Colombia coach Jose Pekerman signs four-year contract extension

Colombia's Jose Pekerman has signed a four-year contract extension that keeps him the team's coach through 2018.

Colombia's Jose Pekerman has signed a four-year contract extension that keeps him the team's coach through 2018, the Colombian soccer federation announced Tuesday.

Pekerman, 64, led Colombia to the quarterfinals of this summer's FIFA World Cup, where the team fell to host Brazil 2-1. It was the country's best World Cup showing in its history.

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Colombia hadn't qualified for the World Cup since 1998 and hadn't advanced to the knockout round since 1990.

A native of Argentina, Pekerman was hired in 2012 after previous coach Leonel Alvarez led Colombia to just four points in the team's first three World Cup qualifying games.

Pekerman had previously served as the coach of the Argentina men's national team and two Mexican league clubs.

- Ben Estes