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Australian football’s youth teams coach Jan Versleijen will leave the post when his contract expires at the end of the year after two disappointing World Cup campaigns.
Versleijen will not be among the applicants for either of two positions that have been created following a Football Federation Australia (FFA) restructure of the youth set-up.
From next year, the under-20 Young Socceroos and the under-17 Joeys will have different mentors.
The Joeys job will also include overseeing the Australian Institute of Sport program.
FFA has called for applications for both positions.
Versleijen this year oversaw the Young Socceroos’ failure to get past the group stages in the U-20 World Cup in Colombia, and the Joeys’ exit in the first knockout stage of the U-17 event in Mexico.
“The incumbent Young Socceroos, Joeys and AIS Football Program head coach Jan Versleijen has indicated to FFA that he will not be re-applying for any of the national youth team coaching positions once his current contract ends at the end of this calendar year,” a FFA statement said.
Reports have suggested his departure represents the end of Australian football’s embrace of Dutch coaching methods that began with former Socceroos World Cup boss Guus Hiddink in the lead-up to the 2006 tournament.
Former Socceroos Tony Vidmar and Paul Okon are among the names that have been mentioned as possibilities for the jobs.
“During his tenure, Jan qualified Australian national representative teams for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt, 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia and the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico,” the statement said.
“In the process, the Young Socceroos were also runners up to (North) Korea at the 2010 AFC U-19 Championships and the Joeys qualified for the knockout stage of the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup.”
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The Crowd Says (6) | Page 1 of Comments
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November 3rd 2011 @ 9:11am
striker said | November 3rd 2011 @ 9:11am | Report comment
this is great news this guy was a waste of time and money.
November 3rd 2011 @ 4:22pm
pbedo said | November 3rd 2011 @ 4:22pm | Report comment
Very disappointing time, I though he could’ve done better with the talent he had
November 3rd 2011 @ 4:48pm
Bondy said | November 3rd 2011 @ 4:48pm | Report comment
I could never understand the set up there, i think Versleijen was at one tournament whilst the other lads were at the same time trying to qualify for olympic qualifiers .
Versleijen at no stage filled me with any confidence .
November 4th 2011 @ 12:28am
rip Enke said | November 4th 2011 @ 12:28am | Report comment
He did have a lot on his plate, virtually 3 jobs.
But no, he did not impress and his thoughts through the media were atrocious.
November 4th 2011 @ 11:02am
Qantas supports Australian Football said | November 4th 2011 @ 11:02am | Report comment
He has only himself to blame—-the set up before him was working quite well and he came in and threw out the baby with the bathwater in what Andy Harper and co had put together saying it was dysfunctional and he and Bann reorganised the set up—now he is trying to lay the blame onto someone else—mainly the press. C’mon Jan very lame excuses.
November 13th 2011 @ 6:49pm
Delta said | November 13th 2011 @ 6:49pm | Report comment
we soon close his book and hope with
New coach , who ever he is will learn
his mistake n be fair with the selection.