Sanfrecce Hiroshima has appointed former Cameroon national team manager Valeri Nepomniachtchi as the new boss for next season, officials of the J. League first division club said Thursday.
Nepomniachtchi, who guided Cameroon to the quarterfinals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy, will take over managerial duties next February on an 11-month contract after Eddie Thomson's four-year reign comes to an end at the end of the current season.
The 47-year-old Russian, who has coached in the South Korean league and is currently plying his trade in China, is expected to come to Japan to meet his new team before the end of the year.
Sanfrecce officials said previously they would look for someone to continue with the European style of soccer that Thomson had introduced to the team.
Iran blanks Iraq
SAIDA, Lebanon (Kyodo) If neutrals were expecting a "War on the Shore" between Iran and Iraq on Wednesday, they will have left disappointed after Iran won a sporting game 1-0, a result which sent both teams into the last eight of the Asian Cup.
Hertha Berlin striker Ali Daei scrambled in the only goal in the 77th minute at Saida Municipal Stadium to secure top spot for Iran in Group A on seven points from three matches, while Iraq finished runnerup on four points.
The bad news for Iraq is that it must now play Group C winner Japan in the quarterfinals at Beirut next Tuesday.
In another Group A match, host Lebanon tied Thailand 1-1.