Simonsen leaves Luxembourg post
Monday, December 20, 2004
Article summary
Allan Simonsen has stood down as Luxembourg national team coach and will be replaced by Guy Hellers.
Article body
Mutual consent
Luxembourg Football Federation (FLF) president Paul Philipp said the decision was taken by mutual consent following differences of opinion between the 52-year-old coach and the FLF. Hellers has agreed a three-year contract but will continue to work with the nation’s youngsters in Monnerich.
No points
The new man’s first match in charge will be the FIFA World Cup qualifier in Latvia on 20 March. Luxembourg are bottom of Group 3 with no points from their six games. Simonsen also saw his charges fail to win a point in any of their qualifying matches for the UEFA EURO 2004™ finals, with six of the eight games coming under his stewardship.
Distinguished career
Simonsen took charge of Luxembourg in November 2001 after eight years as coach of the Faroe Islands. The former Danish international, who scored 21 goals in 43 games for his country, was voted European Footballer of the Year in 1977 and played for FC Barcelona and VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach among others.