Switzerland names Petkovic to coach national team

Published Dec. 23, 2013 8:07 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Swiss Football Association has officially named Vladimir Petkovic as the next coach of the national team, starting July 1.

The Lazio coach will succeed Ottmar Hitzfeld after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The 50-year-old's contract until the end of 2015 will be extended if Switzerland qualifies for the 2016 European Championship finals in France.

A Bosnian Croat, Petkovic began his career as a player in 1981, first in Yugoslavia, later moving to clubs in Switzerland.

He coached Bellinzona, Young Boys and Sion before taking up the post in Rome in 2012, where he led Lazio to win the Italian Cup.