The former Canada and Urawa Red DIamonds boss pledged to live in Australia and said he hoped to contribute to development of all aspects of the game during his tenure, with a contract through until the end of the 2014 World Cup.

But he insisted he was not a rigid tactician and would form his strategy and squad around the players that were available to him.

Osieck won the job after the FFA selection panel opted for someone capable of grasping the Australian mentality over a big famous name.

FFA Chairman Frank Lowy said: “Our coaching selection committee set out a number of very clear objectives from the outset to measure the prospective coaches against.  
They must;

-          have demonstrated the capacity to rebuild teams and to work with young footballers and develop them into internationally competitive players
-          be prepared to work with the national technical director and his department to enhance the elite player pathway program
-          have proven experience at international level and success in Asia
-          commit to be based in Australia and work with Australian staff to develop our own leaders of the future

“Holger clearly meets these criteria and comes highly recommended as he has worked at all levels of the game and will combine his coaching expertise and experience with an ability to contribute to the future development of young players and in particular will act as mentor to Australian coaches as we develop our own national coaches for the future. 

“This is a legacy that we believe Holger will leave for football in Australia.To that end we will be appointing a second Australian assistant coach who can work alongside Holger and Aurelio Vidmar.”

Lowy added: “Holger has extensive knowledge of Asian Football having won the AFC Champions League with Urawa Red Diamonds.

"He has experienced what it takes to traverse Asia and win tournaments and this will be invaluable experience as he leads our team into the Asian Cup in January 2011 and as we prepare for another challenging campaign to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

“Holger has also worked in a nation where football is not the number one sport and proved that he can win a major Championship against nations who have football in their veins when he won the CONCACAF Gold Cup with Canada.”

In welcoming Holger to Australia, Lowy said: “Holger has had a lifelong passion for developing football not only as a coach but as an educator and he will impart a winning philosophy to players and coaches alike.”

Osieck said he was looking forward to working with the national team and on the development of football in Australia in general alongside FFA Technical Director Han Berger.

 “I am excited about working with the Qantas Socceroos and building on the team’s impressive results in Asia and around the world,” Osieck said.

“Taking over at a stage of natural transition as we start our preparations for 2014 is an ideal opportunity to influence the future direction of the young players and coaches from Australia."

He added: "It is a great pleasure to be here and very much honoured to be your choice.

'There is some personnel change - some players, cornerstones of the team, have retired, other young players have been brought in.

"I think it is the players who make a system. I want to have a look at the quality of the players and their capacity. I am not the kind of coach who says I have the winning system.

"I don't think it is a fixed one - it is always a flexible one. You cannot put the entire game into either being attacking or defending - it depends on the game and the opponent.

"Your game must be based on a certain structure that everyone can follow."