Former United States coach Bob Bradley signed a contract to take over the Egypt national team on Saturday, charged with reviving the fortunes of a side that recently failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations.

The 53-year-old Bradley agreed a deal worth $37,000 a month until after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Longtime coach Hassan Shehata stepped down in June after Egypt collected two points from four African Cup qualifiers and a subsequent loss to Sierra Leone meant Egypt missed out on qualification, having won the last three tournaments.

The record seven-time winners will not feature at the continental championship for the first time in 33 years.

Bradley was fired as U.S. coach in July after more than four years in charge and replaced by Jurgen Klinsmann.

His main task will be to try to qualify Egypt for the World Cup for the first time since 1990. Egypt is favorite to emerge from a group which also includes Guinea, Zimbabwe, Comoros and Mozambique.

Bradley's assistant is yet to be named but the Egyptian Football Association said it would be a local coach.