FILE: SOCCER - Former South Korea coach Pim Verbeek is given the job as national coach for Australia

Record ID: 721251

  • Title: FILE: SOCCER - Former South Korea coach Pim Verbeek is given the job as national coach for Australia
  • Date: 7th December 2007
  • Summary: MEDIA (S4) INCHON, SOUTH KOREA (FILE 2005) (REUTERS) DUTCH SOCCER COACH DICK ADVOCAAT (RIGHT) WITH VERBEEK
  • Embargoed: 22nd December 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA46D8MU83QBMCX6POXUC8D6X11
  • Story Text: Dutchman Pim Verbeek was on Thursday (December 6) handed the task of leading Australia to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
    The 51-year-old quit as South Korea coach after July's Asian Cup and had previously worked as assistant to compatriot and former Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink with the Korean national team.
    The announcement ended Australia's 17-month search for a permanent replacement for Hiddink, who led the Socceroos to the second round of the 2006 World Cup before quitting to coach Russia.
    Dutchman Dick Advocaat had agreed to accept the job but he changed his mind last month after being offered a new contract to stay with his Russian club Zenit St Petersburg.
    Verbeek, who has coached clubs in the Netherlands and Japan, served as assistant to Hiddink during South Korea's shock run to the 2002 World Cup semi-finals.
    He took over as head coach in 2005, guiding the Koreans to third place at the Asian Cup before announcing his resignation.
    The Socceroos were handed a tough draw in the 2010 qualifiers, however, placed in the same group as China, Iraq and Qatar. Only the top two advance to the next stage and Verbeek faces his first competitive match in February.
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