CARDIFF (AFP) - John Toshack has been appointed as national team manager of Wales for the second time, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) announced.
Toshack, 55, who walked out on his country after one game in charge 10 years ago, was unveiled as Mark Hughes' successor on a five-year deal at a press conference on Friday.
"I think it's the right time for me - personally I think football management is about timing and being in the right place at the right time," Toshack said Friday.
Toshack became part-time Wales boss in 1994 but, after a 3-1 defeat against Norway, resigned to focus on his duties at Real Sociedad.
"I think - after 26 years in football management and coaching in six countries, with more than 1,000 games in the dug-out - this is one of the few jobs that really motivates me and appeals to me."
The race to replace Hughes as Wales manager had been narrowed down to three candidates after former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier decided to decline an interview with FAW officials.
An 11-man sub committee interviewed the three candidates - Toshack, Dean Saunders, assistant to Newcastle boss Graeme Souness, and Phillipe Troussier, who managed Japan at the 2002 World Cup finals, on Thursday.
Wales have had a poor start to their World Cup qualifying campaign and currently lie second bottom of their Group Six with just two points from four games.
After a glittering playing career with Liverpool, Cardiff-born Toshack became player-manager for Swansea and guided them from the old fourth division to the first division.
He became Sporting Lisbon coach in 1984 and since then has also managed Real Sociedad, Real Madrid, Deportivo La Coruna and Besiktas.
"I've been very fortunate and privileged as a player and manager - I've been successful and picked up a lot of knowledge and experience," explained Toshack.
"But taking the national side to the European Championship finals or World Cup finals is one of the few things that I haven't been able to do.
"This job is a tough challenge but it's something that excites me - and I have had equally difficult challenges in the past.
"I can't make any promises or offer any guarantees other than the knowledge and experience I've gained - and I hope the FAW and the players will be able to benefit from it.
"But I know it's not going to be easy."
While not ruling out qualification for the World Cup, Toshack stressed that qualifying for the European Championship finals in 2008 is more realistic.
"While it's mathematically possible that we can qualify we realise that this particular campaign is by no means easy.
"I've always been realistic in everything I've set out to do and what we need is to try and strike a balance between looking to the future.
"We'll be trying to win matches, realising the difficulty of qualifying (for the World Cup finals) - but I never give up.
"But by the time the European Championship qualifiers come round in September 2006 we'll have a pretty good idea what sort of side I've got.
"Hopefully by results and hard work we'll be able to achieve our objectives."
11/12/2004 - 16:28 GMT - AFP