Sydney FC coach Alen Stajcic is the new coach of the Australian national team, the Matildas.

Stajcic, 40, takes over the full time reigns after operating as interim head coach in late April and May 2014 for the final stages of the Matildas' Asian Cup campaign.

The former Young Matildas, interim U17 Matildas and NSW Institute of Sport coach is he seventh head coach of the national team and his appointment comes a dozen years after he first became involved in women's football.

“It’s an honour to be appointed as full time head coach of the Westfield Matildas,” Stajcic said.

“I enjoyed the experience of working with the playing group at the Asian Cup earlier this year and I’m grateful to the FFA for giving me this opportunity.

“I’m excited about the future of the women’s football and look forward to working hard with the playing group to ensure the Matildas succeed on the international stage.

[More: Final Two: Background on Stajcic and Powell]

Stajcic's engagement brings to an end a long and extensive recruitment process that saw applicants from the US, Europe and Australia, with the two times W-League Coach of the Year beating contenders that included three former national team coaches.

With the W-League currently underway, it is understood that the new coach is not due to have the national team in camp until January 2015 with six months to prepare for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

“The Matildas are entering a busy but exciting period with the World Cup in Canada (June 2015) closely followed by the 2016 Olympic Games qualifiers and then the Olympic Games in Rio over the next 18 months."

“There is no doubt we face an important phase but we have a very talented young group of players and I’m confident that with hard work we will be able to do Australia proud.”

With the head coaching decision resolved, attention turns to several other key positions including:

  • Matildas Assistant coach

  • Matildas goalkeeping coach

  • Young Matildas head coach and assistant

  • U17 Matildas head coach and assistant

Former Socceroos defender Ante Juric is the incumbent Matildas Assistant coach and Assistant Technical Director (women's). With the time requirements of both positions, it is unclear whether he will continue in both roles.

Meanwhile time is of the essence for the youth representative positions with both the U20s and U17s shortly due to commence pre-qualification for the 2015 AFC U16 and U20 Championships.

Juric is currently preparing the Young Matildas for the prequalification tournament for the 2015 AFC U19 Women's Championships with players heading into camp this week.

It is believed these appointments were delayed until the new coach was appointed and, with Stajcic now to be on board, those coaching assignments are imminent.

Apart from the decisions for the various national teams, there are also questions regarding the development and elite player pathways.

Much of what was set in place at the commencement of the W-League has been eroded with post W-League training environments, for those players not playing internationally, regarded as inconsistent at best and inadequate at worst.

Stajcic's role will contain elements of the technical direction of the women's game and he will be working closely  with Juric.

Meanwhile for Stajcic's current team Sydney FC, they are on the lookout for a new coach to replace one that has been at the helm since Season 1.

That choice is an important one as it has ramifications for the national team.

Whoever has the Sky Blues job is not only charged with winning matches at Sydney but also the responsibility of the development of a large contingent of World Cup hopefuls; a pool at that could potentially produce seven squad members.

Stajcic takes control of the Matildas in early January.