2008 Beijing - Australia names Dutchman Verbeek as head coach

CANBERRA, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- Australia ended their 17-month search for a permanent replacement for Guus Hiddink on Thursday, naming fellow Dutchman Pim Verbeek as the succeeding coach.

The 51-year-old, who quit as the ROK's coach after July's Asian Cup, will shoulder the task of leading the Australian to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, en route to which the Socceroos are with a tough draw alongside China, Iraq and Qatar.

"Pim Verbeek has a vast range of experience ... gained over 25 years in coaching, including several stints in Asia, and we believe he is the right man for the job of leading the Socceroos to the 2010 FIFA World Cup," FFA chairman Frank Lowy said in a statement.

Hiddink had led the Socceroos to the second round of the 2006 World Cup before quitting to coach Russia, and Graham Arnold was appointed on a temporary basis to take Australia to this year's Asian Cup.

After they were knocked out in the continental tournament's quarterfinals, the FFA stepped up its search for a replacement.

Verbeek, who has coached clubs in the Netherlands and Japan, served as assistant to Hiddink during KOR's shock run to the 2002 World Cup semi-finals.

He took over as head coach in 2005, guiding the Koreans to third place at the Asian Cup before announcing his resignation.