John Aloisi has been appointed as the new head coach of the Melbourne Heart Football Club.

The 36-year old former Heart striker retired from the game at the end of the 2010/11 season and immediately joined the clubs coaching staff where he worked with youth development and alongside recently-departed senior coach John van 't Schip.

Aloisi, who is still the only Australian player to play in the English Premier League, Italy's Serie A and the Spanish La Liga, has signed a three-year deal with the Heart and is looking forward to the challenge ahead.

"I'm honoured and delighted to have been appointed Head Coach of Melbourne Heart FC," Aloisi said.

"The club is well positioned to succeed, with an exciting young core at the heart of our team, and I'm confident we will be able to build on last season's success over the next few years."

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