Turkey

By Daren Butler

ISTANBUL, June 27 (Reuters) - Turkey coach Fatih Terim will remain in his post and lead the country to the 2010 World Cup, the Turkish Football Federation said on Friday.

After Turkey lost 3-2 to Germany in Wednesday's Euro 2008 semi-final, Terim said he would probably step down and media reports linked him with a return to Italy.

The federation said Turkey was not seeking a new coach.

"National team technical director Fatih Terim is in his post and he will be at the head of our national team in the 2010 World Cup finals," the federation said in a statement in Turkish on its website (www.tff.org)

Unfancied Turkey had reached their first European Championship semi-final with some thrilling displays in the tournament marked by late goals in the group and knockout stages.

At the news conference following the semi-final, Terim had apparently signalled his departure.

"I had declared earlier I would not be working in Turkey. I am a man who keeps my promises. So I will most probably go back to a European country," Terim had said.

But Terim, who has coached Italian teams AC Milan and Fiorentina as well as Turkey's Galatasaray, had said a final decision would not be made immediately.