Soccer-Former Australia forward Aloisi named Western United head coach

(Reuters) - Former Brisbane Roar manager John Aloisi has been named Western United's head coach for the next two seasons, the A-League club said on Thursday.

The former Australia striker managed Brisbane from 2015-18, leading them to a top-four finish in his first two seasons. The 45-year-old also previously worked at Melbourne Heart.

He joins United after the club parted ways with coach Mark Rudan at the end of last season following a 10th-placed finish.

"In this role, I'm privileged not only to coach, but to be part of building a club and a football future for the people of the west," Aloisi said in a club statement.

Aloisi played 55 times for Australia and is best known for scoring the decisive penalty in 2005 which secured qualification for the World Cup the following year.

(Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)