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Greece sack coach Michael Skibbe after poor Nations League run

Michael Skibbe has been replaced as coach of Greece. ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty Images

Greece have sacked coach Michael Skibbe after a disappointing run in the Nations League, the country's Football Association (EPO) said on Thursday.

The EPO has appointed 65-year-old Angelos Anastasiadis as his successor, the first Greek coach for the national team who is not an interim appointment in 17 years.

Skibbe, from Germany, took over in 2015 after the 2004 European champions' failure to qualify for Euro 2016, and last year signed a contract extension to include Euro 2020 if they qualified.

He narrowly missed out on qualification for this summer's World Cup when Greece finished second in their qualifying group but lost in a playoff to Croatia.

But their performances in the Nations League sealed his exit after Greece won two matches and lost the other two to lie in second place on six points, six behind League C leaders Finland.

"We decided to end our co-operation with Mr Skibbe and at the same time it was decided to bring in Angelos Anastasiadis," Greek FA President Vangelis Grammenos told reporters.

"The FA's decision, as is easily understood, is the result of the bad run and bad results recently."

Anastasiadis, whose contract will run to December 2019, has coached several clubs in Greece and was Cyprus coach from 2004-11.