Wales appoint Coleman as successor to Speed

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LONDON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Wales appointed former international defender Chris Coleman as successor to late national team manager Gary Speed on Thursday, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) said.

The 41-year-old Coleman, capped 32 times by Wales, has had managerial spells in charge of Fulham, Real Sociedad, Coventry City and most recently Larissa in Greece.

Speed, 42, was found dead at his home on Nov. 27 in an apparent suicide.

“Gary was the manager of Welsh football and of course we want to continue his legacy. He was not a figurehead, he was the manager and that is why we have decided on the appointment of Chris Coleman to build on the excellent foundations put in place by Gary,” FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford said in a statement.

Coleman played for Swansea City, Crystal Palace, Blackburn Rovers and Fulham before leg injuries he sustained in a car crash in 2001 ended his playing career a year later.

Coleman’s first match in charge comes next month when Wales host Costa Rica in a memorial match for Speed on Feb. 29.

Wales, who failed to qualify for this year’s European Championship, begin their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign at home to Belgium on Sept. 7. They will also face Croatia, Serbia, Scotland and Macedonia in Group A.