John Toshack stands down as Wales boss with immediate effect
The Welsh FA have confirmed that John Toshack has stood down as Wales manager with immediate effect.
The 61-year-old had been widely tipped to leave in the wake of Wales’ 1-0 Euro 2012 qualifying defeat in Montenegro last week, but had initially offered to stay on in his post until after October’s double-header with Bulgaria and Switzerland. However, he has now left the job.
“I thought after three matches of this group we would review everything,” Toshack told a press conference today.
“Even after the disappointment of the game in Montenegro that was still the way I felt. But we have come to the agreement that this might be better for everyone concerned.
“Wales are still very much in this group, and now the decision has been made hopefully they'll be able to get some positive results in the next two games.”
Appointed in 2004, Toshack awarded 43 players their first Wales cap in his six-year reign, as he fast-tracked youngsters into the squad in an attempt to deal with the several high-profile international retirements of the likes of Ryan Giggs, Robbie Savage and John Hartson, although some of those retirements were more enforced than others.
Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Collison all started their international careers as teenagers under the former Liverpool striker and Real Madrid manager, but the results during Toshack’s tenure were disappointing.
He won just 10 of his 29 competitive matches in charge – and 10 of 23 friendlies – but Wales never managed to upset one of world football’s major nations, achieving their most notable result with a goalless draw in Germany in November 2007.
Millwall manager Kenny Jackett, Manchester United’s veteran winger Ryan Giggs, Wales under-21 boss Brian Flynn and the currently out of work Chris Coleman are all being tipped to take over.
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