Troussier has been in charge for four years (Allsport).

By Reece Killworth, Sportinglife.com

Philippe Troussier clearly likes a challenge.

After leaving his native France, where he had first played and then coached, Troussier took over the managerial reigns of the Ivory Coast.

Since then, he has gone on to manage Nigeria, Burkino Faso and South Africa before taking charge of Japan in 1998.

And he seems to relish the challenge of managing relative minnows on the world stage.

This summer will be his second experience of the World Cup, although his first - in 1998 - was "of no use at all".

He had been appointed South Africa coach just two months before the finals and had little time to prepare the side his way.

Now, though, he has had four years with Japan and has turned them in to a cohesive, disciplined unit who could be one of the surprise packages in a tournament they co-host.

Troussier has already tasted success with Japan after winning the Asian Cup in 2000.

The Frenchman has very firm ideas of how the game should be played and has great faith in his own ability, yet he also encourages his players to show their individuality.

Troussier is seen as a strict disciplinarian who has no time for trouble-makers in his squad.

His success in the Asian Cup earned him the AFC Coach of the Year award in 2000 and he was joint 10th in the IFFHS' Coach of the Year poll last year.

Troussier looks set to leave Japan after the finals and he was even linked with the Scotland post late last year after stating his desire to return to Europe.

Whether he will bow out on a positive note remains to be seen.