president decides that change is better, of course I am available. However, I still believe in qualifying for Euro 2024".

If he leaves, Fernando Santos would be the shortest-lived coach in the history of the Polish national team. The 68-year-old debuted on the national team bench on March 24 this year, recording only 2 wins and three losses in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.

 


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