Summary The 49-year-old's first task will be the Gulf Cup 2013 starting in Bahrain next week.
BAGHDAD: Hakeem Shakir has been promoted to full-time head coach of the Iraqi national team, the Asian Football Confederation said Sunday.
Shakir was given a caretaker role after Brazilian Zico resigned in late November and has been rewarded for his impressive spell in charge of the under-19 side.
The 49-year-old's first task will be the Gulf Cup 2013 starting in Bahrain next week.
Looking further ahead, Shakir will also have his hands full with the country's World Cup 2014 qualifying campaign.
Iraq, currently 92nd in FIFA's latest world rankings published this week, are still in the running to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and are third in Group B of the Asia Zone final qualifiers with five points from five games.
They are trailing second-placed Australia only on goal difference.
The top two teams qualify directly for the finals while the third-placed team goes into a play-off system.
