FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Euro 2024 Qualifier - Group D - Turkey v Armenia - The New Eskisehir Ataturk Stadium, Eskisehir, Turkey - September 8, 2023 Turkey coach Stefan Kuntz REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's football federation said on Wednesday it had decided to part ways with national team coach Stefan Kuntz, after denying an earlier report that it would terminate the German manager's contract.
On Monday, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) had denied a report by the Demiroren News Agency that Kuntz' contract would be terminated after the manager criticised his players following a 4-2 friendly loss to Japan. It had said Kuntz was invited to a meeting with TFF officials on Wednesday.
The TFF said in a statement that it had agreed to part ways with Kuntz after the meeting "within the framework of goodwill and professionalism", and thanked him for his work.
Following the loss to Japan, 60-year-old Kuntz responded to fans' calls for his resignation by saying his players needed to work harder and that he should not take all the blame, and added his players were not putting in their best performance.
Former Germany striker Kuntz, who also played for Besiktas, was appointed Turkey coach in September 2021 after leading the German Under-21 team to the European title in 2017 and 2021.
Turkey have won 12 of Kuntz's 20 matches in charge, drawn three and lost five.
The TFF did not say who would helm the team for the Oct. 12 Euro 2024 qualifier against Croatia.
(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
