The Japan Football Association intends to appoint the national team's new coach by the end of July, JFA President Saburo Kawabuchi said Friday.
"We are moving ahead with preparations to sign a contract with a new national coach within July," Kawabuchi said without elaborating about the process of selecting the successor to Zico, who will leave his post after the upcoming World Cup finals in Germany.
JFA technical director Kozo Tashima said the association has yet to contact anyone for the coach's job.
"We are continuing with the selection process steadily but haven't had any contact with anyone," Tashima said.
The JFA plans to hold a friendly international on Aug. 9 at National Stadium in Tokyo for the first match for the new Japan coach against a team to be announced later.