Former Parma manager Nevio Scala has applied for the head coaching role of the Australian national team.

The 62-year old Italian has reportedly sent his resume to Football Federation Australia, hoping to be the man that will replace Pim Verbeek following the World Cup later this year.

Scala has extensive managerial experience, overseeing Italian clubs Reggina, Parma and Perugia over a nine-year period before moving to Germany to take the reins at Borussia Dortmund and then to Turkey with Besiktas, Ukraine with Shakhtar Donetsk and most recently in Russia with Spartak Moscow.

He also played for a decade-and-a-half as a midfielder with clubs including AC Milan, AS Roma, Fiorentina and Inter Milan.

He believes that his knowledge and experience in the game bodes well for his chances.

"I have coached in several European countries and I have always had no difficulties with language or settling in. We speak the universal language of football," he once told the BBC.

Scala made an unsuccessful application for the Scotland job last year.