Antic extends Serbia deal to 2012

Serbia coach Radomir Antic has extended his contract with the Serbian Football Federation (FSS) until 2012, to lead the national squad to the 2012 European championships, officials said Friday.

“This is a sign of great trust and I hope that both myself and the players I lead will live up to it,” Antic said after signing the contract at the FSS offices in Belgrade.

Last month, the FSS said they had decided to extend Antic’s deal until 2011 based on his results which were “on the whole excellent and positive.”

Antic who once coached Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, was also awarded with the “Golden Ball” for the best coach in Serbia.

Former player for a number of Serbian, Turkish, Spanish and English teams, Antic took over the helm of the national squad in August 2008 after two disastrous campaigns by Serbia for the 2006 World Cup and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Under his guidance Serbia qualified directly for the 2010 World Cup and face Germany, Australia and Ghana at the finals.