“Coaching is my passion,” the 58-year-old said on his appointment on Friday.

“It’s what I want to do...as long as possible.”

FitzGerald landed a two-year contract ahead of 10 other applicants for the part-time role.

He will start the next chapter in his coaching career at the start of next month – immediately after finishing a nine-year tenure with North Ballarat Roosters in the VFL.

FitzGerald previously coached the Rebels in 2005 and 2006 before taking on a second stint with the Roosters, which had led from 1997 to 2002.

He became an all-time great in VFA/VFL history by taking the Roosters to three consecutive premierships in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Rebels talent manager Phil Partington said FitzGerald had been the best candidate for the job – “the perfect fit.”

He said FizGerald was a highly respected ambassador of the game across the Rebels region, which took in AFL Goldfields, Wimmera, South West, Warrnambool and Hampden. 

“He’s a highly successful coach who brings many qualities and attributes to the role of developing Western Victoria’s finest under-age footballers,” Partington, who also worked alongside with the Rebels in 2005 and 2006, said.

Partington said FitzGerald also had strong personal ties to the talent region, having grown up and lived at Derrinallum, and coached successfully at Camperdown and Mortlake in the Hampden league before embarking on his VFL career. 

FitzGerald, who was one of three interviewed for the three-day-a-week position, fills a vacancy left by David Loader, who after five years as head coach has taken on development role with North Melbourne in the AFL.