Fenerbahce say Aragones will be next coach

Fenerbahce said yesterday they had agreed a provisional two-year contract with Spain coach Luis Aragones for him to replace Zico at the Turkish club.

The announcement came as Spain prepare for their Euro 2008 semi-final against Russia today and after a flurry of media speculation about the coach's future.

Aragones will bring with him a four-member training team, with a final contract to be signed after Euro 2008, Fenerbahce said.

On Monday, Aragones had dismissed suggestions that he might stay on as national team coach if Spain won Euro 2008.

Aragones, who will turn 70 in July, saw his side become the first Spanish team to make the semi-finals of a major tournament in 24 years after they clinched a penalty shoot-out victory over world champions Italy on Sunday.

"Our club has made a two-year preliminary contract with Luis Aragones to be our soccer coach in the new season," Fenerbahce said.

Aragones had said last week he was unaware of any agreement to coach Fenerbahce but said his agent was trying to secure him a job as a club coach.

The move by the Turkish club comes after it failed to reach a new contract agreement with former Brazilian international Zico.