Caras appointed as Moldova coach

Ion Caras has been appointed as Moldova's new national team coach, taking over from Romanian GabrilBalint who was fired after the failed UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying campaign, press reports said toady. The 61-year-old Caras has signed a two-year contract for his second spell in charge of the east European minnows. He was previously coach from 1991 to 1997 shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union. He has also coached Chisinau clubs Zimbru, Constructorul, Agro, Sporting and Politehnica along with Nistru Otaci during his career. In the EURO 2012 qualifiers Moldova garnered nine points from ten matches to finish fifth in Group E, 18 points behind group winners the Netherlands and 15 points behind second-placed Sweden. The country has never qualified for the final stages of a FIFA World Cup™ or a European Championships.