New Fulham head coach Rene Meulensteen one of the 'best in the world', says chief executive Alistair Mackintosh

Meulensteen will work alongside under-pressure manager Martin Jol

New head coach Rene Meulensteen (left) with fellow Dutchman Martin Jol at Fulham's training ground (Fulham FC)

Fulham chief executive officer Alistair Mackintosh believes the club can now boast one of the “best coaches in the world” after the appointment of Rene Meulensteen to Martin Jol's staff.

Meulensteen was on Wednesday named as Fulham's head coach, working alongside under-pressure manager Jol, whose side are languishing in the Barclays Premier League relegation zone after a run of just three wins in 11 games.

Meulensteen, who left Manchester United's coaching team in the summer following Sir Alex Ferguson's departure and subsequently had an ill-fated spell at Anzhi Makhachkala, will take up the role immediately.

"We are all delighted to welcome Rene to Fulham," Mackintosh said.

"There was always going to be a battle for Rene's services and, with the assistance of our chairman Shahid Khan, we have been able to bring one of the best coaches in the world to Fulham."

The appointment of the 49-year-old will raise as many questions over the future of Jol as it answers, with the arrival of such a respected coach sure to be seen by some as a move that dilutes Jol's authority.

However, Meulensteen insists Jol had played a key role in bringing him to the club, and Fulham's Twitter feed on Wednesday posted a picture of the two in which the Fulham boss was grinning broadly.

"I have spent many hours talking with Martin Jol and we share a vision of how football should be played and how players should be developed," said Meulensteen, who had been touted as a possible replacement for Ian Holloway at managerless relegation rivals Crystal Palace.

"It is our job to make sure we can bring this vision to life on the pitch for the fans."

Meulensteen, who lasted just 16 days as boss of Anzhi earlier this season amid much off-pitch upheaval at the Russian side, joins Fulham amid a bleak run of form that has seen the pressure mount on Jol.

The Cottagers have lost their past three league games to sink into the bottom three, while they have conceded seven goals in their past two defeats to Manchester United and Liverpool.

PA