Marquee players are frequently touted as raising the profile of the A-League, especially beyond our shores. However, this can only be seen as short-termism which papers over the cracks evident at the highest level of football in Australia.
Which is coaching.
The A-League is in dire need of a coaching revolution, which would mean enticing proven quality overseas coaches to raise the level of play in this country, and further the development of home-grown players.
And there’s historic precedent for such.
They would bring a level of tactical awareness that hasn’t been seen before in our domestic game.
Japan, as we all know, has been adorned by coaches from all over the world which has helped shape the current J-League. But we can also look to Africa, which has been exposed to European cultural and coaching experiences for decades and the Middle East for examples.
In the late 1970s, oil rich Arab states enticed notable English and Brazilian coaches and it clearly had an impact, as Kuwait were to win the Asian Cup and qualify for the 1982 World Cup.
In the short history of the A-League, most of the foreign coaches have been second rate, signed evidently only on past reputation (which A-League clubs have made a bad habit of in player recruitment).
So let’s examine them:
* Pierre Littbarski
Didn’t build most of Sydney’s squad which was signed before he came. Slightly fortunate in my opinion to win the League. Never achieved anything of note as a coach before or after Sydney.
* Steve McMahon
Gone midway through V1, despite Perth being finals contenders. Has a particularly poisonous reputation as a manager with Swindon Town, where he is still hated by supporters and blamed (along with then chairman Rikki Hunt) for the club’s subsequent misery.
* Terry Butcher
Not helped by factors beyond his control (points deduction and crippling injury list). Failed dismally with both Coventry City (contributing to the long-term decline of the club) and Sunderland, successful in the circumstances with Motherwell. Subsequently failed with Brentford.
* Richard Money
Finals with the Jets in V1. Experience of coaching in England and Sweden, and won the League Two championship with Walsall after leaving Newcastle.
In truth, it shows that the coaches we’ve enticed to this country have been very second rate, and only Richard Money has achieved anything of note thus far since leaving Australia.
There are coaches out there who not only play football the right way, but also have proven track records who could come here and raise Australian football to a whole new level.
If only club management could be more progressive and open-minded on this issue we will see the game blossom.
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February 28th 2009 @ 4:18pm
David V. said | February 28th 2009 @ 4:18pm | Report comment
Midfielder,
I am NO fan of Craig Foster whatsoever. His arrogance and abrasiveness, the fact he is part of a group of ex-players (including a couple of current/former A-League coaches) that think they somehow own the game in this country, oh and the fact that he was technically inept as a player (rated by many Palace fans as one of their worst ever- and that says something!). I guess he can feel bitter that Gerrard is as crap as he was yet more successful. I do feel he has a point about the flaws of the English game but has gone about it in a totally wrong way.
I’m far from negative, I’d rather think of ways to improve football in this country and enticing foreign coaches is part of it.
March 1st 2009 @ 7:43pm
Joe FC said | March 1st 2009 @ 7:43pm | Report comment
David V
does Pim fit your criteria?
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25121001-5014539,00.html
March 1st 2009 @ 9:56pm
jimbo said | March 1st 2009 @ 9:56pm | Report comment
Why can’t I believe Pimbo when he says he is misunderstood and wants to coach an A-League team?
Marquee referees are what we need.
March 1st 2009 @ 10:10pm
dasilva said | March 1st 2009 @ 10:10pm | Report comment
Pim Verbeek CV for the A-league
Some success for Sparta rotterdam where he led the team to qualify to the UEFA cup by finishing 4th in the Eredivisie in 1982-83 season and then leading the team to the round of 16 at the uefa cup in the following 83-84 season.
He also led Fortuna Sittard to win the Eerste league promoting his team to the Eredivisie in his first season as manager for that club in 94-95. He then manage to avoid relegations in his last two season as manager.
Also manage Feyenoord one of netherlands big club although he was a dismal failure getting sack without completing the season with having one of the worst win % in there history
Yeah I think his CV is good enough for the A-league club. Although for the socceroos it was rather underwhelming (although having investigated it was actually better then troussier contrary to popular belief)
It would be quite funny if Pim Verbeek ends up coaching in the A-league after all his comments. Maybe when Vidmar decides to coach overseas, we will see Pim coaching in Adelaide.
March 2nd 2009 @ 11:29am
David V. said | March 2nd 2009 @ 11:29am | Report comment
What’s not mentioned is South Korea were just as bad if not worse than we were in the Asian Cup, only that they went one further.