SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (Reuters) - Brazilian Rene Simoes has been appointed as the new national coach of Costa Rica, a Costa Rican Soccer Federation spokesman said on Wednesday.

Simoes will take over next week from Rodrigo Kenton, who was fired on Monday after the team failed to score a single goal in their last three World Cup qualifiers.

Simoes, 56, is best known for leading Jamaica to their first and only World Cup appearance in 1998. He also coached the Brazilian women's team that won a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Costa Rica are currently fourth of six teams in the final round of the CONCACAF standings, with two matches to go.

The top three teams qualify automatically for next year's World Cup while the fourth-placed side will go into a two-leg playoff against the fifth-placed finisher from the South American qualifiers.

Good for Costa Rica. Khak bar sare Iran for not being able to keep sucha great coach!

I wouldn't say he is a great coach, but probably better than Iranian coaches.

Well, for Iran's standard, I would consider him great! His long term plans with the youth team were unique and the best we've had till now. We need a whole lot more of such coaches in our football.