Käld to stay at Finland helm
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Article summary
Finland coach Michael Käld has signed a new contract for the rest of the year following the hosts' run to the quarter-finals, keeping him in charge for the first four 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers.
Article top media content
Article body
Finland coach Michael Käld has signed a new contract lasting until the end of the year following the hosts' run to the UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ quarter-finals.
Evaluation period
There had been speculation that the 55-year-old was to leave his post following the tournament, a position he took up in 2001. He led them to the semi-finals of their first major competition, UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2005™, but this time England ended their run in the last eight on Thursday. Football Association of Finland president Pekka Hämäläinen said: "The WOMEN'S EURO finals have been a great event and a lot of work has been done within both the national team and in the Finnish FA's office. We need to evaluate the tournament and its impact from various points of view and Käld's contract is a natural part of that process."
World Cup campaign
Käld − whose 100th game charge was the 1-0 win against Denmark on the opening day of the final tournament − will now wait to see if any of his experienced players choose to end their international careers before their first 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier in Armenia on 19 September. Before the end of the year Finland also visit Slovenia and Portugal as well as welcoming Armenia, but do not play fellow EURO qualifiers Italy until March 2010.
