European champions Spain have appointed Vicente Del Bosque as their new coach following a meeting of the Spanish Football Federation assembly on Tuesday night.

The 57-year-old will be officially unveiled by the RFEF on Thursday in Madrid.

He replaces Luis Aragones, who stepped down shortly after guiding Spain to victory at Euro 2008.

Del Bosque, who has had spells in charge of Real Madrid and Besiktas, will make his debut as national team coach against Denmark on August 20.

Del Bosque will on Thursday put pen to paper on a two-year contract, with his brief to lead Spain to the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

He will be assisted in his new role by Antonio Grande and Jose Minano, according to a statement on the RFEF website.

The experienced tactician has already received the backing of predecessor Aragones, who has taken up the reins at Turkish outfit Fenerbahce following his success at Euro 2008.

"What is certain is that he will do it well," Aragones told Spanish sports daily Marca in a recent interview.

"He's a coach who has won enough things.

"I hope that everyone helps him and that the players, like I told them, continue working hard to bring titles and happiness to all of Spain."

Del Bosque's appointment was confirmed to reporters in a RFEF statement. "The president of the Spanish football federation, Angel Maria Villar, proposed the nomination of Del Bosque to the executive committee, which was accepted," said an RFEF spokesman.

"He will be presented on Thursday at 1315 (CET)."

Del Bosque had three spells in charge of Madrid, but it was his four-year stint at the turn of the millennium that proved the most successful as he led the Spanish giants to seven trophies during that time.

Among his successes were two Primera Liga titles and two Champions League crowns before Madrid surprisingly decided not to renew his contract in 2003, just a day after guiding the club to their 29th league title.

Madrid employed six different managers in the three years following Del Bosque's departure but they failed to win a single major trophy until Fabio Capello took them to the Primera Liga title in 2006/07.

Del Bosque now has a golden opportunity to reminded the Spanish football fraternity of his undoubted talents by guiding the team to the World Cup in two years' time.

Spain have been drawn in World Cup qualifying Group Five, alongside Turkey, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Armenia and Estonia.

Del Bosque's first competitive game at the Spain helm will be a World Cup qualifier against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Murcia on September 6.

More news from SportingLife.com