BEIJING - Former Red Star Belgrade manager Vladimir Petrovic has taken over as the interim head coach of China to prepare the national team for next month's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Myanmar.

The 52-year-old Serbian, who led Dalian Shide to the China Super League and FA Cup double in 2005, signed a one-year contract with the Chinese Football Association on Friday and will report to compatriot Ratomir Dujkovic, who is in charge of both the senior national side and the U-23 Olympic team.

"It's an honour to coach a national team, particularly for a great country like China," said Petrovic, who led Serbia and Montenegro to second place in the European U-21 championship in 2004.

"I'll do my utmost to achieve our goals."

Zhu Guanghu was dismissed in August after the national team's dismal performance at the AFC Asian Cup and the CFA agreed that Djukovic would oversee both the full national team and the U-23s with a full time coach to oversee the daily operation of the national squad on an interim basis.

Djukovic, who was appointed manager of the U-23 team in October 2006, is focussed heavily for now on the U-23s, who are targeting a spot in the semi-finals at next year's Beijing Olympics.

Petrovic, who was one of the candidates recommended by Djukovic for the coaching post, guided Dalian to the double in 2005 but resigned in June last year after the northeastern side's lacklustre displays which included a group stage exit to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the AFC Asian Champions League.

Petrovic was then appointed coach of Kuwait's U-23 side but failed to help them advance past the second round of the Asian qualifiers for the Olympics.

Djukovic could take charge of the national team after the Beijing Olympics with Petrovic as his assistant.

Prior to Petrovic's appointment, the CFA had been linked with a number of high profile names including former France international Jean-Pierre Papin, former Dutch star Ruud Gullit and veteran German coach Berti Vogts.