Jovanovic handed APOEL reins

Iraklis departure
The Serbo-Montenegrin Jovanovic was sacked as coach of Greek side Iraklis FC in December 2002 after a string of bad results, including elimination from the UEFA Cup by APOEL's Cypriot rivals Anorthosis Famagusta FC. However, his lack of experience has not worried APOEL chairman Prodromos Petrides.

Rivals set example
He said: "If you look at Toni Savevski and Ilie Dumitrescu [the coaches of Omonia AC and Apollon Limassol FC respectively] they hardly had any experience yet are doing superbly with our main rivals. Last year we brought in Olympiacos [CFP] coach Panagiotis Lemonis and he didn't bring success, nor did his replacement Dusan Uhrin who took the Czech Republic to the EURO 96™ final."

Still unbeaten
APOEL are the only unbeaten team in the Cypriot First Division but have fallen three points behind joint leaders Apollon and Omonia after a 1-1 draw with Enosis Neon Paralimni FC on Saturday, which prompted Uhrin's departure.

All change
APOEL are not the only side to have parted company with their coach. Nikolai Kosdov, who was in charge of Onisillos Sotira FC, has taken over at Olympiakos Nicosia FC, replacing Giorgos Firos. Former Omonia coach Henk Houwaart has returned from his native Belgium to guide AEL Limassol FC after Yiannis Mantzourakis left the club.