Javier Aguirre becomes Japan's national team coach

Japan have appointed former Espanyol manager Javier Aguirre as their new national team coach.

The Mexican has experience at both international and club level after leading Mexico to the last 16 in the 2002 and 2010 World Cups and managing a host of La Liga clubs.

After a unsuccessful World Cup, Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni stepped down from his position after defeats to Ivory Coast and Colombia.

Zaccheroni's replacement has just over a month to prepare his new team for international friendlies against Uruguay and Venezuela in early September.