Dragan Stojkovic Resigns as Serbia's Football Manager After Defeat
Dragan Stojkovic has resigned as the head coach of Serbia's national football team following a 1-0 defeat to Albania in World Cup qualifying on Saturday.
The only goal of the match was scored by Rey Manaj, marking Serbia's second consecutive loss after a heavy 5-0 defeat to England last month.
As a result, Serbia currently sits third in Group K, with England leading the group with 15 points and Albania in second place with 11 points, having played one additional match.
In a post-match news conference, Stojkovic stated, "I spoke with the president and general secretary and I offered my resignation. I personally did not expect this defeat. I am someone who accepts full responsibility and is solely accountable."
Serbia's next match is scheduled away against Andorra on Tuesday.
Stojkovic took over as Serbia's manager in 2021, successfully leading the team to the 2022 World Cup, where they finished last in their group, earning only one point from three matches.
Saturday's match was moved from Serbia's capital to the southern city of Leskovac due to security concerns, reflecting the long-standing political tensions between the two nations.
The outcome of the match also means that England can secure qualification for next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico with a victory over Latvia in Riga on Tuesday.