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Zenit take a Czech

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Czech coach Vlastimil Petrzela has agreed to take charge of Russia's FC Zenit St. Petersburg.

FC Zenit St. Petersburg have appointed Vlastimil Petrzela as their new coach.

Two-year deal
The 49-year-old Czech has signed a two-year contract and takes over from caretaker Boris Rapoport, who became the third man in charge of Zenit this season following the departures of Yuri Morozov and Mihail Biryukov.

Starkovs offered job
The St. Petersburg club turned to Petrzela after FC Skonto and Latvia coach Aleksandrs Starkovs declined their offer, citing the importance of his work with the national side. Petrzela, who joins from Czech second division side FC Mlada Boleslav, was previously in charge of AC Sparta Praha, SK Slavia Praha and FC Slovan Liberec.

'Serious and thoughtful'
Zenit chairman Vitali Mutko said: "I had good recommendations about Petrzela, and after I met him I was sure that he is a serious and thoughtful specialist with a lot of experience. His teams are always disciplined and play well in defence, and this is what we will work on."

Aiming high
Mutko added: "This team has serious targets. We are hoping for at least a top-five finish in 2003, and a place in the [UEFA] Champions League in 2004." Zenit finished the Russian season tenth, 33 points adrift of co-leaders FC Lokomotiv Moskva and PFC CSKA Moskva who will play off for the title on Thursday.

Follows Bunjak's example
Petrzela is the second coach from outside the former Soviet Union to coach in Russia's Premier-Liga, after Boris Bunjak whose FC Uralan Elista side were relegated in 1999.

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