After a gruelling World Cup qualification campaign, battling with intense media speculation over his position while getting Australia over the line to Russia, an emotional Ange Postecoglou has quit as Socceroos head coach.

Key points: Coach steered Socceroos to their fourth straight World Cup qualification

Coach steered Socceroos to their fourth straight World Cup qualification Search for replacement begins ahead of World Cup in Russia next June

Search for replacement begins ahead of World Cup in Russia next June Postecoglou plans to return to club football, possibly overseas

The Socceroos will need to find a new coach to guide them at the 2018 World Cup after Postecoglou announced at a media conference he was stepping down from the role ahead of the tournament.

Postecoglou fronted the media on Wednesday morning alongside Football Federation Australia (FFA) chief David Gallop to announce his decision to step aside.

"After a great deal of thought and soul-searching, I've decided that the journey for me ends as Socceroos coach," an emotional Postecoglou said.

"As I've said many times, it's been the biggest privilege of my life and probably not the ending I had envisaged when we started, but at the same time, knowing it's the right time for me and the right decision."

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Postecoglou led Australia to its fourth straight World Cup qualification earlier this month with a 3-1 victory over Honduras.

Australia is not scheduled to play another international until March next year, ahead of the World Cup getting underway in June.

The World Cup draw will take place in Moscow in less than two weeks.

Gallop said he was disappointed and puzzled Postecoglou would not lead the side at the World Cup.

Ange Postecoglou holds back the emotion while announcing his resignation as Socceroos head coach. ( AAP: Dan Himbrechts )

"The vision was to have an Australian coach who would play in a way which would set us up for the future, and in a way that would resonate with the Australian football community," Gallop said.

"And, four years later, there can't be any argument that Ange has delivered on that vision.

"I'm really disappointed that he won't be coming to Russia. I'm disappointed and I guess still a bit puzzled, but I'm supportive of the notion that sometimes you reach a point where you just know that you need to do something new.

"It's my privilege, on behalf of everyone in Australian football, to thank Ange for the past four years.

"Of course, Ange's record speaks for itself."

Ange eyes a return to club football

Postecoglou said he had already been eyeing up other options for his future, due to the fact his time with the Socceroos could have ended earlier if they failed to qualify for Russia.

Sorry, this video has expired "I'll be the shield': Postecoglou defends World Cup strategy

"I want to coach abroad. Part of me, you know, is pretty keen to get stuck back into club football, working day-to-day," he said.

"I mean, I have loved this job. But it's been all-encompassing. I've thrown myself … it hasn't just been coaching the national team.

"And the bit I still dearly love is the coaching aspect. So, look, I don't want to be unemployed for too long, obviously.

"But I'll probably need to have a break with the family and just sort of regather my thoughts."

He kept us guessing right to the end The ever-enigmatic Postecoglou made a gracious and emotional statement announcing he had quit, but didn't answer the one question everyone was asking, even when it was put to him directly: Why Ange, why? His answer wasn't clear-cut. Talk of "coaching for the moment", instinct that it was "the right time". He loved the job but it was "all encompassing" and said he'd swung like a metronome on the decision in the past few days. It's tempting to look into a murky statement and see shadows of some deeper reason he's not revealing. Maybe the best clue came on the ABC's Offsiders at the weekend: "I like the midnight shift. I like the hard stuff. And we're getting to dawn and I don't know, I get agitated. Maybe it's an endless midnight shift that I'm looking for," he said. Apart from the beautifully elegant turn of phrase, it's now the image we are left of Ange … the grumpy nightwatchman, rattling the fences; the inventor in his lab, savouring the solitude, leaving his work on the bench for others to admire. Au revoir, Midnight Man. We wish you and your family a sunny dawn. Analysis by national sport correspondent Mary Gearin

The 52-year-old said he had changed his mind several times with regards to leaving the job, despite making an instant decision to go after his side had successfully qualified by beating Honduras 3-1 in Sydney.

"Oh, look, [the decision was made] probably straight after the game. And then an hour later, DG (David Gallop) convinced me not to, and then an hour later I changed my mind again.

"And five beers later, I didn't know where I was. Look, I have been fluctuating.

"But I have also been conscious and mindful that I didn't want this to drag on. It's not fair.

"It was a decision that needed to be made fairly quickly.

"I had the weekend to sort of digest everything that happened last week, and I really wanted to enjoy that.

"But when I came yesterday and I spoke to Dave and [FFA chairman[ Stephen Lowy, I knew that it was time to go."

Options open for next appointment: Gallop

Gallop said the decision had not yet been made as to whether to appoint a short-term coach to take the Socceroos to Russia, or to give the job to someone long-term.

Postecoglou says he changed his mind numerous times about whether to stay or go. ( AAP: Julian Smith )

"We want to be successful at this World Cup," he said.

Postecoglou's record with the Socceroos stands at 49 games for 22 wins, 12 draws and 15 losses.

The achievements he is most likely to be remembered for are being the first Australian coach to successfully guide the side through the World Cup qualification process, and winning the 2015 Asian Cup on home soil.

He also was a fervent promoter of attacking, possession-based football — a mindset he instilled in the Socceroos with the aim to making them more competitive against heavyweight sides.