Interview with former Socceroo Alan Davidson

Alan Davidson is a pioneer of Australian football. From the humble beginning of Altona, Alan has achieved many remarkable feats in a world which football is his master key. He talks about the current climate Australian football prospers and why we should take a positive outlook on the code.

Alan recalls the unforgettable memories he holds playing for South Melbourne and Melbourne Knights in the NSL and additionally his life changing experience in Malaysia.

Such is his influence on his family, his son Jason, 19, currently plys his trade in Portugal as a professional footballer.

Alan’s passion, dedication and loyalty to the game were ultimately rewarded in 2001 with induction into the honourable Football Federation Australia’s Hall of Champions.

With the world at his feet, Alan currently operates his own youth academy where he helps nurture, assist and develop aspiring kids into the elite athletes of tomorrow.

1. In an interview with SBS in 1995, you had the hallucination of having an Australian born coach managing the national team.

Do you still embrace those feeling or do you believe coaches in the vein of Holger Osieck should take charge?

Ideally I’d like to think one day that we can have an Australian born coach, but I think the most important thing is to have a coach that will bring the Soceroos success. If you’re bringing coaches over like Holger (Osieck) or Pim Verbeek, they have a lot of experience from overseas and other teams, that’s something we need to pass onto the other coaches in the country and help the development of the local coaches. The Socceroos are the flagship of the code in our country. If the Socceroos do well then it filters through the system and everyone does well. Ideally being a patriot I’d love an Australian coach, however it all depends on the criteria, their experience, credentials, how successful they’ve been and if they are going to take us to the World Cup.

2. You also mentioned that when you returned to Australia it seemed as though people were looking for a new buzz and energy to ignite the game.

In recent times A-League marketing has been mediocre, community engagement lacklustre; instability amongst the league has seen several clubs financially unstable and the recent demise of North Queensland Fury has added to the insult.

Are you an avid fan of the current A-League model? What do you believe needs to be implemented to improve football in Australia?

Wow that’s a tough one. I’m still an avid fan of the A-League. It’s sad we have these problems where clubs are still going under. If I look at Melbourne Victory and what they’ve done in the A-League, it’s been fantastic. They’ve had a crowd of 50,000 people at a league game.

I’m from Melbourne so I can talk about what Melbourne Victory has done. How they’ve achieved their success maybe others should try to implement or follow on what they’ve done. It’s a hard one and I’m not sure if I’m qualified to answer it.

I’m a fan of the A-League and we obviously need to go through our hurdles and there’s no easy quick fix. There’s seems to be a bit of a hit and miss with some of the foreign players. I’m not sure what the running costs are but I don’t know why clubs are struggling.

Are players being overpaid? I’m not too sure.

3. How important was it for Australian football to become affiliated with Asia in 2006?

Frank Lowy initially pulled off three major moves. He got the A-League up and running, he obviously wanted to get into Asia which he did and we went to the World Cup in Germany. There have been a lot of highs and lows but going into Asia has opened up the doors. We have the Champions League, Asian Cup, players and exposure we’re getting into Asia. There’s a lot of big clubs. I played in Malaysia (Pohang FA) for a while and they always said Australia will never get into the Asian Confederation, but Lowy’s pulled it off. It comes back to politicking and getting the right people behind it. We’ve got in there (Asia) and that’s the best thing that has happened to us because I really believe going through Asia we can realistically qualify for the World Cup. Going to the World Cup is big business, not only for the Socceroos but for the whole game. From a marketing point of view the game will only grow. We’re finding out that there are quality teams in Japan, Korea, China, Thailand and all over (Asia). It’s been a big plus for the game and we need to thank Frank Lowy for that.

4. What do you believe are the major differences between the now defunct NSL and the rejuvenated A-League?

I’d like to think the A-League is run more professionally. A lot depends on the FFA, they need to get the structure right and start implementing the standards which they’ve done to a certain degree. I think they’ve done a good job. I don’t believe the NSL was as professional; the A-League seems to be quite professional in the marketing and the exposure of it on television. The other factors were that we were all semi-professionals (players), we all had jobs and we had to train after work three times a week. Now they (players) are full-time and making a lot money and living a great life. More exposure through the TV rights, the Socceroos’ success and the A-League with Asia. A lot of people question the standard of the past to present and vice-versa but I don’t join in on it, at the end of the day I look forward to seeing quality players come through the system.

5. Currently A-League clubs merely poach young talent from the local state league outfits instead of taking the initiative to assist, train, develop and nurture playing talent from a younger age.

Taking more of an initiative for youth development by having academies for the juniors would be ideal for Australian football, similar to what many NSL clubs did with their junior ranks. On the whole, do you believe the A-League clubs should do more for the growth of our future talent?

Ideally I think that’s the direction, I think it’s a stepping stone. Are they ready for it? At the moment it appears that they aren’t because of the finances. Some of the clubs are struggling to stay alive. There’s no doubt that there is no shortage of quality players, as long as the coaching is right.

We’ve had a lot of success with quality players coming through the system. It all comes down to the budget.

6. Ange Postecoglou’s current Brisbane Roar outfit has been allured from various media outlets as the best club side to ply its trade on Australian shores. Would you agree with this sentiment?

