Bruckner says he retires from football

Former Czech Republic and Austria coach Karel Bruckner said Wednesday he is retiring from football.

The 69-year-old Bruckner quit the Austria team earlier this month after winning only one game in seven matches.

"My career as head coach has come to an end," Bruckner said in an interview published in the Sport daily on Wednesday.

It was the second time Bruckner announced his retirement, and this time he said his decision was "definite."

Bruckner, who previously coached the Czech Republic, said early in 2008 that he would retire after last year's European Championship and resigned from the Czech team after it was knocked out in the group stage of the tournament.

But he said Wednesday he accepted an offer to coach Austria because "I was not able to retire after a brutal end of the match against Turkey."

The Czechs conceded three goals in the closing 15 minutes to lose its decisive group match against Turkey 3-2.

Bruckner took over from Josef Chovanec after the Czechs failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, and led the country to all major international tournaments since, including the semifinals of Euro 2004 and a berth in the 2006 World Cup.

He took over from Josef Hickersberger after co-host Austria was eliminated in the group stage at Euro 2008.