Shevchenko rejects Ukraine job

Andriy Shevchenko has turned down the chance to become Ukraine’s new coach as he feels he is not ready for the job.

The Ukrainian Football Federation (FFU) are in the market for a new coach after Oleg Blokhin’s decision to leave for Dynamo Kiev earlier this season, and they had earmarked the former AC Milan star as the ideal candidate for the position.

Nevertheless, the 36-year-old believes taking charge of the national team would not be the right start to his coaching career.

“I believe that leading the national team of Ukraine today is a somewhat premature step for me. I hope the leadership of the football federation can understand my decision,” he told the governing body’s website.

Ukraine are fifth in Group H of the 2014 World Cup qualification with two points from three games.