Slavisa Stojanovic will be on the sideline for Slovenia when it plays the United States Nov. 15. He was named as national team coach Tuesday, a day after the Slovenian soccer federation announced it had parted ways with predecessor Matjaz Kek by mutual consent.

“We had a big dilemma who to appoint after we parted company with Kek and we opted for Stojanovic because we are convinced he is capable of guiding the team at the top level,” Slovenian soccer federation president Aleksander Ceferin told a news conference. “Stojanovic will be in charge for the duration of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, and his contract will be extended automatically for the rest of the tournament if we qualify for the finals in Brazil.”

Stojanovic 42, won two national league titles with NK Domzale before becoming an assistant to United Arab Emirates coach and former Slovenian international Srecko Katanec in 2009. Katanec coached Slovenia at the 2002 World Cup; Kek duplicated that feat in 2010, but was dismissed after Slovenia finished fourth in its European Championship qualifying group.