Soccer-Djukic steps down as coach of leaders Partizan

By Zoran Milosavljevic

BELGRADE, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Partizan Belgrade coach Miroslav Djukic has left the Serbian first division leaders by mutual consent.

"Miroslav Djukic said he wanted to leave for two reasons, one of them being the fact he is separated from his family living in Spain," Partizan's director of operations Ivan Tomic told a news conference on Wednesday.

"The other reason is he has been approached with a very enticing (career) offer and we wished him the best of luck in his future endeavours."

Local newspapers have tipped Djukic as the likeliest candidate to take over as Serbia coach after they failed to qualify for Euro 2008 and sacked Spaniard Javier Clemente.

Djukic was voted coach of the year in Serbia after guiding the under-21s to the European Championship final in Netherlands in June and steering Partizan to the top of the league at the winter break.

Tomic says there is no pressure to find an instant replacement as the championship does not resume until Feb. 16.

"We are not in a rush but we will try to get the right man for the job as soon as we can because whoever takes over will need time to get to know the players," he said.

"Our ambition remains to win the league and I am completely confident we will do it, as we plan to sign some new players after we have appointed Djukic's successor."