After Tony Walmsley was sacked early in August, speculation ran rampant over who would be handed the reins at the Mariners.

The Socceroos coach pushed for the former Australian Under-20s coach to be given the opportunity.

“I’m rapt he’s got it and I think the Central Coast have made a really good decision. I have no doubt he’ll make a good fist of it.,” Postecoglou told the official A-League website.

“I’ve worked closely with Paolo for the last few years and he can get his team to play in a certain way in really tough international conditions when you only have limited time.

“Working with players day in, day out, I’m sure he’ll be able to get his point across and I think it is exciting. The more teams we have trying to play positive football will benefit the game.”

Postecoglou similarly managed the Australian Under-20s before beginning his A-League stint with Brisbane Roar and admits it helped him identify the best players to fit in at his Brisbane side.

“I found when I got out of my stint as a youth coach, one of the greatest strengths I had was that I knew just about every young player in Australia between a certain age,” he said.

“Not just as players but people. I was able to use that when recruiting at Brisbane and Victory, and I use it now.

“I had Mile Jedinak as a 17-year-old, so when I’m thinking about first selecting a captain for this squad, that information helps. I’m sure it’ll help Paolo.”

Okon will be hoping to replicate Ange’s success in the A-League but Postecoglou believes it would be unfair to compare them

The new Mariners boss acted decisively on his first day in the job when he axed club stalwart John Hutchinson from his assistant coach's role after 12 years at the club as a player and staff.

It echoed Postecoglou's own clear out at Brisbane Roar when Craig Moore and Charlie Miller were forced out in 2009.

“You can’t do what I did at Brisbane because I’m a unique coach and it was a unique case,” the Socceroos boss said.

“Paolo’s no clone of anyone, he’s his own man. Just because coaches have similar philosophies doesn’t mean they’re the same.

“I wouldn’t have done at other clubs what I did at Brisbane – there I did what I thought needed to be done. It’s not about a step-by-step guide to success – he’ll have his own challenges and his own solutions.”