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Football

Koeman named as new Benfica coach


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Koeman quit at Ajax when they went out of the UEFA Cup in February

LISBON, Portugal -- Portuguese champions Benfica have appointed Dutchman Ronald Koeman as coach, their president Luis Filipe Vieira said on Wednesday.

Koeman, a former Netherlands international and Ajax Amsterdam manager, was presented to the media at Benfica's Luz stadium.

"We can promise nothing but we will do our best to be champions once again," he said.

Koeman resigned after four years at Ajax in February, after they were knocked out of the UEFA Cup by French side Auxerre.

He will become the second Dutch manager to sign with a top first division Portuguese club for next season.

Last month FC Porto signed Co Adriaanse, who led minnows AZ Alkmaar to third place in the Dutch league and the UEFA Cup semifinals, on a two-year contract.

Koeman, 42, replaces Italian Giovanni Trapattoni, who quit last week after steering the Lisbon club to their first title in 11 years. Trapattoni cited family reason as his reason for leaving with a year remaining on his contract.

"I'm really happy to train a great team like Benfica," the 42-year-old Koeman told a news conference.

"If Trapattoni had a good season and was champion, it's not going to be easy to be champion again, but the club has the talent and the technique to be champion to repeat the success."

Benfica are Portugal's most popular club and this season's title was the 31st in their history.

Koeman ended his second spell as Ajax manager when he quit in February, after his side were knocked out of the UEFA Cup with a 3-1 loss to AJ Auxerre.

Koeman arrived at Ajax from Vitesse Arnhem in December 2001 and won the Dutch league and cup double in his first season.

He also led Ajax to the league title in 2004 and to UEFA Cup quarterfinals in 2002-03.

Starting out as a defender with a powerful shot, Koeman played for Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona and Feyenoord.

He helped the Netherlands win the 1988 European Championship.


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