SYDNEY – Australia fired coach Holger Osieck after a 6-0 exhibition loss at France, prompting a search for a replacement just eight months before the World Cup.
Football Federation Australia announced its decision early Saturday, a day after the defeat in Paris.
The German-born Osieck was under pressure following a 6-0 loss to Brazil last month.
In a statement released Saturday, federation chairman Frank Lowy said the decision was "based on the longer term issues of the rejuvenation of the Socceroos team and the preparations for the World Cup and the Asian Cup."
"FFA has set a strategic objective of having a highly-competitive team in Brazil and then handing over a team capable of winning the Asian Cup on home soil in January 2015. We have come to the conclusion that change is necessary to meet those objectives," Lowy said.
FFA chief executive David Gallop said assistant coach Aurelio Vidmar will be interim coach for Tuesday's exhibition game against Canada in London.
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