Pekerman takes Colombia reins

Argentine Jose Pekerman is the new coach of the Colombian national football team, replacing the sacked Leonel Alvarez.

Pekerman, who led Argentina to the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, becomes the ninth man to coach Colombia since 1999.

He replaces Alvarez, who had only been in the job since August but was relieved of his post when the side took only four points from their opening three World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia, Venezuela and Argentina.

“The Colombian Football Federation’s (FCF) executive committee, headed by its president Luis Bedoya, has reached an agreement in the last few hours for Argentine Jose Nestor Pekerman to become the new coach of the senior Colombia team,” an FCF statement read.

“In the coming hours we expect the definitive signing of the contract that will link him to the national team that is taking part in the qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014.”

Pekerman, 62, resigned from the Argentina post after their 2006 World Cup quarter-final defeat to Germany on penalties, and since then has been in charge of Mexican clubs Deportivo Toluca and Tigers de la UANL.

Colombia take on Mexico in a friendly in February and their next World Cup qualifiers are in June against Peru and Ecuador.