Gutman to stay on as Israel manager

Eli Gutman will lead Israel in their 2016 European Championship qualifying campaign, after having his contract with the national team extended for another two years.

The Israel Football Association announced chairman Avi Luzon and his deputy Stern Haluba were to extend the 55-year-old’s tenure as national coach after he guided them to a third-place finish, behind Russia and Portugal, in their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.

It was a somehwat surprising appointment, given that only last week, a committee was set up to pick the Israel coach, with Luzon, Haluba, IFA CEO Rotem Kemer, former Israel international Tzvika Rosen and former national team coach Dror Kashtan named as its members.

However, the IFA said on Sunday that there is no longer any need in a committee and barring any extremely unexpected developments, Gutman’s contract extension will be made official next week.