Charlesworth appointed as Australian men's team coach

Melbourne, Sep 30 (UNI) After his disappointing stint with the Indian hockey team as the technical advisor, former Olympian Ric Charlesworth was today appointed as coach of the Australian men's team till the 2012 London Olympics.

Hockey Australia announced Charlesworth's appointment today along with Frank Murray, who retained his position as the coach of the women's team after he took the role in 2004.

Charlesworth, who is considered to have the best credentials for a coach, will take up his new job as the coach of the national team after the retirement of Barry Dancer who lead the side through the last two Olympic campaigns.

The former Australian Olympian is not new to the job but it will be for the first time that he will take up the coaching of the national men's team.

Charlesworth has an successful coaching history leading the women's team through one of the most best periods of any sporting team in the nation's history.

The 55-year-old Charlesworth, during his tenure from 1993-2000 as women's coach, guided the eves to victories at the 1993, 1997 and 1999 Champions Trophies, besides lifting the World Cups in 1994 and 1998.

Under his guidance, the women's team won the gold medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and back to back gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 2000 Sydney Games.

The Australian also served as the High Performance Manager for the New Zealand cricket team after his stint with the Australian eves.

Charlesworth quit the job with New Zealand cricket team as he was roped in by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) to join the Indian team as the technical advisor.

However, his stint with the Indian team was always sorrounded with controversies and after just four months, the Australian resigned under suspicious cirumstances claiming poor working environment as the reason for his departure.

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