The Dutch influence over Australian football will continue for at least one more major tournament after Football Federation Australia appointed Bert Van Marwijk as the new Socceroos coach.
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The 65-year-old finalised a short-term deal to lead Australia at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, becoming the third coach from The Netherlands to coach the Socceroos in 12 years.
The former coach of the Dutch and Saudi Arabian national teams, Borussia Dortmund and Hamburg was announced as the coach of the Socceroos on Thursday morning after a deal was agreed upon following a meeting with FFA chief executive David Gallop and Head of the national teams, Luke Casserly, in Europe overnight.
Van Marwijk has a reputation for playing no-nonsense, methodical brand of football with a very direct style of man management. The FFA say he was their preferred candidate of a list that included the likes of compatriot Louis Van Gaal and Argentinian coach Marcelo Bielsa.
His appointment could see an end to the controversial 3-2-4-1 formation used by Ange Postecoglou during the World Cup qualifiers. Van Marwijk has a preference to play a 4-2-3-1 formation which has been consistent throughout his career.
Van Marwjik has recent experience playing against Australia while coach of Saudi Arabia and is confident of guiding the Socceroos to the second-round of the 2018 World Cup.
"I know a lot about the players and how the team has been playing after coaching against them for the two World Cup qualifiers, in 2016 and in June last year," he said.
"I have also been impressed by the national team set-up that the FFA has developed over the past few years.
"My response to them has been that we are not going to Russia just to be competitive. I want to win our matches."
Van Marwijk came within four minutes of leading his native country to a first World Cup title, guiding The Netherlands to the 2010 final in South Africa where they lost in injury time against Spain.
His runners-up medal in South Africa is his biggest achievement to date, followed by a UEFA Cup trophy he won with Feyenoord in 2002.