George Burley revealed he was "tingling" with excitement at the prospect of leading Scotland to the World Cup finals after being unveiled as the new manager of the national team.

Burley admitted his appointment had come as a surprise even to him, after signing a contract to lead his country until 2012.

The final details of his contract were ratified earlier today after the SFA agreed an undisclosed compensation package with Southampton to release their boss.

The former Ayr, Ipswich, Derby and Hearts manager emerged as the governing body's choice after competing against Mark McGhee, Graeme Souness and Tommy Burns in an interview process.

Flanked by SFA chief executive Gordon Smith and president George Peat, Burley gave a passionate address to the media where he revealed he was totally focused on leading the Scots to South Africa in 2010.

"As a Scotsman you would have a vision to do well for your country," he said. "It gives me the opportunity to try to get to the World Cup finals as a manager. There's tingles going through me with excitement.

"I never thought it would have happened, there were so many excellent candidates with huge experience. I was surprised to get the job but maybe they have seen something that will help Scotland.

"I can only be myself, I'm passionate about football and I think that's the credential of Scottish managers."

Burley appeared to give his word that he would remain in the post until at least the end of the upcoming World Cup campaign, where Scotland face Holland, Macedonia, Iceland and Norway in qualifying.

The former Scotland full-back is the third national team boss in little over a year, after Walter Smith and Alex McLeish were tempted back to club football jobs with Rangers and Birmingham respectively.

But Burley feels the time is right for him to take the job after 16 years in club management and he vowed to get involved in promoting the game at grass-roots level.

The former Ipswich and Motherwell player, who hopes to confirm his assistants early next week, said: "I will certainly be here for the next campaign, then we will look at it after the next World Cup.

"I have only got one thought at the moment — the next two-and-a-half years. That's the focus. That's my aim and nothing will change me."

And Burley is confident he and the players can realise his dream of going to their first major tournament since 1998.

"What Scotland have done in the last couple of years is exciting for everybody in Scotland," the 51-year-old said. They did really well and it shows you it's possible. I believe we can qualify, we are in a tough group but it's certainly possible.

"The key is to keep improving — in football you can't stand still. We have got to look to get better. That's what I will be saying to the players in the get-together — can we get another two or three percent."

Burley will hold a get-together with his players early next month before taking charge of his first game on March 26 — a friendly at home to Croatia.

And he feels his "man-management" skills are the main attribute he brings to the post.

"I have brought some of the best young players through in Britain," he said. "You have got to organise, motivate, talk to them, try to bring their strengths through."

The media conference saw Smith and Peat give a heated defence of their appointment process, which took almost two months.

Peat said: "The same process was used in the appointment of Walter Smith and Alex McLeish and I don't think anyone would deny these were not a success.

"Nobody withdrew and I would emphasise the decision of the selection committee was unanimous."