Former Denmark coach Sepp Piontek has died at the age of 85 after a short illness.

"Sepp will always be remembered as one of the most influential national coaches in the history of Danish football," the Danish Football Association (DBU) wrote on Facebook on Thursday.

Danish television station TV2 had previously reported on the German's death, citing his family.

Piontek played as a defender for Werder Bremen in the early days of the Bundesliga, helping them win the title in 1965.

After injury ended his playing career, Piontek coached Bremen, Fortuna Düsseldorf, the Haiti national team and St Pauli before becoming coach of the Denmark in 1979.

He achieved cult status among Danes when Denmark took part in a men's World Cup for the first time in Mexico in 1986, reaching the round of 16.

He left in 1990 and took further coaching positions including with Turkey and Greenland.