BEIJING - Veteran Croatian coach Miroslav Blazevic was named the new head coach of the Chinese Olympic soccer team on Saturday.

Related readings:  China women's soccer players win future despite defeat  Giving thanks for a winning soccer team  Men's soccer team ends campaign after defeat  Soccer player kicks game into touch

After the Olympic soccer team's frustrating performance at the Guangzhou Asiad last month, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) has been considering to replace coach Sun Wei with Blazevic, and the CFA confirmed that on Saturday in a press conference.

The CFA signed a two-year contract with the veteran coach, which will expire on December 1, 2012. Li Bing was named the assistant coach.

The 73-year-old Blazevic has a rich coaching history, highlighted by taking Croatia to third place at the 1998 World Cup in France. He led the Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua to third place this year.