SYDNEY, Australia -- Ange Postecoglou has been hired as head coach of the Socceroos in a five-year deal that could involve two World Cups. Tyler Eifert . The 48-year-old Postecoglou, who led Brisbane Roar to two domestic A-League titles before moving to Melbourne Victory last year, is the first Australian head coach of the Socceroos since Frank Farina in 2005. Holger Osieck, a German, was fired earlier this month after back-to-back 6-0 defeats to Brazil and France, despite helping Australia qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy confirmed the widely expected appointment of Postecoglou on Wednesday, announcing a deal running through the 2014 World Cup, the 2015 Asian Cup and qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup. Postecoglou, who migrated to Australia from Greece with his family when he was five and played four times for the Socceroos, will be in charge for the international friendly against Costa Rica on Nov. 19. "I was proud to represent my country as a player and I have the same immense feeling of pride today," Postecoglou said. "The Socceroos belong to the people of this nation. Its my job to make sure we represent all thats good in Australian football." Australia narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2002 World Cup and then, with Dutchman Guus Hiddink at the helm, qualified for Germany 2006 and reached the second round before a contentious defeat to eventual champion Italy. Pim Verbeek was the next full-time coach, but his tenure ended with Australias disappointing first-round exit at South Africa 2010. Osieck got the Australians through qualifying for Brazil, but the Socceroos playing stocks and rankings have plummeted since the so-called "golden era" in 2006 and theres been constant criticism domestically about a lack of regeneration in the national team. Lowy made no secret of the fact an Australian candidate would be preferred to replace Osieck and drew up a shortlist including Postecoglou, who was national youth coach from 2000-2007, and Graham Arnold, who was interim Socceroos coach in 2007 between the contracts of Hiddink and Verbeek. "I have never taken the view that the coach should be an Australian for the sake of having an Australian," Lowy said Wednesday. "I have always believed we should get the best person we can for the job. "The fact that Ange is the best qualified, and an Australian, achieves our objective." Marshall Newhouse . Atletico built a provisional three-point advantage over Barcelona before the defending champion hosts Elche on Sunday. Barcelona then visits Atletico in the following round. "We will have to wait and see if Barcelona wins tomorrow to stay leader, as it is accustomed to doing," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. Boomer Esiason . - Hall of Fame centre Bill Russell was arrested this week at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after Transportation Security Administration officials found a loaded gun in his luggage.CARSON, Calif. - A momentary lapse in focus Saturday night proved costly for the Vancouver Whitecaps. As a result, Robbie Keane scored in the 47th minute to give the Los Angeles Galaxy a 1-0 victory over Vancouver, stretching the Whitecaps losing streak at Stub Hub Center to five games. Since joining Major League Soccer in 2011, Vancouver has not won a game on the road against L.A. "In two seconds or five seconds, we lost the game," Vancouver midfielder Gershon Koffe said. Despite the temporary loss of focus, however, Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson viewed his teams performance as a solid one. "We showed that we were able to compete with the top teams away from home," Robinson said. "One minute of lack of concentration at the start of the second half cost us." The Galaxys Juninho began the scoring sequence with a long ball from midfield to Stefan Ishizaki on the right flank. With the Whitecaps Jay DeMerit marking him, Ishizaki saw an unmarked Keane racing toward the goal. Ishizaki sent the ball to Keane, who volleyed it with his left foot innside the left post from six yards. Dre Kirkpatrick Bengals Jersey. Kekuta Manneh had two chances to give the Whitecaps an early lead but Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo foiled him both times. In the 32nd minute, Manneh struck a 10-yard line drive that Penedo deflected while diving to his left. Then in the 45th minute, Penedo blocked Mannehs point-blank shot seven yards from the goal. "He was electric in the first half," Robinson said about Manneh, who made his first start of the season. "I think it would have been a different game (if Manneh had scored). I felt we were slightly on top in the first half." Vancouver displayed a dynamic defence during that half despite missing midfielder Matias Laba, who was suspended after being ejected April 5 against Colorado. The Whitecaps hustled after disputed balls, intercepted passes and applied pressure throughout the field. The Whitecaps had a chance to force a tie in the 77th minute, but Penedo leaped to grab Kenny Millers 8-yard glancing header off Nicolas Mezquidas corner kick. Penedo finished with four saves. ' ' '
