Hodgson to start as Finland coach immediately

Finland have signed an agreement with Roy Hodgson to begin his job as national team coach immediately instead of in August as previously announced, the Finnish FA said. The English former Blackburn Rovers, Inter and Switzerland coach will have Jyrki...

Finland have signed an agreement with Roy Hodgson to begin his job as national team coach immediately instead of in August as previously announced, the Finnish FA said.

The English former Blackburn Rovers, Inter and Switzerland coach will have Jyrki Heliskoski as his deputy, with their first matches a pair of friendlies in Riyadh against Saudi Arabia on Saturday and South Korea four days later.

Heliskoski was appointed caretaker coach in July after Antti Muurinen, in charge since 2000, was sacked when Finnish hopes of reaching the World Cup finals were effectively crushed in a 4-0 defeat by Holland.

Hodgson, 58, who until yesterday was employed by Norway's Viking Stavanger, took Switzerland to the 1994 World Cup finals in the United States, where they reached the second round, and to their first appearance in a European Championship at Euro 1996 which were played in England.

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