Former Socceroo Aurelio Vidmar will coach the Australian team at the 2012 London Olympics, Football Federation Australia said on Thursday.
The Adelaide United coach will also act as assistant to the incoming national team manager who is still to be appointed, FFA said.
Vidmar, 43, who played 44 internationals for Australia from 1991 to 2001, will replace Graham Arnold, who is to become the head coach of the Central Coast Mariners in the Australian A-League after this month's World Cup.
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FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said Vidmar's appointment showed that his organisation was serious about developing Australian coaches for important national positions.
"Aurelio is a great young coach and a position like this is a fantastic stepping stone for him and it will give him the opportunity to aspire to the head coaching role down the track," Buckley said.
Vidmar coached Adelaide United to the final of the 2008 AFC Champions League as well as two A-League grand finals.
He also played overseas in the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain and Japan and was a member of the Australian team at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
