Fomenko named Ukraine coach

Ukraine have appointed Mikhail Fomenko as their new head coach, it was confirmed on Thursday.

The position had been vacant since September, when outgoing boss Oleg Blokhin – who had been in charge during Euro 2012 – took the Dynamo Kiev job.

Ex-England and Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson had been strongly linked with the position.

Harry Redknapp admitted his interest in the post before taking up his latest position at Queens Park Rangers, while Andriy Shevchenko rejected the opportunity to take control.

Fomenko told the website of Ukraine’s national football federation: “I want to thank the board and president of the FFU for their trust.

“I understand the responsibility entrusted in me and challenges that face the national team of Ukraine.

“Our primary objective is to get to the finals of the World Cup in Brazil, and for this we need to take at least second place in our qualifying group.”

Ukraine must turn their qualifying campaign around if they are to have any chance of securing a spot in Brazil.

They sit fifth in Group H with just two points from their first three qualifiers.