Patrekur Jóhannesson to coach Austria's men's national team until 2015

Six weeks out of the EHF EURO 2014 qualification matches against EHF EURO 2012 silver medallists, Serbia, the Austrian Handball Federation (ÖHB) has announced that the men's national team coach, Patrekur Jóhannesson, has extended his contract until 2015.

The 40-year-old former Iceland international has been coaching Austria's men's national team since September 2011. In his 22 matches on the sideline he led the squad to 14 victories.

"We are highly satisfied with his work and would like to continue this successful partnership," ÖHB president, Gerhard Hofbauer, was quoted on the federation's website.

In 14 years Jóhannesson played 243 times for Iceland, scoring 589 goals. On the club level he played for seven years for German side, TUSEM Essen, and later on for GWD Minden.

He started his coaching in career in 2005 and was in charge of TVE Emsdetten in the German second Bundesliga from 2010 to 2011.

"There are so many that satisfy me here in Austria," Jóhannesson said. "We played a lot of great games since I have been in charge. I love working with the players and I can see that we are improving.

"The players in my team are true professionals. And I hope that in the future I will get even more players that are young and hungry for success.

"We are aiming for more and it has always been my philosophy to achieve that with a good mix of younger and older players in the team.

"I am just proud and happy that I can continue being Austria's national coach and I will continue - as always - to give it all I have."

In the qualification for EHF EURO 2014 Austria have two points after two matches and are currently third ranked behind Serbia (4 points) and Russia (2).

They will play Serbia in a double-header on 3 and 7 April 2013.