Zwaanswijk, 38, will play against Marcello Lippi’s men in Gosford on Wednesday in the AFC Champions League round of 16 before his final match when they meet again in China the following week.

But he will remain with the Mariners post-retirement as NYL coach and Head of Youth & Community Football for the next three years.

The former FC Utrecht and Oita Trinita defender will also act as the Mariners’ liaison with Central Coast Football regarding the Academy pathway.

In addition, part of Zwaanswijk’s remit will be to oversee the club’s relations with local football clubs, and use his vast experience in the game to identify new players for the club’s youth pathway.

Zwaanswijk said that after nearly two decades of playing in his native Netherlands, as well as in Japan and Australia, the time had come for him to start a new section of his football journey.

“At a certain point there’s a transition in life,” Zwaanswijk said. “This is a great opportunity for me, so that made it a little bit easier for me to finish my career.

“For me, it’s important to give back to football and to give back to, at this particular time, the Central Coast Mariners.

“It’s time to step out of the way to give Zach Anderson a good chance with (Trent) Sainsbury. He’s (Anderson) shown he is a full first team player, and with me stepping out of the way it gives him the chance to get all the credit he deserves.”

Zwaanswijk rates his 2013 Hyundai A-League Championship success - where he scored the opening goal in the final - alongside his back-to-back Dutch Cup crowns won with FC Utrecht in 2003 and 2004.

He said his farewell from Eredivisie outfit NAC Breda, where he played from 2005 to 2010, is also among career highlights, and hopes a big crowd will turn out to wish him and the team well against Guangzhou.

“My farewell at my former club NAC Breda was a big big thing,” he said. “I flew back to Holland after my first year here to have my farewell there and that was amazing.

“I hope there are two more highlights in my career to come. One, the qualification to the quarterfinals in the Champions League, and two, my farewell with the Central Coast people

“I hope everyone is going to turn up to cheer not only me on, but the squad on, because we’re looking for a big moment and a big opportunity to beat one of the best Clubs in China.”

Mariners coach Graham Arnold hailed Zwaanswijk as one of the best foreigners to grace the Australian domestic scene.

“When we signed Patrick he was 35 and more than a fair share of eyebrows were raised about him joining us,” Arnold said. “But he has proven his quality over the past three seasons, making an enormous contribution to the Mariners and the A-League.

“He’s been a consistent performer for us, and his leadership qualities and ability to help other players get the best out of themselves cannot be doubted.

"Alex Wilkinson, Trent Sainsbury and Zach Anderson have all improved their game by playing next to him.”

Mariners chairman Peter Turnbull added: “Patrick Zwaanswijk has been a tower of strength for the team on and off the field since his arrival.

“His leadership has been obvious since he stepped foot in Australia, and he’s especially helped the likes of Alex Wilkinson, Trent Sainsbury and Mathew Ryan to reach new levels in their professional careers.

“We are now excited that Patrick can continue his leadership in a new role.

“I know our youth players will be excited to have a person of Patrick’s stature to coach, mentor and advise them, as will so many of the community coaches in the region when Patrick begins to move around the association in his new role."