THREE-time Brisbane Lions premiership captain Michael Voss has been named new coach of the club.

Leigh Matthews announced on Monday he was quitting as Lions coach after a decade that netted three flags and, just over 24 hours later, Voss has been named as his replacement.

He played 289 games for the Lions between 1992 and 2006.

The 33-year-old was preparing to move to Perth to start a two-year stint as an assistant to West Coast Eagles coach John Worsfold, but his plans changed dramatically when his premiership coach unexpectedly pulled the pin.

Voss said being appointed coach of a club he skippered to three successive flags from 2001-03 was simply a dream come true.

"Having had the added advantage of being able to be a player at this football club and be able to understand the club and people involved and the supporters, and be involved in the development of the football club under the great Leigh Matthews, has been something I've treasured forever," he said at a Gabba press conference on Tuesday afternon.

"To be coach of that club now is something that as a dream, you couldn't perhaps see manufacturing, but (it) has (come about)."

Voss has vowed to make hard calls against former teammates to get the Lions back playing finals football.

Lions chairman Tony Kelly confirmed the club ignored some qualified candidates to take a gamble on a "novice coach".

"We're fine with that," said Kelly, adding the board's decision to punt on a rookie had been unanimous.

"We're going to back Michael Voss.

"He hasn't coached at the AFL senior level but everyone has to start somewhere.

"He may make mistakes, but we're going to back him all the way."

Voss was grilled about his qualifications to coach, his views on Brisbane's late season blowout, his coaching philosophy and whether he had the mettle to make some tough calls against players who a few years ago were mates he'd won premierships with.

"Make no mistake, I'm here to get results," declared Voss who secured a release from an assistant coaching job with the West Coast Eagles.

"What the player 38th on the list does and what Johnathan Brown does, I expect the same.

"Everyone stands on the same line whether I've played with them or whether I haven't.

"For me to compromise myself in any way would fly in the face of everything I ever stood for."

Voss's philosophy is the team above all.

"The one thing I learned from Leigh Matthews is that the team's decision is put first," he said.

Kelly revealed that Matthews recommended Voss as his eventual replacement midway through the year.

"The board was able to move swiftly with Michael because Leigh had come to me earlier in the year with a succession plan involving Michael," said Kelly.

The board endorsed the plan but it broke down because the club had no idea when Matthews would step down.

He did that on Monday, rocking the AFL and triggering an amazing 48 hours as the club lost its head coach, re-signed its star player Johnathan Brown and then locked in a contract for Voss.

The 1996 Brownlow Medallist was a magnificent player who made the All-Australian team five times.

Kelly said Voss reminded him of Matthews in many ways.

"The way they played the game, the success they had and their leadership," he said.

"They're two men who are proven leaders, Leigh as a player and a coach and Vossy as a player."

Kelly sent Voss a text message on Sunday afternoon after Matthews broke the news he was quitting.

When Voss texted back he was "interested" the Lions board swung into action, making Voss an offer.

Voss said elevating Brisbane to the AFL's top echelon was a major goal.

"Playing finals again for sure," said Voss, captain for a decade before retiring in 2006 having played 289 games.

"The Lions haven't been in the finals for the last four years.

"This is a very proud football club with deep history and traditions from a Fitzroy sense.

"Like everyone in the competition, we want to play finals football again.

"That's what my job is all about, trying to make that happen sooner rather later.

"I think that's the requirement of every single coach."

Voss, who has gained coaching experience with the AIS-AFL Academy, had been courted for months to take the reins of the new Gold Coast franchise, but turned that down in favour of getting experience as an assistant with the 2006 premier.

The length of the contract was also a sticking point, with GC17 only prepared to offer him a three-year deal, meaning he would only be guaranteed one year at the helm of an AFL side.

West Coast CEO Trevor Nisbett confirmed on Monday that Voss had the club's blessing to talk to the Lions about the top job.

"This morning's situation is that Michael is committed to us, and I would think that he has got a serious decision to make if Brisbane offer him the senior coaching job," Nisbett said on Monday.

"We would obviously not stand in anyone's way if they were able to get a senior position – there's only 16 available at any one time – and consequently Michael's in that position at the moment."

Nisbett said Worsfold was realistic about the situation and would happily release Voss if he had the chance to take up a senior coaching position.

Voss will begin with the Lions after completing his current job as a match commentator with the Ten Network in the upcoming Toyota AFL Finals Series.