Football Federation Australia has officially hired PSV Eindhoven coach Guus Hiddink to help the national team qualify for its first World Cup in more than 30 years.

The federation on Friday said Hiddink will lead the team through its remaining qualifiers and the World Cup finals in Germany if necessary.

The Dutchman will start his new job with a training camp in the Netherlands in August, but will retain his job with Dutch champion PSV.

The federation said he will meet with the Socceroos every time they assemble and counsel and watch Australian players in Europe and Australia.

Australia will play its next World Cup qualifier against the Solomon Islands in Sydney on September 3rd.

Hiddink won a record fifth Dutch league title this year and guided his team to the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League. He also coached his native Netherlands to the semifinals in the 1998 World Cup and did the same with South Korea in 2002.