Lokomotiv name Couceiro as new coach

FC Lokomotiv Moskva have appointed the much-travelled Portuguese José Couceiro as their new coach on a two-year contract.

The 48-year-old replaces Yuri Krasnozhan who was sacked on 6 June. Vladimir Maminov stepped in as caretaker but the Railway Men lost their last three league matches under his guidance and sit eighth in the Russian Premier League, trailing leaders PFC CSKA Moskva by 12 points.

Couceiro's CV includes spells at Vitória FC, FC Porto, CF Os Belenenses and Portugal's Under-21 team. He also worked in Lithuania with FBK Kaunas and the Baltic state's national side before taking over at Gaziantepspor in Turkey. Most recently he served as caretaker coach at Sporting Clube de Portugal last season.

"I've already seen a lot of Lokomotive's matches, so I have plenty of information," said Couceiro. "The reality has exceeded my high expectations. Lokomotiv are a club of a great quality with a wonderful infrastructure. I've worked at a number of big clubs including Sporting and Porto and I can say that Lokomotiv look solid in each and every component. This move is a very important step in my career."

Couceiro will lead his first training session on 3 July when the Lokomotiv players reassemble after a short break. They finished fifth in the Premier-Liga last term and as a result will enter the 2011/12 UEFA Europa League in the play-off round.