Switzerland names Yakin as new coach after Petkovic exit

The former Switzerland captain signed a contract until the end of 2022 World Cup qualification with the option of an extension.

FILE PHOTO: Yakin has won two Swiss league titles with Basel in 2013 and 2014 as manager and defeated Chelsea both home and away in the 2013-14 Champions League.

Murat Yakin was on Monday named the new coach of Switzerland, replacing Vladimir Petkovic, who left after taking the side to the European Championship quarterfinal to join Girondins Bordeaux, the Swiss football association said.

Yakin, 46, signed a contract until the end of World Cup qualification in November with the option of an extension.

READ | Vladimir Petkovic appointed new Bordeaux manager

He joins from Swiss second division club FC Schaffhausen with immediate effect, a statement added, and has less than a month to prepare before three matches in September.

Yakin, a former Swiss captain, who won 49 caps and played in the German Bundesliga and Turkey, will start against Greece in Basel on September 1 and then have two World Cup qualifying ties against European champion Italy on September 5 in Basel and away against Northern Ireland in Belfast on September 8.

"Even as a player, the national team was an affair of the heart for me."

"It is a great honour and pleasure for me to be able to represent our country as a coach of the national team and I’m convinced that we will qualify for the World Cup with this great team and celebrate further successes," he said.

Yakin's coaching experience includes two Swiss league titles with Basel in 2013 and 2014 and beating Chelsea home and away in the group stage of Champions League in the 2013-14 season.

He has also coached at Spartak Moscow.