Former Real Madrid coach Juande Ramos has taken over CSKA Moscow from Brazilian Zico, announced the Russian club on Thursday.

The Spaniard will lead CSKA for the rest of the year as the last season's runners-up dropped to the fourth place in Russian Premier League recently.

"I love new challenges. We are looking forward to helping the team realize their potential in Europe and working really hard over the next three months," the 54-year-old Ramos told his personal website.

Top two finishers of the League automatically qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

CSKA, however, denied having sacked Zico and called it a rumor.

The Brazilian took in charge of the club at the beginning of the current Russian season and enjoyed instant success of leading the club to the Russian Cup and Super Cup titles

The CSKA, who face Manchester United, Besiktas and VfL Wolfsburg in Group B of Champions League, are now ten points behind local league leaders Rubin Kazan.

(Xinhua News Agency September 11, 2009)