Schopp named new Under-21s assistant coach
Former Brescia Calcio star Markus Schopp has been appointed new assistant manager of the Austrian Under-21s national team.The 36-year-old will succeed ex-Werder Bremen midfielder Heimo Pfeifenberger as of now. Pfeifenberger said today (Fri) he had decided to resign as assistant coach of Under-21s boss Andreas Herzog to fully focus on managing second league side SV Grödig.Schopp played in the Austrian Bundesliga for Sturm Graz and Red Bull Salzburg. The 56-time national team midfielder was also under contract at Brescia Calcio in the Italian Seria A and at German giants Hamburger SV.He worked as a TV pundit and individual skills and youth coach at Sturm after retiring from active professional football after one season at Major League Soccer (MLS) side New York Red Bulls in 2007.The Austrian Under-21 national team recently missed their final chance to qualify for next years European Championship set to take place in Denmark after losing against Scotland 1-2 in Aberdeen.Meanwhile, the Football Federation (ÖFB) announced around 10,000 tickets have been sold for the senior national teams Euro2012 qualifier against Azerbaijan in Viennas 50,000-seat Ernst Happel Stadium on 8 October.The squad of Dietmar Constantini beat Kazakhstan 2-0 in their first group stage match in Salzburg earlier this month.