Dutchman Pim Verbeek was named as South Korea 's new national football team coach on Monday.

"We appointed Verbeek, senior assistant coach of the Korean national football team, as successor to Dick Advocaat," said Lee Young-moo, chairman of the technical committee of the Football Association of South Korea in a press conference.

"Verbeek is known for his great enthusiasm and affection for South Korea, as well as his deep knowledge of the South Korean football and its players. He is also widely trusted by the South Korean players," the official said, adding the contract with Verbeek will last two years until late August 2008.

Verbeek, 50, who has served as an assistant to outgoing Dutchman Advocaat for South Korea's national team since last September and was also an assistant coach to former coach Guus Hiddink during the 2002 World Cup, will be the seventh foreign coach of South Korea's national team.

Verbeek will lead South Korean squad to prepare for the Asian Cup finals in September, according to South Korean soccer officials.

Source: Xinhua