Greece wanted to know if I was available to replace Ranieri, claims Trap
Former Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni claims he has been contacted by Greece to replace Claudio Ranieri
Greece yesterday named youth coach, Kostas Tsanas, as interim coach of the senior team, but former Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni claims he has been contacted by country's federation to replace Claudio Ranieri - even though there was no official confirmation yet of his sacking.
The country's football federation (EPO) has effectively suspended Ranieri for the time being as both sides work out the financial settlement surrounding his €1.6m contract.
Ranieri, 63, was expected to stay on for Greece's friendly with Serbia in Crete tomorrow, but that is no longer the case.
"The Hellenic Football Federation announces that the role of interim coach for the friendly match with Serbia will be (carried out by) Kostas Tsanas and Nektarios Pantazis," EPO said.
EPO chief, Giorgos Sarris, made clear the intention to part company with Ranieri after the humiliating 1-0 defeat to the Faroe Islands, which left Greece bottom of Group F.
Ranieri was appointed after the 2014 World Cup.
Local media linked two Greek coaches - Giorgos Donis and Angelos Anastasiadis - with the post, but reports in the Italian media claim Trapattoni has been contacted.
"I was contacted by the Greece Federation, who asked if I was available," Trap told the Corriere dello Sport. "I replied that I was."
