Former Soviet international midfielder Alexei Mikhailichenko was on Friday appointed as Ukraine`s new national head coach, AFP reports.

"Mikhailichenko is our new national team`s coach and he will lead it in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers," federation chief Grigory Surkis said.

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The 44-year-old manager, who won the Soviet title with Dynamo Kiev in 1985, 1986 and 1990, Italy`s title with Sampdoria in 1991 and 1992-96 Scottish titles during his career as a player, has signed a two-year contract, which may be extended for another two years.

No financial details of the deal were disclosed.

Mikhailichenko, who won Ukraine`s league with Dynamo Kiev as a coach in 2003 and 2004 and guided Ukraine`s under-21 team to the finals of the European championship in 2006, replaced Oleg Blokhin, who resigned last month from the post after Ukraine failed to qualify for the 2008 European championship finals.