The 47-year-old is based in Australia but will oversee all national team campaigns for the next year.
His first assignment will be the OFC U-20 Championships in New Zealand during April but his major challenge will be putting a national senior team together and taking them to the Pacific Games, set to be held in New Caledonia in August and September.
Fiji FA president Dr Muhammed Shams-UD-Dean Sahu Khan is delighted to have secured the services of the former defender and says his credentials stood out amongst those who put their hand up for the job.
“We had discussed applications and interviewed various coaches,” Dr Sahu Khan says. “Claudio satisfied our requirements and his experience will be a major advantage for us. He will be in charge of all the national teams.”
During his playing days, Canosa featured as a top-flight professional in his homeland for the Racing Club, Central Northern and Barracas Central. He also had a few seasons in Bolivia with Real Santa Cruz before trying his luck in Australia with West Adelaide.
He lined up for Gippsland Falcons and Heidelberg United in Australia before hanging up his boots and moving into coaching. He has had spells in charge of Penrith Nepean United, Marconi Stallions and Bankstown City Lions and has coached various other Australian clubs and academy sides. He is currently the head coach of New South Wales club Macarthur Rams.
He will work closely with Fiji FA technical director Saiyad Ali to get the best out of the Fijian talent at his disposal in his new role.
Canoasa had his first chance to cast his eye over some of that talent when he watched the national U-20 side beat Tavua 2-0 in the National Football League at Govind Park in Ba on Friday.
He takes over the head coach reins from Yogendra Dutt, whose time at the helm ended last November.
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