Sidka is new Iraq coach

AFC – ARBIL, German coach Wolfgang Sidka on Monday signed on as coach of the Iraqi national football team ahead of their defence of the AFC Asian Cup title in Qatar next year.

The 56-year-old, a former manager at Werder Bremen, put his name to a one-year deal worth 500,000 dollars, Iraqi Football Association (IFA) president Hussein Saeed said at a press conference in the northern city of Arbil.

“My mission with the Iraqi team will not be easy because I will be the manager during the Asian Cup,” Sidka told reporters, referring to the immense popularity of football in Iraq.

“I will make sure to put together a strong side,” added Sidka, who succeeds the Serb Bora Milutinovic as manager as well as fellow German coach Bernd Stange who managed the team at the time of the US-led invasion in 2003.

Iraq have been grouped with Iran, the United Arab Emirates and DPR Korea for the AFC Asian Cup in 2011.

The country is aiming to recreate the glory of its 2007 triumph when the ‘Lions of Mesopotamia’ edged Saudi Arabia in the final under Brazilian Jorvan Vieira.

Since then, however, the Iraqi national squad has been unable to recapture its form, failing to qualify for this year’s World Cup in South Africa, and putting in a lacklustre performance during the Confederations Cup in 2009.