Bob Houghton is India's football coach

Englishman Bob Houghton was on Sunday appointed India's new football coach. He will replace Syed Nayeemuddin, who was sacked after a string of poor performances earlier by the Indian team earlier this year, and take charge on June 20 when he joins the team for a training camp.

The Briton's appointment comes after All India Football Federation president Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi accepted the Technical Committee's recommendation.

Houghton becomes the second foreigner to be appointed India coach after Cypriot Stephen Constantine, who lost his job to Sukhwinder Singh at the beginning of 2005.

"The AIFF president P R Dasmunsi has accepted the recommendation of the Technical Committee. Hougton will join the team from the 20th of June," AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco said in a statement.

"The president has also advised the AIFF general secretary to inform Houghton of his appointment and negotiate the agreement immediately.

"Other team officials, like the assistant coach, goalkeeper coach, technical director and physiotherapist shall be announced separately."

Houghton's first international assignment will be a tournament in Canada in June-July before which he will oversee a training camp in the third week of June soon after he takes over.

Houghton and Irishman Brian Kerr appeared for interviews before the Technical Committee on Wednesday and the panel preferred the Englishman because of his rich experience of coaching in Asia.

The Englishman had been in charge of Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan and also guided China to the World Cup in 2002.

The other two shortlisted candidates, Ian Porterfield and Clemence Westerhoff, did not come for the interview, the former informing the AIFF that he would be able to make it only in the first week of June.

Houghton played for Fulham FC from 1966-69 and Brighton from 1969 to 1970.

In a 30-year coaching career, he plied his trade in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, North America and Asia with unprecedented success.

The youngest ever coach to gain an English FA Full Badge ('A' Licence), he also authored three books.

Presently he is coaching Shenyang Ginda in the Chinese Super League.