Halilhodzic to get Japan gig

Tokyo - Algeria's 2014 World Cup coach Vahid Halilhodzic is set to be named coach of Japan.

The Japan Football Association has yet to confirm the appointment of Halilhodzic but local media reported that a deal has been reached.

The Nikkan Sports newspaper reported Saturday that the JFA and the 62-year-old Bosnian have agreed on an annual salary of $2.2 million.

Japan's previous coach Javier Aguirre was fired on Feb. 4 over concerns that allegations of his involvement in a match-fixing scandal would interfere with qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

The appointment is expected to be approved at a JFA executive board meeting on March 12.

Halilhodzic guided Algeria into the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time in Brazil last year.