Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic looks forward to challenge
TOKYO (AP) - Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic has laid out his plans to help the country's national football team move up in the FIFA rankings.
Halilhodzic, who took over from Javier Aguirre after the Mexican was fired last month amid a match-fixing scandal, spoke Friday, a day after the Japanese Football Association approved his appointment at a meeting of its executive board.
"I was able to get Algeria to No. 17 in the rankings and I want to do the same for Japan," Halilhodzic said. "It won't come overnight but given time Japan can improve, too."
The 62-year-old Bosnian guided Algeria to the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time in Brazil last year. Japan, which was eliminated in the group stage in Brazil, is currently ranked 53rd.
Japanese media reported that Halilhodzic will be paid an annual salary of $2.2 million through the 2018 World Cup. The former Yugoslavia striker has been out of work since quitting Turkish side Trabzonspor in November following a poor run.
He inherits a team that has qualified for five straight World Cups but has yet to advance beyond the second round.
"I'm excited and honored to be part of this new challenge," Halilhodzic said. "I look forward to working with the players, and the first goal will be to qualify for the World Cup."
Aguirre was fired on Feb. 4 over allegations of involvement in match-fixing from a previous job in Spain. In light of the incident, the JFA conducted a background check on Halilhodzic through an overseas inspection agency.
Japan has home friendlies against Tunisia on March 27 and Uzbekistan four days later.