Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has decided to remain in charge until July 2012.
German coach to honour remainder of contract
Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has decided to remain in charge until July 2012, despite exiting the World Cup at the group stage.
His side started the finals in explosive fashion, upsetting all the odds to beat favourites Spain 1-0 in their opener and becoming strongly fancied to make it through Group H.
However, they came unstuck with a 1-0 defeat to Chile and failed to score against Honduras in a goalless draw that saw them exit in disappointing fashion.
The German coach renewed his contract with the Swiss last year and was asked during his team's final press conference of the tournament whether he would stay at the helm.
"Of course I do want to stay," he said.
"If the Swiss people want me to stay, I'll stay."
Hitzfeld will now oversee the nation's 2012 European Championship qualifying campaign, where they will face England in their opening game on 7th September.
Swiss team spokesman Marco von Ah had already stated that the Swiss FA wanted the former Bayern Munich coach to stay on until after the Championship, which will be held in the Ukraine and Poland.
