Poland name Leo Beenhakker as national coach

Poland's football association (PZPN) yesterday appointed Leo Beenhakker to replace national coach Pawel Janas.

The 64-year-old Dutchman is the first non-Pole to coach Poland's national team. Janas led a disappointing World Cup campaign in Germany and resigned after their first round exit.

"I am happy we managed to persuade such a respected and successful coach," said PZPN chief Michal Listkiewicz.

"I believe Beenhakker will introduce a new quality to Polish football and lead us to the European championship finals for the first time."

Beenhakker, who has coached the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Real Madrid and Ajax, led Trinidad & Tobago to the World Cup finals for the first time in Germany.

Poland face World Cup semi-finalists Portugal as well as Belgium, Serbia and Finland in the qualifying group for Euro 2008.

Poland's conservative government has pressed publicly for heads to roll at PZPN since the Poles' second exit at the World Cup finals' group stages in four years.

Officials say chief Listkiewicz has engineered Beenhakker's appointment despite opposition from the association's old guard.