The 46-year-old, who holds dual citizenship of the United States and Israeli, signed a contract with the Russian Basketball Federation(RBF) that will take him up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"It's a great honour and also a great responsibility," he said."This country has one of the greatest traditions in the history of the game and I am well aware of such a fact."

Blatt replaces Sergei Babkov, who was sacked after Russia finished eighth at the 2005 European championship and failed to qualify for this year's world championship in Japan.

RBF president Sergei Chernov said Blatt's main responsibility would be to qualify for the Olympics.

"If we qualify then he gets an extension on his contract and if we don't then he must go," Chernov said.

Blatt also has a two-year contract with Benetton, but he deemed that running the Italian Serie A side would not interfere with his international duties. Enditem