Switzerland manager Ottmar Hitzfeld has announced his intention to retire from football after the 2012 European Championships, effectively withdrawing from the running to be the new Fulham maanger.
Goal.com UK exclusively revealed this week that Fulham had entered tentative negotiations with a view to appointing the veteran manager after the departure of Roy Hodgson to Liverpool, but will now have to look elsewhere.
The experienced coach guided Switzerland to a 1-0 win against eventual winners Spain at the 2010 World Cup, but the Schweizer Nati eventually failed to reach the knock-out stages in South Africa.
Switzerland’s early elimination was a big disappointment for Hitzfeld, but the former Bayern Munich gaffer is keen to do better at Euro 2012 before stepping down from professional football after the tournament.
“Every coach wants to be in charge of a team that fights for the title. However, I will not sign a contract with Germany or any other nation in the future,” Hitzfeld was quoted as saying by TZ-online.
“I’ve been approached by a number of big teams in the past, but the offers always came at the wrong moment.
“I have two more years to go with Switzerland now and I’m looking forward to Euro 2012. After that, I will retire from professional football.”
