Otto Baric to coach Albania

Tirana:

Otto Baric will coach the Albanian national team in its qualifiers for the 2008 European Championship, informed a spokesman for the Albanian soccer federation. Baric, the former Croatia and Austria coach, is due to visit Albania by next week to sign his contract. The 73-year-old will replace Hans-Peter Briegel who declined to extend his contract with Albania after coaching the team since December 2002. Albania failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup finals, getting 13 points from 12 matches in the group stage, which is its best ever total. (AP)