SANTIAGO - Former Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa returned from nearly three years on the sidelines when he was put in charge of Chile's troubled national team on Friday.

The famously introverted, enigmatic coach known as El Loco (The Madman) was given the challenge of trying to take Chile, riddled by disciplinary problems, to their first World Cup since 1998 in three year's time.

"We've decided that Marcela Bielsa will be the coach of our team during the qualifiers for the World Cup in South Africa," said Harold Mayne-Nicholls, president of the Chilean Football Association (ANFP).

Bielsa's first competitive match in charge will be against his own country when Chile kick off the South American World Cup qualifiers on October 13 or 14 in Buenos Aires.

He had been out of the game since surprisingly resigning as Argentina coach in September 2004, midway through the qualifying campaign for the 2006 World Cup.

Bielsa has rarely been seen in public since, having largely confined himself to his farm on the outskirts of Rosario, north of Buenos Aires.

He takes over from Nelson Acosta, who resigned days after Chile were thrashed 6-1 by Brazil in their Copa America quarter-final in Venezuela last month.

【体坛英语资讯：Bielsa comes back to take charge of Chile】相关文章：

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Confused Russian supermodel takes own life

★ 体坛资讯：Fatherhood will make Woods even better says Parnevik

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Pierce Brosnan accused of hitting LA photographer

★ 体坛资讯：Liu gets another shot at Robles in 110 hurdles

★ 娱乐资讯：Hilton nominated for Teen Choice Awards

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Lily Cole is the new face of Marks & Spencer

★ 体坛资讯：Chinese road riders taste acceleration through studying abroad

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Sarkozys wife hailed as Frances Diana

★ 体坛资讯：Iran fights back to draw China 2-2

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Jessica Simpsons boyfriend boost