Serbia hires ex-Real coach Antic for World Cup bid

Serbia’s Football Federation on Wednesday appointed Radomir Antic as its new coach in the hope the former Real Madrid chief can lead the “White Eagles” to World Cup 2010.

Antic replaces Miroslav Djukic who was sacked after failing in his dual role as coach of Serbia at the Olympic Games in Beijing, where the young team failed to win a single match.

A veteran with the rare honour of stints at Real Madrid and its biggest rivals, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, Antic faces a tough task of making the World Cup finals from a group that includes France and Romania.

The 59-year-old Serb penned a two-year with the federation in his first foray into international competition since 1973, when he was the coach of the former six-republic Yugoslavia.

It is also his first job since 2004, when he stepped down as coach of another Spanish club, Celta Vigo, and became an expert commentator on the Primera Liga.

His appointment comes little more than two weeks before Serbia must play Faroe Islands in their initial qualifier for the World Cup, which will be held in South Africa.