Serbia have terminated the contract of head coach Slavoljub Muslin, three weeks after the former Lokomotiv Moscow and Red Star Belgrade boss led them to 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ qualification.

His assistant, Mladen Krstajic, has taken the reins – who has 59 appearances for the senior team – until a successor is appointed.

Muslin was given the role in May 2016 and tasted competitive defeat only once, courtesy of a late goal in 3-2 loss in Austria, on the way to guiding the South Africa 2010 qualifiers back to the World Cup as Group D winners in Europe.

Six wins from their ten games saw them clinch progression with victory over Georgia ahead of Republic of Ireland and Wales. Of his fifteen games at the helm he won eight, losing just two in total.

Russia 2018 will be their second appearance at the finals as a lone independent nation, having exited at the group stage seven years ago. Alongside hosts Russia, France, Portugal, Germany, Poland, England, Spain and Iceland will represent Europe next year, with the four remaining places to be decided in next months' play-offs.