Former Brazil international and Kashima technical director Zico formally signed on with the Japan Football Association on Monday to coach the national team.

"I am proud and am honored to be here. They've offered me this job after seeing what I have achieved over the last 11 years in Japan," Zico told about 260 reporters at a news conference at a hotel in Tokyo.

"I love challenges, and my biggest objective is to develop Japanese soccer and lead Japan to the 2006 World Cup."

His contract with the JFA runs five months from Aug. 1 and he will then be offered an 11-month deal to be renewed each year until the end of the World Cup qualifying campaign in 2005. If successful, he may be offered a further extension to the end of the World Cup.

Masakuni Yamamoto was confirmed to help Zico as assistant coach with Zico's elder brother Edu expected to serve as his technical adviser. Temporary goalkeeping coaches and physical trainers will be used until the end of the year, when the JFA expects to hire full-time replacements.

"I'd like to build a team in which our players feel proud wearing the national team shirt, take responsibility and fight for victory," Zico said.

"I have my own soccer philosophy and it's essential that we score often. I want to put in place an attacking strategy that will help us score more goals and entertain our fans."

The 49-year-old Zico said the 2002 World Cup players will form the core of his squad, but he also noted that he won't call up anyone -- even those players overseas -- unless they fit on the team.

"They're going to have to impress me with their performance," he said. "It's important that they keep playing for their clubs, but I'll be keeping an eye on them."

Under the guidance of Zico, Japan will host Argentina on Nov. 20 at National Stadium. But Zico has asked the JFA to schedule a friendly "once a month." The national governing body hopes to arrange home games in September and October.

"I'm not looking to change the domestic competition schedule this year since I know how hard it is for the clubs to get by without their national team players," Zico said.

"For the national team to be successful, it's important that we make it easy for clubs to release their players to us, and that way the players will be at their best fitness when they play for us. And I won't call up players to train unless games are scheduled, so they'll need to train hard with their clubs every day."

Asked about his rather short managerial experience, Zico replied, "If I had any worries, I wouldn't have taken this big role."

He then noted that he has coaching experience at CFZ in Brazil, the club he owns, and at Kashima.

"I have experience not only at Kashima but clubs in Brazil and I know many national team coaches," Zico said. "I will draw on all my experience and knowledge to produce to help us win."

JFA president Saburo Kawabuchi described Zico as someone who has passion, experience, knowledge and good judgment.

"I can tell that he is passionate about making Japanese soccer respected around the world and he knows the Japanese game very well because of his 11-year experience here," Kawabuchi said. "I believe our fans are pleased to see that our national team will be guided by a person like him."

Kawabuchi expects Zico to lead Japan to the final 16 in the next World Cup.

"We will be respected at the international level if we qualify for the final 16 in two successive tournaments," the new president added.

Zico was called the "White Pele" for his masterful performance during his playing career at Brazilian powerhouse Flamengo, Italian club Udinese and the Brazil national team, for which he scored 67 goals.

He played for Kashima from 1993-94 and led the Antlers to the J. League Championship in 1993. After hanging up his boots at the end of the 1994 first stage, he served as Kashima's technical director.