Former Caltex Socceroos Mark Bresciano, Stan Lazaridis and Mark Schwarzer are among a panel of experts who will advise Football Federation Australia (FFA) on the appointment of a new Head Coach for the Caltex Socceroos that will be contesting the FIFA World Cup in Russia next year.

Lazaridis is also an external member of the FFA Board’s Football Development Committee.

FFA chief executive David Gallop said the trio, who have 253 international caps between them and all represented Australia at the FIFA World Cup, will be working with FFA’s Head of National Performance, Luke Casserly, Caltex Socceroos Assistant Coach Ante Milicic (both of whom are also former Socceroos), FFA’s National Technical Director Eric Abrams and FFA’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Mark Jones. The appointment of two international experts is expected to be finalised in the near future.

FFA has also appointed leading international search and consulting firm SRi Executive to facilitate the process.

SRi’s Sydney-based Managing Partner ANZ, Jonathan Harris, will manage the process in cooperation with SRi’s Global Football Elite & High Performance team, who are based across four continents.

The advisory panel and SRi are working with FFA on the criteria for selecting the new coach and will be involved in initial interviews.

FFA will make the final decision with an appointment to be made by mid-February next year which will give the successful candidate more than a month to prepare before the Caltex Socceroos anticipated next games in March.

“As you would expect, we have had a high level of interest already,” said Mr Gallop.

“As things stand, no-one is ruled in or out. We are open minded about whether the coach is Australian or someone from overseas but they must live in Australia, embrace the progress on and off the field that has been achieved with national teams over the past four years – especially in the areas of technical development and sports science - and be prepared to be an ambassador for our sport here and abroad.

“FFA’s starting point is to appoint a coach for the long term but we will be advised on this and other matters by our expert panel.

“We are confident that we will attract the right person to lead the Caltex Socceroos at the FIFA World Cup and hopefully beyond.”