WARSAW: Waldemar Fornalik has been appointed by Poland, the latest new manager for one of the contenders at the recently-concluded European Championship in his native Poland and Ukraine.

Fornalik, 49, succeeds Franciszek Smuda who stepped down after the co-hosts were eliminated in the first round group stage. He has been coach of his old club Ruch Chorzow for the last three years and lifted them back up to second place in the league this past  season. He made 233 appearances for the club but none for his country.

Controversial federation president Grzegorz Lato, who had courted even further unrest with the appointment, said:  “Two years ago the players of the Polish league chose him as the best league coach. This means  he is well appreciated. I think he is one of the most talented Polish coaches and I hope he will do great job for the national team.”

Fornalik has also coached Gornik Zabrze, Amica Wronki and Widzew Lodz.

Poland face England, Ukraine, Moldova and San Marino in European Group H of the forthcoming 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

Among other Euro 2012 losers, France have replaced Laurent Blanc with Didier Deschamps, Croatia have replaced Slaven Bilic with Igor Stimac while Holland have replaced Bert Van Marwijk with Louis Van Gaal.

Russian Sports Ministry officials have promised to name a replacement for Dick Advocaat by the middle of next week. Advocaat had already agreed to leave for PSV Eindhoven before the European finals.

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