Former Fremantle defender Roger Hayden will return to the club less than three months after announcing his retirement to take up a development coaching position.

The 30-year-old, who was forced into retirement by a long-term foot injury, announced on Wednesday that he would be back at Fremantle Oval in 2012, effectively replacing former development coach Jason McCartney, who has joined the Western Bulldogs.  

Hayden said he had planned to take a break from the AFL system after retiring, but he was encouraged by his family to take up the position with Fremantle once it became available.

"As soon as I retired I always wanted to be part of the club, and when the position became open I leapt at it," Hayden told fremantlefc.com.au. "The opportunity was too great to pass up."

Hayden, who recently gained a coaching certificate from the WA Football Commission, said staying at the club where he played 128 games would make the transition into coaching easier.

Regarded as an intelligent and highly skilled defender, he spent much of the 2011 season in an unofficial coaching role, with injury restricting him to three games.

He said he was looking forward to developing the club's young players in defence and helping those who are returning from injury.   

"There's a few players that have been around for two or three years and they need to take the next step," Hayden said. 

"Those are the sorts of players I'm going to be working pretty closely with, especially in defence - Jesse Crichton, Nick Suban, Michael Walters - even though he's up forward.

"Just to help out is great for me and it's the next best thing if I'm not playing."

Football manager Chris Bond said the appointment of a player held in such high regard was a positive for the club.

"As a senior player coming straight out of the game, Roger will provide great insight, particularly for our younger players, about the level of preparation and professionalism required to succeed at the elite level," Bond said.

Nathan Schmook covers Fremantle news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_NSchmook