Soccer-Standard appoint Preud'homme to replace Boskamp

BRUSSELS, Aug 30 (Reuters) Standard Liege have appointed former Belgian international goalkeeper Michel Preud'homme as coach following the sacking of Johan Boskamp, the club said today.

Boskamp, who took over at the start of the season was dismissed following a poor start, the first division club said in a statement, adding that Preud'homme, who had been the club's sporting director, would take over until 2008.

Liege finished second last term, just missing out on the title on the last day of the season. But they have taken just two points from their opening four league matches and are 16th in the 18-team league.

Last week they failed to make the group stage of the Champions League after losing in the final qualifying round to Steaua Bucharest.

Boskamp, a former Dutch international, had previously been coach at English second division club Stoke City.

Preud'homme, awarded the Yashin Award as the best netminder at the 1994 World Cup, retiring as a player in 1999 aged 40. He played for Liege, KV Mechelen, and Benfica. Capped 58 times by his country, he also played in the 1990 World Cup finals.

Reuters AKJ VV2303