Storck signs 1-year deal as Kazakhstan coach
Bernd Storck signed a one-year contract Friday as Kazakhstan coach despite his team’s 5-1 loss to England in World Cup qualifying last October.
The 46-year-old German went from being in charge of Kazakhstan’s youth team to the interim coach of the senior side when Arno Pijpers was fired by the country’s football federation just days before playing England at Wembley.
“Our main task will be to build a good strong but young team,” Storck said Friday. “In 2009, we will gain the experience we need for the future.”
The Kazakhstan federation will have the option of extending Storck’s contract by another two years.
Kazakhstan opened its qualifying campaign with a 3-0 victory over Andorra before losing to Croatia and Ukraine under Pijpers.
England currently leads Group 6 with 12 points. Kazakhstan has three points and is next-to-last, just above Andorra.
Kazakhstan next faces Belarus on April 1. In June, the Kazakhs will play England at home in Almaty.
