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Turkey split with German coach Kuntz

Turkey on Wednesday parted ways with German head coach Stefan Kuntz after a dire spell in which the national football team failed to qualify for last year’s World Cup.

The last straw for the former German international came when Turkey drew 1-1 at home with archrival Armenia in a Euro 2024 qualifying match.

Turkey followed that up losing 4-2 in a friendly against Japan.

The football federation said it had decided “to part ways with Mr. Kuntz within the framework of good will and professionalism”.

“We would like to thank Mr. Stefan Kuntz for his contributions to our National Football Team and wish him success in his future life,” it said in a two-line statement.

The sacking ends a nightmarish year for Germany’s two-time Under-21 European title winner that began full of promise 12 months ago.

Kuntz scored nine goals playing for Istanbul-based side Besiktas in the 1995/96 season and expressed delight at returning to Turkey as head coach.

“It’s like coming home,” the 60-year-old said after signing a three-year contract in Istanbul.

But he was then subject to unrelenting media criticism for failing in his main mission of leading Turkey to their first World Cup tournament since they finished third in 2002.

Turkey lie in second behind Croatia in Euro 2024 qualifying and are ranked a lowly 41st in the world.

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