Ivory Coast backtracks on Trapattoni

Correspondent | Tuesday February 25, 2014 15:17

 

In an official statement published on Monday, the body said its agents did not meet or discuss with the 74-year-old former AC Milan and Bayern Munich manager for a job.

Italian media Gazzetta dello Sport broke the news last week that Ivorian officials contacted Trapattoni with a four-year contract proposal to take effect immediately after the World Cup.

However, some local editorialists in Abidjan suggest that the FA’s communiqué was only meant to keep Lamouchi in focus ahead of the showpiece. Despite qualifying the Elephants to the Brazil 2014, the 42-year-old former Inter Milan midfielder is yet to win support from local fans and journalists, who believe he lacks the required experience to manage the star-studded Ivorian outfit.

Lamouchi’s future at the helm of the team remains uncertain after the country’s sports minister Alain Lobognon declared the coach should be allowed to take the group to the World Cup after which a decision would be reached.

(Supersport)