Ange Postecoglou United Arab Emirates v Australia World Cup qualifying 06092016Getty

Ange Postecoglou to step down as Socceroos coach?

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou has reportedly revealed he will leave his post when his contract expires at the end of the 2018 World Cup.

Australian football journalist and commentator Les Murray tweeted on Thursday that Postecoglou dropped the bombshell at a dinner for the Australasian Football Institute (AFI) - a group chaired by Murray - during a Q&A session on Wednesday.

Murray wrote: "Enjoyed interviewing Ange Postecoglou at the AFI dinner last night where he confirmed that after the 2018 World Cup he's stepping down."

Postecoglou has been Australia's national team coach since October 2013 when he replaced Holger Osieck.

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The 51-year-old was in charge of the Socceroos at the 2014 World Cup - where they failed to win a game - before leading Australia to a maiden Asian Cup triumph in 2015.

It has been widely speculated that Postecoglou would seek a new challenge when his time with the national team came to an end, although when that would be had never been clarified.

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Postecoglou has come under increasing pressure as the Russia 2018 qualifying process has progressed with Australia sitting outside the automatic qualifying berths with three games remaining in their group.

The Socceroos drew 1-1 away to Iraq and defeated United Arab Emirates 2-0 at home last month to stay in touch with Group B leaders Saudi Arabia and Japan but their involvement in next year's World Cup remains far from certain.

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Questions surrounding Postecoglou's decision to introduce a 3-2-4-1 formation and the team's results led to prickly responses from Australia's boss.

Postecoglou, who won the NSL as a coach with South Melbourne and the A-League with Brisbane Roar, coached in Greece in 2008 with third division club Panachaiki but many believe he would love to test himself in Europe again.

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