Anthuenis carries Belgium's hopes

RSC Anderlecht's Aimé Anthuenis has been named Belgium's new national coach in succession to Robert Waseige who announced last month that he would not extend his contract beyond the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals.

Gerets misses out
Anthuenis, 58, moved to Anderlecht after leading unfancied KRC Genk to the Belgian First Division title in 1999. He beat former PSV Eindhoven coach Eric Gerets and ex-Belgian international René Vandereycken to the international post.

First task
"He should assume his duties as soon as details of the job are discussed with him, possibly in several weeks," said Belgium federation spokesman Nicolas Cornu. The major task for Anthuenis, who is understood to have signed a two-year contract, will be to prepare the Belgian team for the EURO 2004™ qualifiers.

Standard return
Waseige, 62, who guided Belgium to the second round of the World Cup finals where they were beaten 2-0 by Brazil, is returning to R. Standard de Liège where he began his career as a schoolboy.