Published: 23 September, 2009, 10:38
Edited: 23 September, 2009, 12:16
Ex-Zenit boss Dick Advocaat has been unveiled in Brussels as the new coach of the Belgian national team.
The Dutchman was due to take the post in January next year, but interim boss Frank Vercauteren stepped down last week following Belgium's 2-1 defeat by Armenia, which ended their hopes of reaching the World Cup finals in South Africa.
The former Holland, United Arab Emirates and South Korea coach, Advocaat had been under contract with Russian Premier League side Zenit, before being sacked in August for poor results.
But Advocaat’s reign marked the brightest epoch in the club’s history as the team won the Russian championship, UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup under him.
The 61-year-old will start working with the young and demoralized squad on October 1, and is expected to ready them for the Euro 2012 qualifying.
"The biggest challenge is quite simple. We have to qualify for the next tournament. And knowing the players, and knowing the structure from the past: we have very talented players, but only with talent is not enough. Passion, work, working rate and the quality – that makes a good team. And we have the feeling that we can bring that," Dick Advocaat said.
And missing the tournament, to be held in Poland and Ukraine, "would mean I have failed" the coach added.