Eli Gutman's appointment as Israel coach may be overdue, but better late than & never.

Gutman was the right man for the job when Luis Fernandez was named & as the national team's coach two years ago and Israel fans can only regret he & wasn't handed the position in March 2010 considering the Frenchman's shambolic & tenure with the blue-and-white.

The 53-year-old Gutman has seen and done & it all since beginning his coaching career more than 26 years ago.

He has & battled through adversity and achieved remarkable success and comes with an & understanding of what needs to be done to get Israel to play to its & potential.

Reaching a first major tournament since 1970 is Gutman's big & goal, but after Israel's last few campaigns, local supporters will be happy to & simply settle for seeing the side give its all on the pitch, win or & lose.

However, even when the Israel Football Association has finally got & it right, it has made a mistake which could have a significant impact on & Gutman's chances of succeeding.

The IFA decided to hand Gutman just a & two-year contract rather than fully put its faith in the man it has selected to & lead the national team forward.

Israel's chances of reaching the 2014 & World Cup already seem minuscule, even with the first kick of the campaign still & more than nine months away.

Being placed in qualifying Group F with the & strong Portugal and Russia, leaves Israel with little hope of finally & progressing to a major tournament, despite Gutman's optimism on & Tuesday.

The tough draw combined with the consensus surrounding Gutman's & selection presented the IFA with an ideal opportunity to give the coach a & four-year deal that would provide him with the time he needs to develop the & team.

After all, the IFA would always have the option to sack & him.

But Luzon & Co. never had any intention of relinquishing their & hold over Gutman's future, and with just a two-year deal, the coach will never & be able to forget who is really in charge.

One of the only doubts & regarding Gutman is the fact that he is a methodical and systematic coach and it & may turn out that the little time he will have to work with the players as & Israel boss will not be enough for him to instill his style of play.

The & transition from coaching at a club level to an international one is always & difficult, but the IFA could have given Gutman and the team a far greater chance & of thriving had they taken the pressure off by handing him a fouryear deal and & announcing that his work will only be judged after the Euro 2016 qualifying & campaign.

There is no denying that the IFA has made the right decision by & signing Gutman, which shouldn't be taken for granted considering the Fernandez & fiasco.

Gutman has the advantage of inheriting the blue-andwhite when the & expectations are as low as they've been for a long time and he should benefit & from the fact that more than 30 Israelis are currently playing in & Europe.

The current crop of local players is as talented as Israel has & had in over a decade and Gutman possess the requisite experience and expertise & to get the best out of them.

Only time will tell if Gutman can end & Israel's long drought and lead it to a major tournament.

At least the IFA & has finally given the national team a real chance of succeeding by actually & putting the best man for the job at the helm, and Gutman has no intention of & disappointing.

"I have realized half my dream by being named as the & Israel coach," Gutman said on Tuesday. "I want to realize the other half by & qualifying for the World Cup."

allon@jpost.com
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