14.06.2015 22:07 h

Finnish coach Mixu Paatelainen sacked

Mixu Paatelainen was sacked as coach of the Finland national team on Sunday after four consecutive defeats in Euro 2016 qualifying matches.

"The Football Association of Finland has terminated the contract of employment between the Football Association of Finland and Mixu Paatelainen as of June 14, 2015," the association said in a short statement.

The association added that it "wished Mixu good luck with his new challenges".

Paatelainen had coached the team since 2011 but said Saturday after a 1-0 defeat to Hungary that Finland was "not even near the Euro 2016" level.

"We don't have players who can both attack and defend," he said, as quoted by Finnish public broadcaster YLE.

Finland are second last in Group F.

Paatelainen, 48, enjoyed a long career as a player, winning 70 caps for Finland and featuring for a string of clubs at home as well as in England and Scotland.