The Spanish Football Federation ( RFEF) confirmed the appointment of Vicente del Bosque as the new coach of the Spanish national football team on Tuesday night.

Del Bosque, who has in principal agreed a two-year deal that would take him up to the 2010 World Cup, replaced Luis Aragones, who signed for Turkish side Fenerbahce after leading Spain to the title in this summer's European Championship.

Del Bosque was the popular choice to take the reign of the Spain side. Although he has not worked as a coach since his dismissal from Besiktas midway through the 2004-05 season, he was hugely respected for his work with Real Madrid.

During a four-year spell in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu, del Bosque led Real Madrid to two Primera Liga titles. He was sacked by the club just 24 hours after leading them to the 2003 league title.

Del Bosque then moved to Turkish side Besiktas, but the move did not work out and since then he had kept himself busy with work as a radio and TV pundit.

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2008)