Estonia coach Ruutli gets new contract

ESTONIA coach Tarmo Ruutli has been rewarded with a new contract for taking his side to the Euro 2012 play-offs against the Republic of Ireland.

The new contract runs to the end of 2013 which means Ruutli, 57, will now be at the helm until the end of 2014 World Cup qualifying. He was put in charge for a second spell in January 2008 following a brief stint between 1999 and 2000.

Ruutli has already overseen Estonia’s most successful qualifying campaign in finishing second in Euro 2012 qualifying Group C, above Serbia, Slovenia and Northern Ireland. It earned his nation’s first play-off in Tallinn on 11 November and Dublin four days later.

“It is very important we achieved a new standard under this coach,” said Estonian Football Association (EJL) president Aivar Pohlak. “I would underline that we are going to enter a third consecutive campaign with the same coach. You can feel Ruutli’s hand in our game.”

A former midfielder, Ruutli has had spells in charge of JK Tulevik Viljandi, FC Flora Tallinn and FC Levadia Tallinn, a club he led to three Estonian titles.

Meanwhile the Slovenian FA have announced Slavisa Stojanovic will be the new head coach of the national team.

The 41-year-old Serbian replaces Matjaz Kek, who had his contract terminated by mutual agreement testerday. Stojanovic is a familiar face in Slovenia having led club side Domzale to back-to-back domestic league titles in 2006/07 and 2007/08.

He is also a former assistant coach of the United Arab Emirates, and will lead Slovenia in their qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.