Ligue 1: Bordeaux approaches Petkovic for managerial role

Vladimir Petkovic led Switzerland to its best ever Euro finish, defeating World Champions France in penalties

Vladimir Petkovic gives an instruction as Switzerland's manager during the Euro 2020 quarterfinal against Spain last month (File photo).

Ligue 1 club Girondins Bordeaux has approached Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic to take over (as the next manager) at the club, a statement from the Swiss football association said on Monday.

Petkovic, 57, led the Swiss to the quarterfinal of a major tournament for the first time since 1954 when it got to the last eight of the European Championship this month.

READ | Euro 2020: Switzerland exits with heads high, says manager Petkovic

"On Sunday afternoon, the sports director of Girondins Bordeaux contacted our national team director Pierluigi Tami and expressed his interest in our national coach," said the statement.

"Discussions are currently ongoing between the parties involved. The fact is Vladimir Petkovic has an ongoing contract that will automatically be extended to the end of 2022 if he qualifies for the World Cup. The SFV is currently not issuing any further statements," it added.

French sports newspaper L’Equipe said that Petkovic would be succeeding Jean-Louis Gasset at the club, who finished 12th in Ligue 1 last season, on a three-year contract.

Sarajevo-born Petkovic took over as Swiss coach after the 2014 World Cup as the successor to Ottmar Hitzfeld and led the team to the last 16 at the 2018 World Cup.

At Euro 2020, it eliminated world champions France in the round of 16 in a penalty shootout before losing to Spain on post-match spot-kicks in the quarterfinals.