Yes I would, I think Ange has done a really good job. Ange went in there and by the sounds of it had confrontations with the senior players, he stuck to his guns and made the decision and got ride of many players. Then there was the re-building stage, where he invested his time into the younger players, gave them a chance and trusted them.

They played some really good football this year, they were the most exciting and most enterprising team and they followed on with winning the championship with an exciting conclusion.

7. During your playing days, what did you enjoy most about your time at South Melbourne and Melbourne Knights?

I think it was the passion of the game. Both clubs were quite loyal and looked after me. I probably had a lot more of an association with South Melbourne because my wife and family are Greek and I’m still involved with South Melbourne at some level here now.

I have good memories, I had a good relationship with the clubs and they were the vehicle for me to enjoy the passion of the game.

8. What was your most memorable moment?

Winning the NSL title with South Melbourne (1984) was a great achievement. For us to win the championship was quite good. I look back on it and their memories for me now. I had a lot of good times; I enjoyed the passion, battles and challenges in the game.

9. How would you describe your experience in Malaysia with Pohang FA?

Malaysia came at a good time for me because I lost my drive and direction a bit. At Melbourne Knights we had just lost two NSL titles in a row and I had enough of the game. With the Socceroos I’d had enough, we just got knocked out of the World Cup Qualifier again and just wanted to retire from the game. Then I had this opportunity to go to Malaysia at the age of 32. I thought ok; let’s see what happens I’ll go as a working holiday.

I ended up spending six years in Malaysia and it was a great experience. I got to make a lot of friends, the club was very successful. We won championships and cups. It was a new lease of life for me going to Malaysia; I ended up retiring at the age of 38.

10. Overall, how has football changed on and off the pitch in contrast to when you were an adolescent learning your football trade?

The game has excelled and is a lot bigger now. It has a lot to do with the Socceroos. With the World Cup’s there was a long period from 1974 to 2006 (before we qualified), the game needed an injection like Frank Lowy. I really believe the flagship for football in Australia is the Socceroos.

If we don’t get the Socceroos right, the whole game will suffer. While the Socceroos are making the World Cup, the game will always be happy. For the grassroots, the kids need to have idols to look up to. The game has evolved in a good direction in regards to the Socceroos and it’s so important that they do well.

11. Who was the biggest influence on your career?

I think everyone played a part in my career. A lot of the coach’s I’ve had in previous years all played their part. If I was to single one person out it would probably be my father. He was the one who spent all the time to take me to training and games. From the early days if you haven’t got the family support, you can’t fulfil your dreams or follow your dreams.

12. Did you have an idol you would look up to?

Not so much when I was younger but I’ve always been a fan of Maradona. For me he’s the best player that has played the game. I’ve got all the tapes of Maradona and that’s what I’ve shown my son, I think he’s unbelievable.

13. Having made over 50 appearances with the Socceroos, what do you recall as your greatest memory with the national team?

The one thing I always got out of the Socceroos was being proud to be Australian and listening to the national anthem. It was something you really can’t relate to unless you’ve actually experienced it. For me the highlight was listening to the national anthem and being so proud to play for my country.

14.How’s your son Jason travelling in Portugal?

Jason’s doing really well. At one stage he was the youngest player starting in the first division, and then he got injured and lost his way a bit. He’s been loaned out to get game time to Sporting Covilha and he’s played the last 10 games and doing really well. He was telling me the other day that scouts from Porto were looking at him.

Pacos want him back (next season), they just sold their full-back who’s from Brazil. He’s only 19 so he is still young. Not too many people know about the Portuguese league, it’s quite a strong league. In the Europa League the last four teams were a Spanish team and three Portuguese teams.

15. At present you’re currently coaching Northcote City’s junior ranks and South Melbourne in the WPL. How are you finding the coaching side of things? What do you enjoy most?

I’ve got a relationship with Northcote where I’ve got my own football school and we’ve taken 30 of my boys over there to play because we want them to lead into the pathway to step up to the Victorian Premier League. I’m trying to help the club out as much as I can as well.

It’s good to put something back, guys from my academy like Matthew Leckie (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jason (son), Francesco Stellar (Siena), Bradley Norton (Adelaide United) and a lot of boys in the VPL that have some through my school. I get a lot of satisfaction.

In regards to South Melbourne, my mate is the President (Leo Athanasakis). They were in a problem last year where they lost their opening six or seven games and were in the relegation zone. He asked me if I could come and help them out and I’m doing it again this year. I’m enjoying (coaching) the women, I’m impressed with some of the standards of the girls and their commitment to the game and it’s opened my eyes up more to female football.

16. Looking towards the future, do you have aspirations to coach at a more elite level? Namely the VPL, A-League or even overseas?

At the moment I’m pretty much full-time with my school, that’s my passion. I’ve enjoyed being involved with the kids, trying to develop, get them to another level and get them into the right pathway. With aspirations in regards to coaching at senior level I’m not sure. I’ve done a little bit in the past but I think I enjoy the juniors more so.

17. What do you believe are the key ingredients for young aspiring footballers to make it to the elite level of competition?

I think there are different stages of development. Our kids need to work a lot more on their touch and skill. Not just their first touch, I’m talking about above their waist as well. At grassroots level, working on their touch and technique on both feet are important to getting towards that elite level.

Thank you for your time Alan and best of luck for your future football endeavours and also to your son Jason.

Article courtesy of Goal Weekly