Philippe Troussier © Action Images

TROUSSIER, HIDDINK 'BID FOR IVORY COAST JOB'

Much-travelled French coach Philippe Troussier is vying with Dutch master Guus Hiddink to be the Ivory Coast's coach at the World Cup finals in June, a Japanese newspaper reported on Wednesday.

"I got an offer (from the Ivory Coast), but there is another candidate. That is Mr. Hiddink," Troussier, who led Japan to the second round of the 2002 World Cup, told the Nikkan Sports daily.

"To me, the World Cup is an interesting challenge. I definitely want to do it," added the 54-year-old Frenchman, now general manager of FC Ryukyu, a club in Japan's third-tier division.

Whoever gets the job will take over from Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic, who was axed after the Ivory Coast failed to make the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals last month.

The job will last until the completion of the Ivory Coast's campaign in the World Cup in South Africa, which kicks off on June 11 and runs till July 11.

The Ivory Coast have been drawn in a tough group, with five-time winners Brazil, 2006 semifinalists Portugal and North Korea.

"It is an emergency situation for the Ivory Coast. I am not interested in the details of the contract," said Troussier.

Troussier was nicknamed the "White Witch Doctor" for his success with African teams, including the Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Burkina Faso, in the 1990s.

He coached South Africa in the 1998 World Cup in France, before taking the helm of the Japanese national team and leading them to their best World Cup finish yet after landing the 2000 Asia Cup in Lebanon.

After the 2002 World Cup, he coached Qatar and Morocco and became FC Ryukyu general manager in 2008.

Hiddink won worldwide fame for leading the Netherlands and South Korea to the World Cup semifinals in 1998 -- where the Dutch lost to Brazil on penalties -- and 2002, respectively.

He coached Australia when they narrowly lost to eventual champions Italy 1-0 -- a controversial penalty -- in the second round of the 2006 World Cup last-16 round. He also guided Russia to the Euro 2008 semifinals.