Hasek to end Strasbourg stay

RC Strasbourg coach Ivan Hasek has announced that he will leave the Ligue 1 club at the end of the season.

Safety secured
The 40-year-old announced his decision immediately after Strasbourg's 2-0 victory against FC Nantes-Atlantique on Saturday, a result which all but secured their place in the top flight for next season. Strasbourg currently lie 13th in the table, nine points above the relegation zone with five games left to play.

'I must return home'
The coach said that he had made the decision for personal reasons. "I tried to install my family in France, but it was impossible," he said. "I must go back to my home country. I need to stay with my family. I'm fond of Strasbourg and French football, but I also love my family, which is the most important in my life."

Successful start
Hasek arrived at Strasbourg at the start of 2001/02 after the club had won the Coupe de France, but also been relegated from the top division, the previous season. Hasek, who won 56 caps for Czechoslovakia and ws part of the team that reached the quarter-finals of the 1990 FIFA World Cup during his playing career, guided Strasbourg to promotion at the first attempt.

'We tried everything to keep him'
"We did everything we could to keep him," Strasbourg general manager Marc Keller said. "But it was not possible. Unfortunately, he will leave us."