Socceroos add green and gold stalwart to coaching staff for World Cup mission

Former Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak will join Tony Popovic’s coaching staff for this year’s World Cup campaign.

Read more Banning Australians could sink county cricket but it won’t help England’s hopes of regaining Ashes

Football Australia has announced Jedinak, who was skipper in 36 of his 79 appearances in green and gold over a decade leading up to his retirement in 2018, will link with Paul Okon and Hayden Foxe as Popovic’s assistants.

He has cut his coaching teeth as an assistant to Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham and Nottingham Forest.

Jedinak was also an academy and loan development coach at Aston Villa over a four-year stint at the English Premier League club.

“I’m looking forward to working with Tony and his coaching staff,” the 41-year-old, who scored 20 goals for the Socceroos, said.

Read more A-League difference makers: Round 13 — Atkinson defends like a demon, Klein steps up for Roar and the Rufer’s on fire

“They have done an outstanding job qualifying the Socceroos directly for the FIFA World Cup, and I am confident that I can contribute.”

Popovic believes Jedinak can be an asset for their mission in North America.

“I am delighted to welcome Mile to our coaching staff, joining Hayden and Paul,” Popovic said.

“It’s fantastic to have another former Socceroo involved in the coaching staff.”

The Socceroos have also announced they will host a four-team warm-up tournament in March with the world No.27 team joined by Caribbean first-up World Cup qualifiers Curacao, five-time African champions Cameroon and China.

Details on fixtures, dates and venues are yet to be announced.

The Socceroos will take on co-hosts USA in Group D, along with Paraguay and Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo from a European qualifying pool, at the World Cup, which kicks off on June 12.

Read more Brumbies struggling as Rugby Australia takeover translates to drastic disconnect with supporter base