KIEV, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Anatoly Demyanenko has quit as Dynamo Kiev coach following his team's disappointing start in the Champions League.
The Ukrainian champions suffered a 2-0 defeat by Roma in
their Group F opener on Wednesday.
'I accepted Demyanenko's request with understanding. It was
a hard decision to take,' Dynamo President Ihor Surkis said on
the club's website. 'But in the end, he convinced me that he
is doing this for the sake of the club.'
The former Soviet international, who led Dynamo to the
league and cup double last season, was replaced by the club's
vice-president and former coach Josef Sabo.
After a dismal Champions League campaign last year,
Demyanenko knew his job was on the line after Surkis warned him
that another failure in Europe would mean a swift end to his
coaching reign.
Sabo said he would not be distracted by Roma's defeat.
'The team, which has a powerful potential, needs fresh
ideas, leadership, unity, an understanding of our goals and a
responsibility to the fans,' he said in a statement.
'I'm not thinking about the defeat against Roma. The goal
for Dynamo is clear - to win the group and take part in the
play-offs.'
Sabo, of Hungarian origin, has coached the club a number of
times throughout the 1990s and again in 2004-2005. He also
played for Dynamo, Ukraine's most popular and successful club,
for 10 years in the 1960s.
