Jozic is new Croatia coach

Croatian have promoted under-21 coach Mirko Jozic to take charge of their national team.

Jozic replaces Miroslav Blazevic who quit the job last month after six years in charge citing stress and poor media relations.

Jozic coached Yugoslavia's under-21 team to the 1987 World Cup title in Chile where he worked with such stars as Darko Pancev, Boban, Prosinecki and Savicevic at the start of their careers. He also coached the Chile national team for a short spell ten years ago and Newell's Old Boys in Argentina before returning to the international scene with Saudi Arabia and Mexico with limited success.

Croatia have drawn their two opening 2002 World Cup qualifiers after reaching the semi finals in 1998 under Blazevic whose strained relations with several squad members finally drained the energy from his team..

The Croatian FA voted Jozic into his new job by 12 votes to 2 at a board meeting yesterday. He has worked in Croatian football with Hadjuk Split but was fired and given a place with the under-21 team two years ago.