Former Netherlands international John van't Schip has been named as the inaugural coach of the second Melbourne-based A-League franchise.

The 45-year-old has spent the last two seasons as assistant coach at Ajax but has now agreed a two-year deal with the club, who are provisionally known as Melbourne Heart and will join the A-League next season. Van't Schip, who was also the assistant to Netherlands coach Marco van Basten between 2004 and 2008, has already set his targets regarding player recruitment.

"We have to search good, we have to have players who have a good level but are also hungry to play here. Not get players that would like to come and only be here on vacation," said van't Schip on abc.net.au . "I think that's the thing you have to look for, players with experience or young players who like to grow further."

Van't Schip enjoyed an illustrious playing career having spent over a decade with Ajax before playing for Italian club Genoa for four years during the early 1990s. He was also capped 41 times for his country.