Indian hockey team coach Gerhard Rach of Germany has joined the Egyptian team, ending a turbulent association with the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), top officials said here Wednesday.

"He called up Mr. (K.P.S.) Gill (IHF president) on Tuesday and told him that he was joining the Egypt team," IHF secretary K. Jothikumaran told on phone.

Jothikumaran said no one had been appointed in Rach's place.

Rach, who was surprisingly appointed just three weeks before the Athens Olympic Games in August in place of Rajinder Singh, failed to make any difference to the Indian team's performance.

India finished seventh at the Olympics and fourth out of six teams in last month's Champions Trophy in Lahore.

Along with Rach's appointment, the IHF had also brought in former India forward Jagbir Singh as the German's assistant.

Many experts felt it was a well-thought out strategy by Gill to appoint Jagbir as the national coach in place of Rajinder, with whom Gill was not on good terms before he was eventually sacked.

Asked if Jagbir would now be promoted as chief coach, Jothikumaran said: "No, he is not being appointed now. India's next assignment is in August and the chief coach would be appointed much later."

Sources, however, said Gill had informed Rach last month that his services were no longer required.

"After Rach's meeting with Gill following the team's return from the Champions Trophy, Gill told him that he can go and enjoy Christmas and join again for the Premier Hockey League (that starts in Hyderabad Thursday)," said a source.

"But in December itself, Gill called him up to say that he was not required," the source added.