Halilhodzic named as Japan coachBosnian Vahid Halilhodzic has been named as the new coach of Japan's national team. He replaces Mexican Javier Aguirre, who was sacked last month after their AFC Asian Cup flop.The 62-year-old, who led Algeria to the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup™ for the first time last year, was formally appointed after a meeting of the Japan Football Association's (JFA) executive board.
Halilhodzic's contract will run through to the 2018 World Cup after guiding Algeria to the last 16 in Brazil.Japan exited the 2014 World Cup with barely a whimper under Italian Alberto Zaccheroni before their Asian Cup defence ended in an embarrassing last-eight defeat to the United Arab Emirates on penalties in Sydney.Halilhodzic is scheduled to arrive in Japan on Friday in time for this month's home friendlies against Tunisia on 27 March and Uzbekistan four days later.
The Bosnian left the Algeria job in a tearful farewell, despite pleas from the country's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to stay on and is said to have been introduced to the JFA by countryman and former Japan coach Ivica Osim.
Former Danish international and Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup and Italian Luciano Spalletti, who led Zenit St. Petersburg to two Russian titles in his last managerial post, were among other candidates linked to the Japan job. Former England coach Glenn Hoddle and German Felix Magath were also mentioned as potential candidates.
http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/255/790/1/index.html