Australia appoint Verbeek as coach
SYDNEY, Australia — Australia appointed former South Korea boss Pim Verbeek as national coach for the Socceroos on Thursday.
The Dutchman, who led South Korea to the Asian Cup semifinals this year before standing down, had been favored for the job along with Philippe Troussier of France.
The 51-year-old steps into the gap left by his compatriot Dick Advocaat, who agreed to take the job last month but then decided to extend his contract with new Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg.
Verbeek was assistant to former Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink with South Korea when they were World Cup semifinalists in 2002.
Hiddink took Australia into the second round of the 2006 World Cup in Germany before leaving to take up a post with Russia’s national side.
Verbeek has also coached at several Dutch clubs including Sparta Rotterdam, Feyenoord and Fortuna Sittard, and had a spell with Germany’s Borussia Monchengladbach.
I promise that we will do everything to succeed and I am 100 percent convinced that we will succeed and that we will go to the 2010 World Cup and we will have a good tournament over there also, Verbeek said.
It’s a major challenge, it’s a big challenge, and I am really looking forward to coming to Australia and to learn about the A-League.
I am committed to also helping to develop the game in Australia. I intend to become as familiar as possible with football in Australia, and I will be based in Australia and intend to relocate immediately. I will be in Australia next week to observe players in the final rounds of the A-League.
I am excited to be involved in what is an exciting time for football in Australia and I look forward to assisting the FFA in developing football in Australia and making myself available to support the national football development plan, in particular working with Australian coaches.
Australia, without a permanent coach since Hiddink’s departure, have been grouped with China, Asian Cup champions Iraq and Qatar in their World Cup qualifying group, which starts in February.
Meanwhile, South Korea have been forced to delay announcing their new coach after being snubbed by Gerard Houllier and Mick McCarthy.
The Korea Football Association said on Wednesday that the duo were the only two names on the shortlist.
But McCarthy, who took the Republic of Ireland to the 2002 World Cup, issued a statement saying he was happy to stay with English club Wolverhampton.
And former France, Liverpool and Lyon coach Houllier has also pulled out of the running.
A deal collapsed shortly before producing a contract with Houllier following the final negotiations because of opposition from the French football governing body and his family, said KFA spokesman You Young-Cheol.
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