Soccer: Victory coach set for Australia job

Ange Postecoglou's rise to the Socceroos' coaching job is expected to be confirmed by Football Federation Australia (FFA) hierarchy today.

The 48-year-old has agreed to coach Australia to the World Cup in Brazil next year and beyond.

FFA officials on Tuesday night struck a deal with Postecoglou's A-League club, Melbourne Victory, to release their coach.

The Victory had pressed for the FFA to pay out the full amount of Postecoglou's $600,000 a year contract with the club, which was due to expire in 2015.

The FFA had already been forced to make a $1 million pay-out to Holger Osieck after they sacked the German as national coach following consecutive 6-0 away losses to Brazil and France.

While both the FFA and Melbourne Victory refused to comment, Postecoglou's appointment is likely to be announced at a media conference later Wednesday.

Postecoglou, who took Brisbane Roar to consecutive A-League championships before joining Melbourne Victory last year, was in a three-way battle for the Socceroos' head coaching role.

The other contenders - Central Coast Mariners boss Graham Arnold and Western Sydney Wanderers manager Tony Popovic - were contacted by the FFA, though Popovic was not officially interviewed by FFA hierarchy.

-AAP