Austria part company with veteran coach Bruckner

Karel Bruckner has left his position as coach of the Austrian national team, the Austrian football federation (OFB) announced on Monday.

In an official statement, the OFB said that a mutual decision had been taken by Bruckner and the OFB following a telephone interview between the Czech coach and newly-appointed OFB president Leo Windtner.

Windtner, disappointed by Austria’s stuttering World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign, hinted before he assumed his new role on Saturday that he was prepared to part company with Brucker, 68, if he was not convinced by his plans for the national side.

Austria have picked up just one point since a surprise 3-1 victory over France in their World Cup qualifying Group Seven opener and are currently fourth in the group.

Their last match was a 2-0 friendly defeat to Sweden.

Bruckner took over as Austria coach in July 2008 after leading his native Czech Republic to a group-stage exit at Euro 2008.