Former Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has signed a four-year deal to take charge of 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa.

The deal was concluded in Rio de Janeiro on Friday between Parreira and a delegation from the South African Football Association.

Parreira is one of only two coaches that has led four national teams to the World Cup; Kuwait in 1982, United Arab Emirates in 1990, Brazil in 1994 and 2006, and Saudi Arabia in 1998.

He'll have a much easier job in 2010 as South Africa don't need to qualify as hosts.

In 1997, Parreira coached the MetroStars of the United States. He also coached Fenerbah?e in Turkey and won a Turkish League Championship.

Parreira was also in charge of two big clubs in Brazil: Fluminense and Corinthians, which gave him two of the most important national trophies of 2002; The Brazilian Cup and the Torneio Rio-S?o Paulo, as well as runner up in the Brazilian League.

When coaching Saudi Arabia at the 1998 World Cup in France, he was fired after two matches, one of two managers to be sacked during the tournament.