Basel to release duo
Wednesday, January 22, 2003
Article summary
FC Basel expect George Koumantarakis and Ljubo Milicevic to leave the club at the end of the season.
Article body
Contract not renewed
Koumantarakis, whose contract will not be renewed, has struggled for a regular place in coach Christian Gross's starting lineup this season after falling behind Christian Giménez, Julio Hernán Rossi, Hakan Yakin and Hervé Tum in the pecking order. He played three times for South Africa in last summer's FIFA World Cup.
Few opportunities
Milicevic, meanwhile, has had few opportunities since arriving from FC Zürich last summer and has not made a single appearance for Basel in the UEFA Champions League this season.
Trio staying
However, Basel's chief executive, Roger Hegi, confirmed that Basel are determined to retain the services of Mario Cantaluppi, Sébastien Barberis and Alexandre Quennoz. "Ideally we would like to keep all three of them," he said.
Reinforcements complete
The Swiss club, currently bottom of Champions League Group D after losing their first two second group stage matches, added that they will be making no more reinforcements this winter having signed Boris Smiljanic from Grasshopper-Club.
