The innovative coach will occupy the vacancy left by Leonel Alvarez in December.
Jose Pekerman transformed himself into the new coach of the Colombian national team after signing a two and a half year deal on Friday, confirmed Luis Bedoya, the president of the Colombian Football Association.
"Pekerman already signed, there has been an agreement. He is the new coach of the senior Colombian national team. It is an honour because of what he is and what he represents," Bedoya declared to Caracol Radio.
"He [Pekerman] believes Colombia are passing through a very good moment, they possess quality players, he thinks it is possible to pick up what has been lost. He believes it is a good moment to take over the national team," affirmed Bedoya.
After weeks of negotiations, Pekerman finally accepted the proposal put forward by The Colombian FA. As Bedoya admits, the Argentine turned down several more lucrative deals to join Los Cafeteros.
"The professor Pekerman rejected more than twenty offers, lots of them to coach national teams from countries in surely much better economical situations than Colombia."
According to reports Pekerman will earn between four and five million dollars until his contract expires at the conclusion of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Colombia count with an abundance of talent in their squad, with the likes of Radamel Falcao Garcia, Mario Yepes, James Rodriguez, Jackson Martinez, Luis Amaranto Perea and Teofilo Gutierrez. However, they commenced the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in a disastrous manner under then-coach Leonel Alvarez.
As was stated by Bedoya, Colombia's "number one objective is [to qualify for] Brazil 2014," which will be a difficult task considering that the last time Colombia qualified for soccer's biggest competition was in 1998 in France.
Pekerman was Argentina's coach as they reached the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup, where they were eliminated by hosts Germany after a penalty shootout.
"Pekerman already signed, there has been an agreement. He is the new coach of the senior Colombian national team. It is an honour because of what he is and what he represents," Bedoya declared to Caracol Radio.
"He [Pekerman] believes Colombia are passing through a very good moment, they possess quality players, he thinks it is possible to pick up what has been lost. He believes it is a good moment to take over the national team," affirmed Bedoya.
After weeks of negotiations, Pekerman finally accepted the proposal put forward by The Colombian FA. As Bedoya admits, the Argentine turned down several more lucrative deals to join Los Cafeteros.
"The professor Pekerman rejected more than twenty offers, lots of them to coach national teams from countries in surely much better economical situations than Colombia."
According to reports Pekerman will earn between four and five million dollars until his contract expires at the conclusion of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Colombia count with an abundance of talent in their squad, with the likes of Radamel Falcao Garcia, Mario Yepes, James Rodriguez, Jackson Martinez, Luis Amaranto Perea and Teofilo Gutierrez. However, they commenced the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in a disastrous manner under then-coach Leonel Alvarez.
As was stated by Bedoya, Colombia's "number one objective is [to qualify for] Brazil 2014," which will be a difficult task considering that the last time Colombia qualified for soccer's biggest competition was in 1998 in France.
Pekerman was Argentina's coach as they reached the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup, where they were eliminated by hosts Germany after a penalty shootout.
