Benito Floro ponders a question during a press conferenceThe Associated Press
Veteran Spanish manager Benito Floro is Canada's new soccer coach.
The 61-year-old succeeds Stephen Hart, who stepped down in October following the national team's humiliating exit from World Cup qualifying.
Floro has a lengthy resume that includes being in charge of Spanish giant Real Madrid from 1992 to 1994. Most recently he coached a club side in Morocco.
He has also managed club teams in Mexico and Japan.
"The Canadian Soccer Association is thrilled to bring such an accomplished soccer mind to lead our next phase of development on the men's national team program," CSA president Victor Montagliani said in a release.
Floro, who will be assisted by his son Antonio Floro Esteve, takes over a Canadian men's team ranked 88th by FIFA.
The Canadian men are currently at the Gold Cup, the championship for North and Central America and the Caribbean, under interim coach Colin Miller.
Floro will officially start Aug. 1 but will be at the Gold Cup as an observer.