Hearts appoint Laszlo as new manager

(CNN) -- Scottish Premier League club Hearts have appointed Ugandan national coach Csaba Laszlo as their new manager.

Hungarian Laszlo, 44, has agreed a three-year deal and will work with Hearts sporting director Anatoly Korobochka on all first team matters.

Hearts secured the former Borussia Monchengladbach coach after negotiating compensation believed to be worth around 150,000 euros with the Ugandan FA.

Laszlo is Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov's eighth different manager but despite the Lithuanian's constant hiring and firing, Laszlo is confident of surviving the axe.

"I would like to be here for six years. I want to stay as long as possible," he said. "I don't want to leave here after two months or three years.

"I have a contract for three years and after that I hope I can sit down with Mr Romanov and renew this contract. I would like to have success and stay here a very long time with the club owner. I would like to see a new stadium up and work in the new academy."

Laszlo, who will travel with the squad to Northern Ireland for a pre-season friendly next week, was given a warm send-off by Lawrence Mulindwa, the Ugandan FA president.

He led Uganda from 167th to 97th in the FIFA world rankings, with the highlight of his reign a victory over Nigeria during African Nations Cup qualifying.

Uganda now sit two points behind group leaders Benin as they bid to reach the next stage of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

"He brought more professionalism and consistency to the team," said Mulindwa. "In our last campaign, we only missed out on qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana on goal difference.

"That was a big thing in this country. Laszlo has tried his level best, he has been co-operative and adaptable. Managing an African team is not easy because there are lots of issues you must overcome.

"If he can use that experience he can easily manage a team in northern Europe. All the facilities are there, he can get anything he wants. That is not the case in Uganda."