Former Caltex Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou has been appointed as the new coach of Japanese giants Yokohama F Marinos, it has been confirmed on Tuesday.
The news comes just a month after Postecoglou stepped down as coach of Australia after helping the nation qualify for next year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia.
He will officially take charge of the squad at the start of 2018.
It will be Postecoglou’s first job in club football since leaving Hyundai A-League outfit Melbourne Victory to take the Caltex Socceroos reins.
“I am excited to be moving to Japan and returning to club football,” Postecoglou said in an official statement from the J-League club.
“Coaching YFM will be a great challenge and I am very much looking forward to working with the club’s players, and young players in particular, to achieve success.”
Yokohama F Marinos, where Caltex Socceroos defender Milos Degenek also plays, is one of Japan’s biggest clubs and is aligned to City Football Group, the owners of Melbourne City and EPL leaders Manchester City.
It’s understood the move will see Postecoglou spend time with Man City’s hugely-successful coach Pep Guardiola in the New Year.
He becomes the first Australian coach to manage in the J-League since Graham Arnold’s short stint with Vegalta Sendai in 2014.
"Ange Postecoglou is an excellent coach, with an attractive and entertaining style of football which will suit our approach,” Yokohama president Koichiro Furukawa said.
“At the Marinos, we are committed to developing players and Ange has a very strong record in doing this. We are confident that he is the perfect choice to take us forward.”
The role will be Postecoglou's second stint coaching abroad, having spent time at Greek third division club Panachaiki in 2008.