JERUSALEM, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Israel's national football team coach Andreas Herzog has resigned, the Israeli Football Association (IFA) said on Wednesday.
An IFA statement read that the Austrian coach is seeking to move on to a new challenge.
Former midfielder Herzog tops his national team's all-time appearance list, playing 103 matches from 1988 to 2003 and scoring 26 goals.
For most of his career, he played for Werder Berman, Bayern Munich and Rapid Vienna.
He began his coaching career in 2009, as an assistant in the national teams of Austria and the U.S., and coach of youth national teams.
In summer 2018, Herzog was appointed for the first time as a head coach of a national senior team, with a two-year contract in Israel, including an option for two more years.
However, under Herzog's rein, Israel finished in a disappointing fifth place out of six teams in the Euro 2020 qualifying phase.
Israel still has a chance to qualify for the tournament, which was postponed to the summer of 2021, through UEFA Nations League playoffs, but Herzog preferred not to remain at the helm.
IFA chairman Oren Hasson said, "We had the pleasure of working with Herzog, enjoying his professional skills and rare personality."
Herzog said: "The coronavirus has created a new situation and uncertainty, so I felt it is right at this time to leave for a new challenge. I enjoyed my time in Israel." Enditem
