Thailand signs Schaefer as coach

Bangkok: Thailand on Friday officially signed Germany`s Winfried Schaefer as coach for its national football team on a three-year contract, a top official said.

"He started work today," said Worawi Makudi, president of the Football Association of Thailand, "I have high hopes for him because he used to work with Cameroon and other teams." Schaefer, 61, led Cameroon to victory in the 2002 African Nations Cup. He has also coached United Arab Emirates side Al Ain and FK Baku of Azerbaijan.Thailand`s previous coach Bryan Robson, a former England and Manchester United captain, quit last month after less than two years in the job, citing health and family reasons. Robson underwent surgery for throat cancer in March and has previously said doctors were optimistic he would make a full recovery. He won 90 international caps during a glittering career, including 65 as captain, despite a string of major injuries. England manager Sir Bobby Robson nicknamed his namesake "Captain Marvel".But he had a patchy record with Thailand since taking over in September 2009, winning only seven of 18 matches. Bureau Report