James Copnall BBC Sport, Abidjan

Ivory Coast's new coach Uli Stielike does not appear afraid of challenges.

When an Ivorian journalist wondered if he would have the strength of character to lead the Elephants, the German technician's response was immediate.

"You cannot last 15 years at the top level in European football as a player if your character is not very strong," he said.

Stielike was smiling, but there was an edge to his words that indicated a man fairly sure of his own abilities.

And why not? Stielike's resume makes impressive reading.

As a defender for Borussia Monchengladbach, Real Madrid and Neuchatel Xamax, Stielike won 8 league championships, 4 national cups, 2 UEFA cups and the 1980 European Championships for Germany.

He has also coached the Swiss national team, Neuchatel, and a number of German junior teams.

However, the coach thinks what he achieved as a player may be more relevant.

"I have been a coach since 1989 in different countries like Switzerland, Germany and Spain.

"But it is important for today's player, at the level we play at, that I am a former player.

"If I have a lot of experience, if I can talk to them about what I have lived through in football, it is an advantage."

Stielike received a slightly mixed reception from the head of the Ivorian Football Federation (Fif), Jacques Anouma.

Anouma admitted that the Fif had considered other candidates, and asked the sports journalists present and the Ivorian public as a whole to give Stielike a chance.

He also stressed that results were everything, and said he and Stielike would resign if Ivory Coast did not qualify for the 2008 Nations Cup finals.

The challenge did not seem to worry Stielike - perhaps unsurprisingly as the Elephant's qualifying group of Gabon and Madagascar is not that tough.

"I thought Ivory Coast were the best team at the World Cup that did not make the second round," he said, having supervised the Elephants for the German federation.

"They are young players and I think they have a lot to offer for the next few years."

Stielike has signed a contract until after the 2008 Nations Cup, after which both he and the Fif will take stock.