In April 1990 he resigned as national coach after missing the World Cup qualification. His successor Richard Møller Nielsen surprisingly led Denmark to the European Championship title in 1992. Piontek later worked as a national coach in Turkey and Greenland. He spent his twilight years in Denmark, most recently on the island of Funen.
DBU football director Peter Møller paid tribute to the deceased in a statement: “Sepp Piontek made a significant contribution to laying the foundation for the culture, professionalism and self-confidence that have characterized Danish football ever since.” Piontek will “forever remain one of the most influential national coaches” in Danish history, said Møller.