Macedonians pin hopes on Katanec
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Article summary
Slovenian Srećko Katanec will oversee F.Y.R. Macedonia's bid to reach UEFA EURO 2008™ after accepting a two-year deal to coach the national team.
Article body
EURO qualifiers
The 42-year-old Katanec is the second foreigner to take the helm of the Macedonian national team but will hope his tenure lasts longer than the two games Serbian Slobodan Santrač spent in charge during qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Katanec will have six months to get acquainted with the squad ahead of the start of UEFA EURO 2008™ qualification in September, with his first friendly coming against Bulgaria in Skopje on 1 March.
Coaching team
A former NK Dinamo Zagreb, FK Partizan and UC Sampdoria player who represented Yugoslavia with distinction, Katanec built his reputation as one of Europe's brightest young coaches on the bench of Slovenia, guiding the tiny country to UEFA EURO 2000™ and 2002 World Cup qualification. He will be assisted by Vujadin Stanojković and Danco Celeski, with Uran Imeri also forming part of the back-up team.
