Milutinovic, who has coached five national teams at the FIFA World Cup, has been hired by the Iraq Football Association for their FIFA Confederations Cup campaign in South Africa.

He replaces temporary coach Radesh Shneichel, who took over after AFC Asian Cup-winning coach Jorvan Vieira, of Brazil, was sacked in February.

The Iraq FA and Milutinovic himself have confirmed the arrangement.

“We have reached a final agreement and he will lead the team at the Confederations Cup,” said Iraq FA vice-president Najeh Hamoud. “He will start his mission on April 16 in Baghdad. We will study the possibility of extending his contract after the tournament.”

Milutinovic was quoted as saying: “I’ve been offered a deal to take Iraq to the FIFA Confederations Cup and I agreed.”

The 64-year-old is famous for leading a multitude of teams at the FIFA World Cup. In 1986 he took hosts Mexico to the quarter-finals before helping Costa Rica reach the second round in 1990.

The United States, under his charge, also reached the second round in 1994 as hosts as did the Milutinovic-led Nigeria in 1998. In 2002, his record of going past the group stages was halted when China lost all their three preliminary matches.

Milutinovic has also coached Honduras and Jamaica. He now lives in Mexico.

In June, Iraq will face European champions Spain, as well as South Africa and New Zealand in the FIFA Confederations Cup, which acts as a dress rehearsal for the FIFA World Cup 2010. Italy, Brazil, Egypt and the United States complete the line-up.