Hitzfeld: Evolution not revolution for Swiss

BERNE, Switzerland, July 3 (Reuters) - Ottmar Hitzfeld said he had no plans to radically overhaul Swiss football after completing his first working day as the country's new national coach.

Former Bayern Munich manager Hitzfeld, 60, said the achievements of the team under former coach Koebi Kuhn already demonstrated that Switzerland were well prepared for the next task of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

'Koebi Kuhn took Switzerland to three consecutive major finals, so there is no need to revolutionise Swiss football,' Hitzfeld told reporters following meetings with Swiss FA officials on Thursday.

'Our clear aim now is to get stuck into the World Cup qualifiers as we will need utmost professionalism. Even if the team has made it to the last three tournaments it is by no means a foregone conclusion that Switzerland can always qualify.'

Switzerland qualified for Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup and were then given free passage into Euro 2008 as co-hosts along with neighbouring Austria.

Kuhn's final campaign before his retirement ended in some disappointment as the Swiss bowed out during the tournament's group stage, becoming only the second European Championship hosts to do so, soon followed by Austria.

'I was also very sad when the Swiss team went out but I thought the team acquitted itself very well, even if the results were not so good,' Hitzfeld said.

'They were very unfortunate, particularly in losing their top scorer and captain Alex Frei to injury after just 40 minutes. Efficiency was perhaps another problem but hopefully that is something we can work on.'

Hitzfeld said he was aware that his long list of achievements as a club coach had already raised expectations ahead of his first attempt at national team management.

'It is important though that everyone realises that what lies behind success is a lot of hard work,' said Hitzfeld whose major club honours include two Champions League wins with Bayern and Borussia Dortmund.

'It is also sometimes difficult to get back to the nitty-gritty of daily business after the euphoria of a European Championship on home soil but I expect all the players to be fully motivated for the qualifying games.'

Switzerland were drawn into European Group 2 for the World Cup qualifiers where they will face Greece, Israel, Moldova, Latvia and Luxembourg.

Hitzfeld's first game in charge will be a friendly against Cyprus in Geneva on August 20.