Albania's national football coach dismissed after loss against Turkey

TIRANA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Albania's head coach Christian Panucci was dismissed as the coach of the national football team following the defeat against Turkey, the Albanian Football Federation said in a press release on Saturday.

The decision came soon after Albania lost 2-0 in the opening match of Euro 2020 qualifiers against Turkey on Friday.

"We thank the coach for the job done up to now and wish him success in his future career," the statement said.

In next match against Andorra, scheduled for Monday, the Albanian team will be led by Ervin Bulku and Sulejman Mema, the official statement also said.

Bulku was Panucci's assistant and Mema was asked to help in the match with Andorra.

During the Italian coach's tenure, the Albanian team's performance was weak and lacked vitality. Panucci led Albanian team for 15 matches, winning four, drawing two and losing nine.

Panucci took over Albanian team in July 2017, when he replaced former Italian coach Ganni De Biasi. Albanian Football Federation paid him around 20,000 euro per month (around 22,600 U.S. dollars).

Panucci has been one of the best football players in Italian Serie A. He played 57 matches with the national team and scored four goals between 1994 and 2008.