The Slovak football federation says it wants Viktoria Plzen coach Pavel Vrba to take over the national team.

The federation says chairman Jan Kovacik was given a mandate to negotiate a deal with the Czech coach.

The 48-year-old Vrba would replace Vladimir Weiss, whose contract was terminated in January following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2012 European Championship.

Vrba led Plzen to its first Czech league title and earned a spot in the Europa League after finishing third in the group stage of the Champions League behind Barcelona and AC Milan.

Vrba, whose contract with Plzen expires in 2013, says he is honoured but has to discuss the situation with Plzen owners.

He was a Slovakia assistant coach in 2006-07.