The Japan Football Association officially approved the appointment of Zico as Japan's new national team coach, JFA president Saburo Kawabuchi said Saturday.
Kawabuchi said the national governing body for soccer will sign the contract with the former Brazil international on Monday in Tokyo. Zico is expected to guide Japan as it attempts to qualify for the 2006 World Cup. But his contract, which will initially be for 11 months starting Aug. 1, is expected to be renewed on a year-by-year basis.
Zico's coaching staff has yet to be announced after the JFA failed to reach agreements with Brazilian candidates for a goalkeeping coach and a physical trainer. But Masakuni Yamamoto, who served as an assistant coach for Japan World Cup team coach Philippe Troussier, is expected to join Zico as the senior team assistant coach and Japan's Olympic team coach.