Grasshoppers leap for Balakov

Former Bulgarian international Krassimir Balakov has been named as Hanspeter Latour's replacement as coach of Swiss side Grasshopper-Club.

Challenge accepted
The Zurich side have announced that the 1994 FIFA World Cup semi-finalist has signed a contract to coach the club until the end of the 2006/07 season, ending a period of uncertainty at Grasshoppers. Latour decided to leave the Swiss side in early January to accept the challenge of coaching German outfit 1. FC Köln.

'The ideal man'
Club president Walter Brunner was delighted to announce the arrival of the 39-year-old Balakov, saying: "We are very happy that Balakov has accepted this challenge and are convinced that we will be able to follow our strategy with him. He is the ideal man for our club."

Encouraging progress
While Grasshoppers are in third place in the Swiss league, a full 12 points adrift of champions and current leaders FC Basel 1893, progress was encouraging in the 12 months they spent under the charismatic Latour, who led them to the group stages of this season's UEFA Cup.

Combative style
Grasshoppers lost all four of their Group D games, albeit all by one-goal margins, but had high hopes of pressing for a top-two league finish in the spring under Latour and a return to Europe in 2006/07. Meanwhile, their combative style appealed to fans in Zurich.

Careful policy
With a policy of keeping spending under control and avoiding some of the excesses of recent seasons, Grasshoppers can boast the best defence in Swiss football at the moment, but will be hoping that their new coach can do something to add spice to a misfiring forward line in the spring.

Coaching credentials
Balakov, who has brought in VfB Stuttgart second team coach Rainer Widmayer as his assistant, will be eager to prove his worth at his new club having earned his coaching spurs as an assistant to two of Germany's top coaches at Stuttgart: Matthias Sammer and Felix Magath.

Playing career

Sporting switch

World Cup success

Enhanced reputation

International career