Tokyo: Former AC Milan and Juventus manager Alberto Zaccheroni has been named as the new coach of Japan, the country's governing body announced on Monday.
The Japan Football Association (JFA) said the 57-year-old had reached an agreement to take charge of the Blue Samurai and would hold a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday, bringing an end to a two-month search for a new national coach.
The identity of Japan's next coach had taken an intriguing twist earlier in the day when local media offered contrasting opinions on who was poised to take over.
According to Nikkan Sports, former Argentina manager Jose Pekerman was going to be named as coach later in the day. However, the Daily Yomiuri, and Italy's La Repubblica, correctly reported that Zaccheroni had agreed to a two-year deal to succeed Takeshi Okada.
Dutchmen Marco van Basten and Ronald Koeman had also been linked with the Japan job while the delay in naming a coach had triggered criticism of the JFA.
Okada defied expectations by guiding Japan to the last 16 of this year's World Cup in South Africa, where they were beaten on penalties by Paraguay.
Zaccheroni is expected to take up his role after next month's home friendlies against Paraguay and Guatemala. The Italian's first task will be to lead the side at the Asian Cup in Qatar in January.
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