Melbourne Victory training at Gosch's Paddock. Melbourne Victory coach Mehmet Durakovic talks with his players Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

MELBOURNE Victory caretaker coach Mehmet Durakovic has been given the job fulltime for the next two seasons.

The 45-year-old former Socceroo’s appointment was confirmed on Tuesday, after what the A-League club said was an exhaustive search involving more than 80 candidates from Australia and overseas.

Durakovic had been Victory’s youth coach since 2008 and took over the interim head coaching role in March from Victory’s inaugural coach Ernie Merrick.

Merrick, who had led the club to two A-League championships, was sacked after Melbourne were thrashed by Japan’s Gamba Osaka in their opening fixture in this year’s Asian Champions League (ACL).

The Victory also announced the appointment of another former Socceroo, Francis Awaritefe, to the newly-created position of football director, replacing former football manager Gary Cole.

Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro also expressed confidence the club was strongly-placed in the competition to sign Socceroos star Harry Kewell to their playing squad.

Di Pietro said Durakovic impressed during his five-game ACL stint after taking over from Merrick, with Melbourne undefeated in the last four of those games, although they did not progress from their group.

“He clearly has a very good understanding of the landscape of football in Australia and that’s a very important point,” Di Pietro said.

He said Durakovic had demonstrated great drive and passion, as well as technical knowledge, and had completed a strong playing and coaching apprenticeship.

Durakovic and Awaritefe both said they wanted to make Victory renowned for their style of football, as well as their level of success, with winning the ACL high on the agenda.

Asked how the style under him would differ from that under Merrick, Durakovic said he was aiming for “pure football”, with short, sharp passing, and would demand players trained longer and harder and were more technically proficient.

Di Pietro said Victory had an edge over other A-League clubs in the race for Kewell, given their history of success and stability and greater supporter base.

“We are the best club in Australia,” he said.