The head of PZPN Cezary Kulesza said in a statement: “I thank Fernando Santos for his work with our national team and I wish him success in his next sporting challenges.”
The Portuguese coach said: ”I am grateful for having led the Polish team and I wish Poland and its residents, who received me so well when I lived here, all the best.”
Kulesza added: “Appointing a new head coach is now a priority for the PZPN board. We’ll soon announce when the new head coach will be unveiled.”
PZPN secretary general, Łukasz Wachowski, said the search for Santos’ successor could be completed by September 20, the state news agency PAP reported.
Former Portugal and Greece head coach Santos, 68, leaves his post following Poland’s 2-0 defeat to Albania in the Euro 2024 qualifier in Tirana on Sunday.
The result means Poland sit fourth in Group E with six points in five matches. Albania top the group on 10 points, ahead of the Czech Republic on eight (in four matches) and Moldova also on eight, the PAP news agency reported.
Poland’s remaining two matches are away to the Faroe Islands on October 12 and against Moldova in Warsaw on October 15, according to officials.
The top two teams in the group will qualify for the Euro 2024 tournament, to be held in Germany.
If Poland, who are captained by Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski, finish outside the top two, they still have a chance of making the play-offs for Euro 2024 qualification, thanks to their strong performance in the UEFA Nations League, the PAP news agency reported.
Fernando Santos’ nine-month reign in charge of Poland brought three wins (including a 1-0 victory over Germany in a friendly) and three defeats, according to news outlets.
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Source: PAP, PZPN
Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Marcin Matuszewski.
