Australia have sacked coach Holger Osieck following their 6-0 thumping by France at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Friday night.
Press Association Sport understands Osieck was informed of the decision to end his three-year tenure shortly after the heavy defeat.
Australia have already booked their place at next year's World Cup finals, but Osieck's position had increasingly come under pressure following a nervous qualification campaign.
Since then a second successive 6-0 reverse - Australia lost by the same scoreline against Brazil last month - proved the final straw for Football Federation Australia (FFA) to act.
Osieck and the players were informed of the decision two hours after the final whistle in Paris.
Socceroos midfielder Tim Cahill tweeted: "Want 2 say Thankyou to Holger for getting us to our 3rd WORLD CUP. Is this a first get us to WC and get the sack. Sad day for Football in oz"
The decision comes less than nine months before next summer's World Cup finals, but was not unexpected after speculation in Australia that FFA had begun to sound out a new manager.
One of the names reportedly on FFA's wish-list is former boss Guus Hiddink, who came in at short notice to lead the Socceroos to the 2006 World Cup, where they reached the knockout stages.
Hiddink is a fan's favourite in Australia and is out of work after he resigned as coach of Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala in July.
Australia will almost certainly not appoint a new man before their next match in London on Tuesday night against Canada - coincidentally the only national team Osieck has previously managed.
Source: PA
