Miše in for Vučević at Hajduk
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
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Ante Miše has replaced Goran Vučević as HNK Hajduk Split coach after their Croatian First League title hopes were all but ended by a run of three losses and one draw in four games.
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HNK Hajduk Split have replaced coach Goran Vučević with another former player, Ante Miše, after the effective end of their Croatian title hopes.
Miše, 43, takes charge of the club for a second time after Vučević paid the price for Hajduk's recent slump in the Croatian First League. A haul of one point from the last four games, including Saturday's 3-2 home loss to mid-table NK Karlovac, has left second-placed Hajduk 13 adrift of leaders NK Dinamo Zagreb with five matches left – putting the capital club on the verge of a sixth straight championship.
With Hajduk's ambitions now reduced to finishing runners-up for the third season running, and securing a UEFA Europa League second qualifying round place, the decision was taken to dismiss 39-year-old Vučević. The one-time Hajduk midfielder had begun his second spell at the helm, following a brief tenure in 2008, last November after a stint running the academy.
Miše, who also played in midfield for Hajduk, now takes the reins for a second time having previously coached the team in 2008/09. "We need to do something to ensure Hajduk start to play much better and keep second spot in the table, therefore securing a European place," Miše said. "What Hajduk have shown recently wasn't good and we are all aware of that. We will do everything to solve the problems."
The former NK Dugopolje, NK Mosor and NK Trogir trainer also coached NK Istra in between his first and current stay in the Hajduk hot seat.
