Former Mexico coach Javier Aguirre has been appointed to manage Japan’s national team replacing Alberto Zaccheroni.

The 55-year-old Aguirre, who coached Mexico at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups and was in charge of Espanyol last season, will go to Japan in the middle of August to formally sign the deal, Kyodo news agency said.

The financial terms were not disclosed.

Zaccheroni’s four-year spell in charge of the Asian champions ended in Brazil when Japan finished bottom of their World Cup group, falling short of the Italian’s ambition to take them to a first quarter-final.

The team’s dismal World Cup campaign ended with a 4-1 defeat by Colombia after an opening loss to Ivory Coast and a 0-0 draw with 10-man Greece.

Aguirre, a former midfielder who helped Mexico reach the quarter-finals when they hosted the tournament in 1986, steered his country to the last 16 on both World Cup appearances as their coach.

He has also coached Atletico Madrid, Osasuna and Real Zaragoza in Spain.

Japan will play two friendlies in September against Uruguay and Venezuela but Aguirre’s first major assignment will be when they defend their Asian Cup title in Australia in January.

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