Central Coast Mariners have lured one of the A-League Men's club's favourite sons, John Hutchinson, to return as head coach.
Hutchinson, a former captain who holds the club's all-time appearance record, says it's "incredibly special" to return to the Mariners after recent coaching stints in Japan.
"This club has been such a huge part of my life, I have got so many incredible memories here as a player," he said on Monday.
"And to now have the opportunity to make more as head coach is something I'm extremely proud of."
The Mariners' future was assured last week when the owners of English Championship's Queens Park Rangers took over the embattled ALM club.
The new owners, Total Soccer Growth Holdings (TSG) wasted little time in luring the popular Hutchinson back to the club he captained to their inaugural A-League championship in 2013.
Hutchinson, who retired in 2015, played 271 games for the Mariners across all competitions in a decade at the club.
His resume includes coaching stints in the United States and Japan, where he worked with Australia's Ange Postecoglou, Kevin Muscat and Harry Kewell.
The 46-year-old most recently was head coach of Jubilo Iwata in Japan's second division.
"I've been fortunate enough to learn from some outstanding people and experience football in different countries and environments," he said.
“It's also an exciting time to be coming back. I believe in the vision TSG has for the club, it's a project I'm incredibly excited to be part of.
"I know exactly what this football club stands for: we want to play positive football, develop young players, compete every single week and build a team that our members and supporters are proud to get behind."
Hutchinson replaces Warren Moon, who departed at the end of the recent ALM season when the Mariners finished ninth.
"John is an icon of the Central Coast Mariners and to have him back is amazing for the club," the Mariners' sporting director Matt Simon said.
"As a player, he embodied everything this football club stands for. He was a leader, a fierce competitor and someone who always put the team first.
"Those qualities have carried through into his coaching career."
