Spaniard Miguel Angel Portugal has been appointed coach of the Bolivian national side following the resignation of Mauricio Soria, the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) announced on Saturday.

Portugal, who previously coached Club Bolivar in Bolivia and Atletico Paranaense in Brazil, met "the immediate criteria" of the national side, said FBF treasurer Walter Zuleta.

Portugal, who was selected from a list of nine candidates, will oversee matches against Argentina and the Dominican Republic on September 4 and 8.

Soria took over in January but despite leading Bolivia to the quarter-finals of the Copa America for the first time had a tense relationship with some federation officials.

Bolivia will begin their qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup at home against Uruguay in October.