The Blueys last week unveiled the former Socceroos defender as their Illawarra Premier League mentor for 2022, following Peter Willis's sudden departure after six years at the helm.

It's a homecoming for Chipperfield, who won a Conference League grand final with the club at 17. He then returned to play for Tarrawanna in 2013.

Now he's hung up the boots, 45-year-old Chipperfield wants to guide these Blueys to success.

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"It all happened pretty quick. I only found out a few days before there was a possibility at Tarrawanna after 'Willy' left. I then spoke to them around eight o'clock (on Wednesday night) and within half an hour, it was announced on social media," he told the Mercury.

"After the interview, myself and the club were on the same page. We know how the club wants to move forward, so I agreed to come on board. Obviously the club wants to be one of the top clubs in the region. I'll be working with the younger players, bringing them through the club. Willy's done a great job bringing up some talented young players so we want to continue that, with a mix of experienced players too."

It's been a couple of years since Chipperfield managed a side, after a stint as head coach of NSW Women's National Premier League club Illawarra Stingrays.

He took some time away from the game following that role, but the 68-game Socceroo is now hungry to return to coaching.

"I wasn't really thinking about coming back because I needed some time off. But there's some fire in the belly now and what I see happening at Tarrawanna makes me pretty keen to get involved," Chipperfield said.

"We will try and play a good brand of football and get results. It's obviously hard to compete with some of the bigger spending clubs, but if you can bring on talented young players that get a chance to improve and can move onto the Wolves or A-League, I think that's what it should be about."

Chipperfield's own pathway to playing professional football, of course, began at Tarrawanna. Nearly 30 years after that title victory, he wants to see the Blueys taste more success.

"I know a lot of board members there and I know what this club means to them. I won a grand final there and that was a great experience, and pretty much the first highlight of my senior footballing career. It was the first club that I played senior football for. We weren't expected to win, but we did," he said.

"So it's great to go back and hopefully I can do it as a coach now. Tarrawanna has a special place in my heart."

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