Serbian coach Antic to be sacked: reports

Serbia’s national football coach Radomir Antic could be sacked from his post on Wednesday due to poor results at the World Cup and qualifiers for Euro 2012, local media reported.

“The Serbian Football Federation (FSS) has already decided to break Antic’s contract after Serbia’s failure at the World Cup and bad start in qualifiers for Euro 2012,” Belgrade radio B92 reported.

Serbia won 3-0 in a qualifier with the Faroe Islands, but managed only a draw against Slovenia.

Antic might be replaced with Vladimir Petrovic, the former Red Star Belgrade striker who also played for English Premier League giants Arsenal and French outfit Nancy, the report said.

Petrovic, who has previously headed Serbia’s under-21 national squad, is currently coaching Romanian side FC Timisoara.

FSS was expected to announce its decision at the press conference later Wednesday.

Antic has already been at odds with the FSS following Serbia’s failure to qualify for the last 16 at the World Cup earlier this year.

In August, Antic agreed to have his salary halved to hang on to his job following a four-match ban by FIFA for “inappropriate behaviour” during his team’s World Cup exit at the hands of Australia.

Antic, who has previously coached Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, took over the helm of the national squad in August 2008 after two disastrous campaigns by Serbia for the 2006 World Cup and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.