Betis to unveil Cuper as new coach

Former Inter and Valencia manager Hector Cuper will be the new coach of Real Betis.

The 51-year-old Argentine, who was formerly coach at Real Mallorca, will be presented tomorrow evening, the club said in a statement.

Betis had a forgettable campaign last season. They started out under Javier Irureta, who threw in the towel in December to be replaced by Luis Fernandez.

However, after a 5-0 home defeat to Osasuna in the penultimate game of the season, Fernandez also left with the side deep in trouble.

Reserve team coach Paco Chaparro took over and steered them to safety with a win on the final day.

Cuper quit as coach of Mallorca in February last year. He was first in charge of the islanders from 1997 to 1999, taking them to the final of the King's Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup plus a club record third-place finish in the league.

He moved to Valencia in 1999 and took a side with little pedigree in Europe to two Champions League finals. Cuper replaced Marco Tardelli at Inter in 2001 and almost won the Serie A title the following season.