Vogts plays down Poland link

Azerbaijan boss Berti Vogts has moved to deny rumours he has been approached to take over Poland.

Polish Football Association (PZPN) president Grzegorz Lato had implied they would be assessing the 65-year-old as a potential replacement for Franciszek Smuda, who left his post after his side’s Euro 2012 group stage exit.

“On June 27 the board of directors will meet, and we will discuss both candidates,” Lato told Polish radio station RMF FC.

“Then we will see which direction we are going – whether it will be a Polish coach or a foreign one.”

However, Vogts has now reacted with surprise to Lato’s assertions, claiming he had no idea about the PZPN’s interest in his services.

“I am very surprised at these reports,” the German told Sport-Informations-Dienst. “I have not spoken to anyone. That is a fact.”

Vogts has a wealth of experience in international football as a coach, having taken charge of Germany, Kuwait, Scotland and Nigeria before taking up the Azerbaijan job in 2008.