Weiss stands down as Slovakia coach

Vladimír Weiss has agreed to formally stand down as Slovakia coach after failing to lead the national team to UEFA EURO 2012.

The 47-year-old took Slovakia to the 2010 FIFA World Cup and had a contract running until 2013. However, Weiss has accepted a parting of the ways, with Slovak Football Association (SFZ) president Ján Kováčik saying: "Failure to qualify is the simple reason why we came to an agreement about ending his tenure. If the team had better results, we would have no reason to change. To be honest, I think he will come back one day."

Once a midfielder for Czechoslovakia and Slovakia, Weiss was appointed national coach in 2008 and guided Slovakia to their first major finals in South Africa. His side reached the round of 16, but failed to shine in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying, finishing fourth in Group B behind Russia, Republic of Ireland and Armenia. Weiss will now focus all his attentions on his post as ŠK Slovan Bratislava coach, a role he had been combining with national-team duties since August 2011.

FC Lokomotiv Moskva midfielder Ján Ďurica paid tribute to his former boss, saying: "He achieved things like nobody before him, not just for our national team but for the whole of Slovakian football." Slovakia meet Turkey in a friendly in Bursa on 29 February. They have been drawn alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Latvia, Liechtenstein and Lithuania in 2014 World Cup qualifying Group G.