Israel names Austrian Ruttensteiner as national soccer team coach

JERUSALEM - The Israeli Football Association (IFA) announced on Sunday the appointment of Austrian Willi Ruttensteiner as the head coach of the national team.

Ruttensteiner, 58, has been the IFA's technical director since 2018, including responsibility for all junior teams, and will continue in this role alongside assuming the national team coaching duties.

He will replace his compatriot Andreas Herzog, who resigned in June.

Ruttensteiner will coach Israel along with Israeli coach Alon Hazan, who has so far served as the team's assistant coach.

For the moment, the appointment is until the summer of 2021, and will include UEFA Nations League matches, the playoffs for promotion to the Euro 2021 tournament, and the Euro 2021 finals, if Israel qualifies.

The decision is considered the most surprising, as the main candidates were former English Premier League player Eyal Berkovic, former Chelsea coach Avram Grant and Israeli league coach Yossi Abukasis.

In its statement, the IFA explained the decision with "Ruttensteiner and Hazan's excellent acquaintance with the team players, the uncertainty regarding matches scheduled for September and October due to the coronavirus, the challenging economic situation and the doubt regarding the international activities of the junior teams".

Until arriving in Israel in 2018, Ruttensteiner mainly served in several jobs at the Austrian Football Association.