Briefs-Bosnian Halilhodzic named Ivory Coast coach

May 13 (Reuters) - Sports briefs from around the world on Tuesday.

Soccer - Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic has been named Ivory Coast coach, signing a two-year contract to take charge of the country's bid to reach a second successive World Cup finals.

The 55-year-old Halilhodzic replaces German Uli Stielike less than a month before the Ivorians begin their World Cup qualifying campaign at home to Mozambique on June 1.

"It is a terrific sporting challenge. It is a team with much ambition which possesses a very talented generation but who have won nothing," Halilhodzic told French sports daily L'Equipe.

The former Yugoslav international has coached French clubs Stade Rennes, Lille and Paris St Germain.

Soccer - Australia have named a largely second-string squad for their international friendly against Ghana in Sydney on May 23.

Australia coach Pim Verbeek has included forward Harry Kewell and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer but rested captain Lucas Neill and several other first-choice players who are still involved with their European clubs.

Soccer - South Korea midfielder Kim Do-heon is to make his loan move to English club West Bromwich Albion permanent, his South Korean team Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma said on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old, a member of South Korea's 2006 World Cup squad, has been with West Brom since January, helping them win promotion to the Premier League for next season.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)