Montevideo, Jun 22 (IANS): The champions of Uruguayan football league Penarol announced that Diego Alonso would be the club's new coach, who said he is taking on the biggest challenge of his short coaching career.

"Penarol's objective is to win, whether it's a friendly or an international cup match", but the most important thing "is to prepare for it", Alonso, 38, told reporters at the team's headquarters here Friday, reports Xinhua.

"It is the biggest challenge of my career. I have prepared myself to be here and I have the training," said Alonso, who played for Penarol in 2009-11.

Alonso, whose speed had garnered him the nickname "The Tornado", takes over from Jorge da Silva, who resigned to go to coach a United Arab Emirates team.

"We are working on new members of the team which are expected to begin training Monday," Alonso said.

Alonso first debuted as coach for Bella Vista, rescuing the team from its downward descent in the 2011-12 season, then went on to coach Paraguay's Guarani, with whom he recently fought for the league title.

Penarol president Juan Pedro Damiani said the new cycle of training and matches will take place "with an eye towards the (2014) Libertadores Cup", a tournament that Uruguay's champions have won five times.