Serbians Eye Black Stars Job

Two Serbian coaches are preparing to apply for the Black Stars job, according to myiconsports.com, a local website.

Blagoje Paunovi? and Miroslav Dukic have both expressed interest in the Black Stars job should current coach Milovan Rajevac not renew his contract which expires in August.

Blagoje Paunovi?, 63, is a former Serbian football defender who retired with 39 caps, and current manager of top tier Serbia side Smederevo. He managed Spain’s Logrones, which placed last with an all-time low 13 points.

In 2009, after a long spell with Partizan’s youth teams, he signed for Serbian first divisioner Smederevo.

Miroslav Dukic, 44, played 48 times for Yugoslavia and was head coach of the Serbian football team at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

He was also coach of the Serbia under-21 football team which he qualified to the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Champions at the expense of Sweden. His last job was as coach of Belgian premier league club Excelsior Moeskroen.

In December 2009, he and the whole team became free agents due to financial troubles the club faced.

Meanwhile, Milovan Rajevac has confirmed opening talks with the Ghana Football Association over a new contract as he distances himself from reports in Serbia that he is close to taking over as coach of the European country.

Representatives of the Black Stars coach in a statement dismissed media reports which claimed last week that a deal had been reached for Rajevac to coach his native country of Serbia.

"Milovan Rajevac is fully contracted to be the coach of the national team of Ghana and at no time has he or his representatives spoken to the Serbia Football Association about taking over the job of coaching the Serbian national team.

"In fact we have started talks with the Ghana Football Association over his expiring contract and we have given our words with the Ghana authorities over this.”

The ‘Zornal’ newspaper reported last week that Milovan Rajevac was to become the coach of his homeland's national team.