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SPORTS: GREECE HAND REINS FOR THEIR UEFA EURO 2016 OVER TO SERGIO MARKARIAN
UEFA.com
Feb 12 2015
Greece hand reins over to Markarian
Published: Thursday 12 February 2015, 15.12CET
Sergio Markarian will coach Greece for the rest of their UEFA EURO
2016 campaign, with UEFA EURO 2004 talisman Giorgos Karagounis having
pushed for his appointment.
The Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) has named Sergio Markarian as
the new coach of Greece on the recommendation of Giorgos Karagounis -
the current director of Greek national teams, who played under the
Uruguayan at Panathinaikos FC.
The 70-year-old Markarian will fill the void created by the departure
of Claudio Ranieri, who left in mid-November after just four months
in charge. Markarian will sign a deal until the end of Greece's UEFA
EURO 2016 qualifying campaign, with the contract to be automatically
extended until July 2016 if he succeeds in steering Greece to the
finals in France. His contract requires him to take up permanent
residence in the country.
"Being given the responsibility of coaching the Greece national team
is a great honour for me," said Markarian. "I would like to thank the
federation for choosing me. We have a tough task ahead, but I believe
in my ability and in the potential of Greek football. We will all do
our best to achieve our aims, starting with our upcoming encounter
in Hungary."
Twice coach of Paraguay (from 1992-93 and 1999-2002), Markarian -
who is of Armenian extraction - occupied the Peru helm from 2010-14,
with both of those national sides enjoying their highest ever FIFA
rankings (eighth and 19th respectively) under his tutelage.
Markarian also understands Greece, having worked at three different
Super League clubs. He first crossed the Atlantic in 1998 to manage
Ionikos FC for a season, before returning in December 2001 to coach
Panathinaikos. He guided the Greens to the quarter-finals of the
UEFA Champions League in 2001/02, where they were eliminated by FC
Barcelona, 3-2 on aggregate.
He departed in May that year, but was reinstated in the autumn after
Fernando Santos stepped down as Panathinaikos boss. His team challenged
Olympiacos FC for the league title but just missed out, also making
it to the 2002/03 UEFA Cup quarter-finals where they lost to Jose
Mourinho's FC Porto. Between 2004 and 2005 he coached Iraklis FC.
Markarian impressed in Greek football, learning the language and
winning over his players, and showing great tactical awareness. His
sides showed plenty of spirit and a never-say-die mentality - something
which will be useful as UEFA EURO 2004 winners Greece attempt to
make up for a poor start to Group F, culminating in a 1-0 home loss
to the Faroe Islands. Markarian will lead Greece for the first time
in their qualifier against Hungary in Budapest on 29 March.
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/qualifiers/news/newsid=2209087.html
From: A. Papazian
UEFA.com
Feb 12 2015
Greece hand reins over to Markarian
Published: Thursday 12 February 2015, 15.12CET
Sergio Markarian will coach Greece for the rest of their UEFA EURO
2016 campaign, with UEFA EURO 2004 talisman Giorgos Karagounis having
pushed for his appointment.
The Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) has named Sergio Markarian as
the new coach of Greece on the recommendation of Giorgos Karagounis -
the current director of Greek national teams, who played under the
Uruguayan at Panathinaikos FC.
The 70-year-old Markarian will fill the void created by the departure
of Claudio Ranieri, who left in mid-November after just four months
in charge. Markarian will sign a deal until the end of Greece's UEFA
EURO 2016 qualifying campaign, with the contract to be automatically
extended until July 2016 if he succeeds in steering Greece to the
finals in France. His contract requires him to take up permanent
residence in the country.
"Being given the responsibility of coaching the Greece national team
is a great honour for me," said Markarian. "I would like to thank the
federation for choosing me. We have a tough task ahead, but I believe
in my ability and in the potential of Greek football. We will all do
our best to achieve our aims, starting with our upcoming encounter
in Hungary."
Twice coach of Paraguay (from 1992-93 and 1999-2002), Markarian -
who is of Armenian extraction - occupied the Peru helm from 2010-14,
with both of those national sides enjoying their highest ever FIFA
rankings (eighth and 19th respectively) under his tutelage.
Markarian also understands Greece, having worked at three different
Super League clubs. He first crossed the Atlantic in 1998 to manage
Ionikos FC for a season, before returning in December 2001 to coach
Panathinaikos. He guided the Greens to the quarter-finals of the
UEFA Champions League in 2001/02, where they were eliminated by FC
Barcelona, 3-2 on aggregate.
He departed in May that year, but was reinstated in the autumn after
Fernando Santos stepped down as Panathinaikos boss. His team challenged
Olympiacos FC for the league title but just missed out, also making
it to the 2002/03 UEFA Cup quarter-finals where they lost to Jose
Mourinho's FC Porto. Between 2004 and 2005 he coached Iraklis FC.
Markarian impressed in Greek football, learning the language and
winning over his players, and showing great tactical awareness. His
sides showed plenty of spirit and a never-say-die mentality - something
which will be useful as UEFA EURO 2004 winners Greece attempt to
make up for a poor start to Group F, culminating in a 1-0 home loss
to the Faroe Islands. Markarian will lead Greece for the first time
in their qualifier against Hungary in Budapest on 29 March.
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/qualifiers/news/newsid=2209087.html
From: A. Papazian