Van Marwijk brings a robust resume to the role, having most famously led his homeland to the final of the 2010 tournament, when an uncompromising side led by a forceful Mark van Bommel was eventually defeated by Spain in extra-time.
A midfielder during his playing days with Go Ahead Eagles and AZ Alkmaar, who earned a solitary cap for the Netherlands, van Marwijk's coaching career began in 1998 at Fortuna Sittard, another of his former clubs.
From there he enjoyed a pair of stints with Feyenoord, winning the UEFA Cup in 2002 in his first spell with the club, either side of a period at Borussia Dortmund in Germany.
He was appointed head coach of the Dutch national team after the country's quarter-final exit at Euro 2008 under Marco van Basten and two years later, led the Netherlands to their first appearance in a World Cup final since 1978.
The team's fortunes, however, suffered a nosedive when three defeats in a row in the group phase of Euro 2012 -- against Portugal, Germany and Denmark -- saw van Marwijk stand down.
A disappointing spell with Hamburg further hurt his reputation and it was to Saudi Arabia that he turned to rehabilitate his standing.
His pragmatic approach added much-needed discipline to the Saudis and, during a two-year stint, van Marwijk qualified the country for their first World Cup since 2006, seeing off Australia in the process.
An inability to agree terms on a new contract once qualifying was completed, due in part to the Dutchman's refusal to spend more time in Saudi Arabia, led to a split but he remains highly regarded in the desert kingdom.
That had left van Marwijk a free agent since mid-September and he was linked with a number of vacancies before being handed the Australia job following Ange Postecoglou's resignation in November.
Postecoglou, who booked Australia's ticket for Russia via the playoffs, sought to introduce a more possession-based style of play on his team but van Marwijk is unlikely to continue that approach.
With four-and-a-half months to prepare for group matches against France, Denmark and Peru, van Marwijk will need to be at his pragmatic best to make the most of a challenging situation.
(Writing by Michael Church; Editing by John O'Brien)
