Baxter is a coach with both great experience and potential and it is a huge compliment to his abilities that he has secured such a prominent and prestigious position.

With players like Benni McCarthy and Quinton Fortune among his new charges, Stuart is understandably excited about a job with such huge potential, on and off the pitch. He has already had a long chat with former South Africa coach Carlos Queiroz about the post, players and the country.

"I am massively excited about the job and looking forward to getting started. It's a challenge," he said of his appointment.

Stuart has played a vital role in the development of some of the best young English players during his time at The FA. Nigel Reo-Coker, Stewart Downing and David Bentley are among those to have benefited from Baxter's stewardship.

While Stuart's talents will be missed here at The FA, everyone recognises this as a wonderful opportunity for him, not least his friend and colleague Sven-Goran Eriksson.

"I am delighted that Stuart Baxter has been given the chance to coach a national side with the potential of South Africa," Sven told us.

"There is no doubt that Stuart has a wealth of experience as he had spent much of the last 20 years coaching abroad before coming to join us at The FA.

"He came to my attention as a coach in Sweden when he managed Halmstad and then went on to win the Swedish League title in his first season in charge of AIK Stockholm in 1998.

"Stuart has also enjoyed success in Norway and Japan and it is his all round coaching knowledge and ability, as well as his work with the England Under 18 and Under 19 teams that convinces me he will be a success with 'Bafana Bafana'.

"He was also a key member of my scouting staff for the World Cup in Japan in 2002, where he paid particular attention to our opening opponents Sweden. While we will miss him at The FA, I wish him every success with South Africa.’

Stuart holds the highest coaching qualification in football, the UEFA Pro-Licence. While he was studying for the qualification, Stuart was part of a class that heard Sir Bobby Robson speak about his own time abroad at PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona: "I loved every minute - it was one of the best things I ever did," he said, "and I know I became a better coach. I would say to our young English coaches that they should never fear that challenge of going abroad."

Stuart clearly relishes that challenge.

Baxter plans at least two training camps in the next two months before his first assignment at the start of the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign on June 5 when South Africa play the Cape Verde Islands at home in their opening African zone group two match.