KIEV, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Oleg Blokhin quit as Ukraine coach on Thursday after his team failed to qualify for Euro 2008.
'This was a hard decision, it wasn't easy,' the former
Soviet striker told the Ukrainian FA's executive board meeting.
'After four years with the team, I am resigning because I
think, I have nothing more to give to the national team.
'I'm not putting the blame for the team's failure on anyone
but myself,' he added.
Blokhin, 55, European Player of the Year in 1975 after
leading Dynamo Kiev to their first European Cup Winners' Cup
success, was appointed Ukraine coach in September 2003.
He guided the national team to their first major finals at
the 2006 World Cup in Germany where they reached the
quarter-finals.
Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine failed to reach next year's
European championship finals from one of the strongest
qualifying groups, finishing fourth behind world champions
Italy, World Cup finalists France and Scotland.
Media reports said Blokhin, whose contract expires at the
end of the year, was seeking a four-year extension so he could
coach the team on home soil at the 2012 finals, but Ukrainian FA
chief Hrigory Surkis would only offer a two-year deal.
Blokhin wanted more security with Ukraine also facing an
uphill battle to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals after
being drawn in a tough group with Croatia and England.
Blokhin, who also coached Greek club Olympiakos in the early
1990s, said he was taking a rest for now and dismissed media
speculation he might join either FK Moscow or Dynamo Kiev.
'There are no talks with any club at the moment,' he said.
Surkis said the federation will meet next month to plan for
next year and hopes to have made a choice by then. 'There are no
candidates right now, we are looking around,' he said.
