If he had been axed, the assistance of a severance pay from his reported $13 million per year salary at Lille would have helped the FFA make an offer he could consider. The organisation's budget for a coach is understood to be a little more than $1 million per year. Bielsa's asking price for a national team job has reportedly been closer to $5 million but the opportunity to coach at a World Cup again while financially set from a severance pay would have helped the FFA table a bid built around more than just money.

It wouldn't be the first time Bielsa has been linked with the Socceroos, having been reportedly a candidate to coach Australia in 2010 after stepping down from his job with Chile after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. In replacing Pim Verbeek, the FFA went with German coach Holger Osieck instead.

Former assistant to Postecoglou with the national teams, Josep Gombau, stressed the importance of the next Socceroos' coach being one tactically aligned with his attacking philosophy.

"Now the work has started from four years the national team changed the mentality of the way to play," Gombau said. "I think that now the people need to take this challenge to have the same mentality, because if not, then four years of hard work will disappear to nothing if somebody comes who has another mentality.

However, it's understood Graham Arnold remains the front-runner for the Socceroos' top job and is all-but considered as the only genuine local option for the position while Sydney FC coach's playing style differing from that built by Postecoglou. When asked of his links with the Australia position, Arnold says he has not had any approach from the FFA but hinted he would be interested.