Belgrade, Oct 14: Serbia's national team coach Vladimir Petrovic resigned Friday after the failure to qualify for the European Championship.
Serbia lost 1-0 to Slovenia on Tuesday, missing out on a place in the playoffs for Euro 2012. Estonia took the playoff spot, while Italy topped Group C.
Petrovic said he stepped down after an agreement with Serbia's football federation.
"We did not qualify for the next European championships, and as responsible people we agreed that the resignation is the best solution," he said.
Serbia's failure to qualify was a contrast to the success of other former Yugoslav republics -- Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia -- which all reached the playoffs.
Captain Dejan Stankovic said that the game against Slovenia was his last competitive match for the national team, while defender Nemanja Vidic indicated he would also retire from international football.
Petrovic took over the national team after two Euro qualification matches last year when former coach Radomir Antic was fired.
Petrovic, a former Arsenal and Red Star Belgrade midfielder, previously coached China's national team. He was dismissed in 2008 after China was eliminated from qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.
Petrovic was hired by Red Star in 2009, but was fired after less than a year in charge.
