15.03.2016 14:32 h

Austria coach Koller extends deal until 2017

Austria coach Marcel Koller has extended his contract until the end of next year after a successful run which saw his team qualify for Euro 2016, the national football association said Tuesday.

The former international midfielder from Switzerland was initially due to leave this summer after the European Championships, which will take place in France from June 10 to July 10.

But the OeFB football association said it had decided to extend the 55-year-old's deal because "he's been good for the team".

Since taking charge in November 2011, Koller has managed to catapult the Austrians from 72nd to 10th place in the FIFA rankings.

He also guided them to only their second Euro finals, after their maiden appearance at the final stages in 2008 when they automatically qualified as co-hosts with Switzerland but were knocked out by Germany.

The team has secured the top spot in Group G with nine wins, one draw and no defeats.

"Koller has built a lot over the past four and a half years. We can now fully focus on getting the most of out of (the team's) training," said OeFB president Leo Windtner.

He added that the coach's contract could be extended further if Austria qualifies for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Koller said that despite the team's success, there was no room for "slackness".

"Being 10th is exceptional for Austria and it will be tough to hang on to that," he said.