Del Bosque named coach by Euro champs Spain

MADRID, Spain -- European Champions Spain have appointed former Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque to replace Luis Aragones as head of the national side.

The 57-year-old del Bosque agreed to a two-year contract that will take him through to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Aragones left Spain after leading them to the Euro 2008 crown and signed a two-year deal to take charge at Turkish club Fenerbahce.

An official said that Del Bosque will be presented on Thursday after the Spanish football federation's executive rubberstamped president Angel Maria Villar's appointment proposal.

Del Bosque has already hinted that he would not tinker with the attractive style of play that led Spain to their first major trophy for 44 years last month thanks to a 1-0 victory over Germany.

The Salamanca native was linked with the Spain job soon after being fired from Real Madrid five years ago. But Aragones replaced Inaki Saez following a first-round exit at Euro 2004 in Portugal.

The 69-year-old Aragones lost only four games during his 54-match tenure, his 38 victories leaving him top of Spain's all-time coaching list.

Del Bosque will officially become the country's 50th national coach on August 20 when Spain plays an international friendly at Denmark -- the team's first match since its Euro 2008 triumph.

World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia-Herzegovia and Armenia await in September.

Del Bosque led Madrid to two European Champions League triumphs, two league titles and a European Supercup during 3 1/2 years in charge, one of the most successful spells in the club's history.

Surprisingly, he was fired one day after guiding the Spanish powerhouse to its record 29th Spanish league title.

Praised for his ability to handle Madrid's "galacticos" -- which included Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo -- Del Bosque inherits a Spanish team considered to have more of a collective spirit than the individuality that reigned during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Del Bosque's dismissal severed a 35-year connection with Madrid. He played for the club for 11 seasons, winning the league title five times and the Copa del Rey four times. Before he was hired as head coach, he worked on the coaching staff for many years.

Del Bosque went on to coach Turkish club Besiktas after Madrid but was fired after seven months.

He reportedly was offered the chance to take over Mexico following its second-round at the 2006 World Cup, but passed and supposedly was in the running for a return to Madrid prior to last season before Bernd Schuster won the job.

Del Bosque also played 18 times for the national team, scoring one goal.

Copyright 2008 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.