25 Jan ‘World class’ Dutchman van Marwijk named new Socceroos coach

Football Federation Australia (FFA) has announced Bert van Marwijk as the new head coach of the Australian national team.

The Dutchman has agreed terms with the Socceroos and will lead the side at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

FFA chairman Steven Lowy was thrilled to welcome van Marwijk aboard, citing the 65-year-olds success as manager of Holland when guiding the Oranje to the final at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

“This is a great result for Australian football,” said Lowy.

“Bert Van Marwijk is world class.

“He took the Netherlands to the World Cup Final in 2010, he led the Saudi Arabian team to qualify directly for this year’s Finals and most importantly, he knows a lot about our team and how they play because he studied them closely as an opposition manager in the same group.

“These experiences make him a compelling choice.”

Van Marwijk has previously won the UEFA Cup with Dutch giants Feyenoord and also managed big German clubs Borussia Dortmund and Hamburg, as well as a stint with the Saudi Arabian national team which ended last year having qualified for the 2018 World Cup.

He said: “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.

“I have also been impressed by the national team set-up that the FFA has developed over the past few years.

“I want to thank Steven Lowy, David Gallop and (FFA’s Head of National Performance) Luke Casserly for the confidence they have shown in me.

“My response to them has been that we are not going to Russia just to be competitive. I want to win our matches.”

FFA added: ‘Arrangements for the Head Coach role of the Caltex Socceroos after the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be announced in the near future.’

*Image courtesy of FFA