Del Bosque named Spain coach

Former Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque will take charge of Spain until the 2010 World Cup, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said last night.

Spanish media reported he will be presented tomorrow after a meeting of the RFEF general assembly on Wednesday.

"The RFEF executive committee approved president Angel Maria Villar's proposal of Del Bosque as new coach for a period of two years," the RFEF said in statement.

The 57-year-old Del Bosque replaces Luis Aragones, who quit to join Fenerbahce after leading the national side to victory at Euro 2008 last month.

The 1-0 win over Germany in the final in Vienna earned Spain their first major trophy in 44 years.

Del Bosque's first game in charge will be a friendly in Denmark on August 20, when he will need to decide whether to tamper with a side Aragones turned into European champions.

In particular, all eyes will be on him to see whether he brings Real Madrid striker Raul back into the fold, a player he knows well from his time at the Bernabeu.

Aragones was widely criticised for dropping Raul from the side just after the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and not recalling him.