Stielike relieved of running ´Elephants´ affairs

Former German international Ulrich Stielike will not have his contract renewed as Ivory Coast coach the national federation announced on Tuesday.

The 53-year-old – who missed out on this year’s African Nations Cup because he returned to Germany to be with his desperately ill son who subsequently died – had had his contract extended at the end of February to April 15, but it has been decided not to renew it.

“At the expiry of this date (April 15) the president of the federation (Jacques Anouma) told the national coach that there would be no further extension,” read a statement from the federation.

“The president would like to thank the coach for the work achieved and wishes him every success for the rest of his career.”

Anouma has already met with former Monaco and Fulham coach and France international Jean Tigana – who was in the French side beaten on penalties by West Germany in the 1982 World Cup semi-final of which Stielike was part of – although he is to conduct more talks with other parties.

Stielike, who has also coached the Swiss national side, was replaced by Frenchman Gerard Gili during the African Nations Cup, where they were beaten in the semi-finals by eventual champions Egypt.

Stielike, whose last match in charge of the Elephants was a 2-0 defeat by Tunisia in a friendly on March 26, replaced Henri Michel in September 2006 after the Frenchman had guided the side to the African Nations Cup final – where they lost to Egypt – and their first ever World Cup finals, where they went out in the first round.