Former French national team player Alain Gires will take over as Libya coach next week, and will lead this selection through the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, the Libyan Football Federation (FLF) announced today.
"Negotiations with Zires are almost finished and he is expected to arrive in Libya next week, to sign the contract," said FLF President Muftah Gwejdar.
Gires is a well-known football personality in Africa, as he worked as a coach in Gabon and Mali, and in France he was involved in Toulouse and Paris Saint-Germain.
His biggest success as coach was Mali's third place at this year's African Cup of Nations, which was won by Zambia.
According to the contract, Zires would earn 25.000 euros per month, but it is stated that success in the qualifications is a condition for the possible extension of the contract.
The current coach of Libya, Albulhafid Arbih, who failed to qualify for the 2013 African Cup of Nations, will remain in the national team as an assistant to Zires.
The 1970-year-old Gires, who was awarded France's highest award for his contribution to football, the Legion of Honor, began his playing career in Bordeaux in 1984 and was a member of the French national team that won the European Championship title in 1982. He was one of the key players who led France to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 1986 and XNUMX.
Zires ended his international career in 1986 with six goals in 47 games in the "tricolor" jersey.
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