Costa Rica appoints Medford as coach to 2010 World Cup

Cosata Rica has appointed former World Cup player Hernan Medford as national team coach up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Medford, 38, replaces Alexandre Guimares, who stepped down in July after Costa Rica failed to advance from the first round at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

The Costa Rican Soccer Federation voted unanimously for Medford over Costa Rica's Carlos Watson del Herediano, Colombia's Carlos Restrepo and Italians Giuseppe Dossena and Giuseppe Materazzi.

"It's clear that Mr. Hernan is capable of taking us to the next World Cup," said federation president Walter Niehaus on Monday.

Medford played in two World Cups in 1990 in Italy and in 2002 in South Korea.

As a player, Medford started with Saprissa and went on to play for leagues in the former Yugoslavia, Austria, Spain, Italy and Mexico. His most memorable moment came when he helped Costa Rica qualify for the second round in the 1990 World Cup.

Source: Xinhua