MADRID, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- New Spain basketball coach Chus Mateo was introduced to the press on Tuesday, tasked with revitalizing the team after a disappointing performance in the recent European championships.

56-year-old Mateo, who was dismissed after leading Real Madrid to last season's Liga ACB title in Spain, takes over from Sergio Scariolo. Scariolo announced his departure before the European championships to coach Real Madrid, but there appears to be no ill will between the two.

"We sent each other some text messages in the last few days," he mentioned in his press conference.

"I am happy, excited by the responsibility and I know what is expected of me," said, the coach, who has signed a four-year contract with the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) until 2029.

"I am going to face the challenge with courage and determination and I'm convinced it's going to go very well," added Mateo, who spent a year coaching Chinese side, Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons between 2012 and 2013.

The coach said his strengths were his "ability to dialogue with players," but insisted he was "going to make my mark, and with than I mean honesty, hard-work, closeness and dialogue. That's all part of my personality and I will give everything for the FEB."

FEB president Elisa Aguilar explained the organization had chosen Mateo because "he has special characteristics."

"He is Spanish, he has experience in the elite, he knows how to live with pressure and he has won titles. He looks after his players, but he also gets the best from them to win titles," she commented.