Luis Aragones has signed a new contract to stay on as Spain's national soccer coach until June 30, 2008.
Aragones' new deal gives him the opportunity to lead the national team at the 2008 European Championship in Austria and Switzerland _ if Spain qualifies.
``To my knowledge he signed on Tuesday but the contract was already agreed anyway, as the law says, because a verbal agreement has the same value as a written one,'' Spanish federation president Angel Maria Villar said in El Pais on Thursday.
Aragones, whose previous contract ended after this year's World Cup in Germany, has recently been under fire. His situation improved last week with Spain's 2-1 friendly victory over Argentina.
Spain's previous five games had produced just a victory, a draw and three defeats. The team was eliminated from the World Cup by France and then suffered straight losses in European qualifying against Northern Ireland and Sweden.
Aragones submitted his resignation after the Northern Ireland defeat, but it was rejected by Villar.
Spain lies fifth in seven-team Group F, with three points from three games. Sweden leads with 12 points from four. The top two qualify.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
