Ecuador have hired former Barcelona and Manchester United midfielder Jordi Cruyff as their national team coach.

Cruyff, the son of coaching legend Johan Cruyff, has signed a three-year contract, the Ecuador football federation said.

He is taking the job less than three months before the opening round of South American World Cup qualifiers.

The president of the federation, Francisco Egas, said the appointment of the 45-year-old Cruyff is the first step toward qualifying for the 2022 World Cup...

Ecuador have been looking to go bold with their national team coach and this time around they have done just that.

Eighteen months ago they re-hired veteran Colombian Hernan Dario Gomez, who had taken them to their World Cup debut in 2002, but it was roundly criticised as a backward step -- a view which gained weight when the team played a dismal 2019 Copa America. Gomez was sacked and Ecuador's FA vowed not to make the same mistake twice. Now they wanted to be modern.

They spent a few months last...

The Socceroos will tackle global superstar Lionel Messi and Argentina at next year's Copa America after Australia were drawn alongside the co-hosts.

Graham Arnold's men were drawn in Group A for the South American continental championship, which starts on June 12.

That means Australia will play their five group stages matches in Argentina against the two-time World Cup champions, Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia and Paraguay.

The Socceroos' opening match will be against 15-time Copa America champions Uruguay...

Ecuador have denied agreeing terms for Jurgen Klinsmann to become their new national team coach and said media reports that the former United States boss is set to take over are speculation.

"There is nothing concrete, just speculation," Ecuador Football Federation (FEF) director Carlos Galarza told reporters.

But he added: "There have been talks with coaches, or rather, one coach in particular."

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