There are hundreds of Australian-born footballers now plying their trade in leagues all over the world. Some we know well, some not much at all. But they have all left these shores to embark on the great football adventure.
The demand for our best coaching talent has not been as great.
Of course, Australians have and do enjoy coaching careers abroad.
Eddie Thomson coached in Japan. His long-time friend and coaching assistant Mick Hickman worked with Wolverhampton Wanderers in England.
More recently, Lawrie McKinna had success in China, and former NSL champion coach Garry Phillips coaches in Malaysia, as does former Socceroo Scott Ollerenshaw.
However, it is comparatively a trickle and an Australian-born coach has yet to take charge of a top-flight European side in the same way that our very best players have done on the pitch.
Perhaps, the professional coaching pathway and the opportunities afforded by the A-League might see that change.
When the A-League first began, the late Ian Gray, one of the best home-grown coaches the country has produced, made the observation that the league was “a bit English. The intensity, pace and speed is there but different styles need to evolve.”
At the same time as the A-League began, the FFA were upgrading their coaching accreditations to bring them in line with the AFC and UEFA.
Five years down the track, local coaches are changing the way the game is played at the top level.
I’m not suggesting that can be traced exclusively back to the FFA’s coaching licenses and the system has not been without its flaws.
But football in this country, now has a high number of coaches who are both qualified and experienced. It may even be a lack of opportunity here that sees more Australian-born coaches head overseas.
There are only ten, head coaching jobs, available in the A-League. Currently, only four of them are occupied by Australians; Graeme Arnold, Ange Postecoglou, Mehmet Durakovic and Gary Van Egmond.
Coincidentally, all four of them played in the NSL, and all of them have gone through the FFA’s coaching licenses. Van Egmond and Postecoglou have already led sides to an A-League title, while Arnold has already coached the national team.
The Postecoglou revolution at the Brisbane Roar, has shown just what home-grown coaches are capable of, with a transformation not just in playing style, but coaching technique and culture.
This is not to say that the importing of foreign coaches is a bad thing. In fact, the history of the game at the top level in Australia has been influenced by names such as Arok, Scheinflug, Blanco.
More recently, Pierre Littbarski was a revelation in Sydney FC’s first season and names such as Coolen and Lavicka have added to the quality of the competition.
But the time may be near when cashed-up overseas clubs might start casting an eye towards the Australian game.
Qualified local coaches can now be found at many of the State and Youth League clubs, and even in more ambitious local community clubs.
It may still be a while before we see an Australian managing an EPL or La Liga club, but if more coaches like Postecoglou stamp their coaching expertise on the local game, Australia may well start exporting the farmers as well as the cattle.
apaway
Guest
Super G While I wouldn't necessarily discount all of the names you mentioned, there is a new wave of coaches poised to make their mark on the A-League in the near future. Kevin Muscat, John Aloisi, Steve Corica and Phil Moss are already coaching in an assistant or youth role and qualified coaches like Alex Tobin, Jean Paul de Marigny and Brad Maloney are involved in high level State-based roles, all with the skills and experience necessary to take on an A-League role.
Super G
Can we export Frank Farina,John Kosmina,David Mitchell and Branko Culina just so I know they're not going to show up at another HAL club anytime soon. Anywhere will do.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Oh no. If the wheels are spinning fast enough, we could end up with the sad situation of Agne leaving the Roar before the Roars first ACL group phase game. J-League kicks off early March, with ACL starting a similar time. You would expect Urawa (and Ange for that matter) to want the coach to have some time with the players before they kick-off the season. Not too selfish to ask Ange to take the Roar through at least one ACL campaign before he buggers off, is it? :-) Two ACL campaigns would be better. Maybe Graham Arnold will go to Urawa instead since he seems to be linked to a move more than Ange (fingers crossed).
apaway
Guest
I was commenting as someone who has been involved with those clubs, Steve. No offence intended.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Hey apaway Looks like it may happen sooner than we think! http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/soccer/japanese-heavyweights-urawa-red-diamonds-rumoured-to-have-sights-set-on-brisbane-roar-coach-ange-postecoglou/story-e6frepmf-1226180809238
Steve
Guest
Being a Sydney Olympic person how can i comment on how other clubs feel about people who were involved at their clubs
apaway
Guest
Interesting point, Fuss. What Ange has achieved at the Roar is becoming more remarkable each week, and the ultimate complememnt is some of my non-football friends have now picked up on the "streak" and the way the Roar are playing. I'm sure Ange does have the desire to challenge himself overseas (I believe he has coached in Greece) but I get the idea that will come only when he feels he has done as much as he can with the Roar. But for Ange to achieve what he has, he needed to be given the freedom to do so, and sometimes that is no easy thing at European football clubs.
apaway
Guest
Not to mention the Sydney City and St George faithful respectively, Steve!
apaway
Guest
I hadn't forgotten Aurelio Vidmar, Mid, who seems to have settled into his national role well. I agree with you that our best coaches may well end up in some of the big Asian leagues but just like a player, a coach's ultimate ambition is probably to coach in Europe. Ange and GVE have the vision to strip a club down and re-build it. It would be interesting to see if they would ever get that opportunity at an overseas club. And Graeme Arnold has been a revelation at the Mariners, given the criticism he received after his ill-fated stint as National Team coach. Perhaps some coaches are more adept at a week-to-week club structure rather than the very different role being in charge of a national team represents.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Interesting topic, apaway. I'd be surprised if Ange is still coaching in the HAL in 12 months. Without a doubt, Ange's coaching exploits will be strongly on the radar of the football community - particularly in Asia. Additionally, given the number of Aussie players, who have moved from the HAL to Germany & Holland it is obvious that knowledgeable football people are paying close attention to our league. We know that Asian teams have much bigger budgets than any HAL club and I'm sure Ange's management have already received offers from J-League, K-League, CSL & cashed up clubs in the Middle East. Given Ange's success in identifying and moulding players to suit his football style, I can only imagine what he could do with a cashed up club in the English Championship. If Ange were able to pick the players he wanted, I have no doubt his style of play would see him waltz through the English Championship and then ... it would get really interesting. I just get the feeling Ange Postecoglou will be THE biggest football export our nation has ever seen - of course, this is assuming he has the desire to challenge himself o/s.
Griffo
Roar Guru
For Aussie coaches to be taken seriously at this point they need to be in the radar of the top Asian league clubs. That path is easiest coaching A-League clubs in the ACL. Graham Arnold and Ange Postecoglou are the best candidates for the 2012 ACL. Do well in the ACL and they could be on their way to China, K- or J-Leagues. Some coaches are doing it slightly tougher in 'lesser' known Asian leagues but they may pop out in higher Asian leagues in the future. But for Graham and Ange, a good season this year and ACL next year could get them there in the short term. From there it could be lower European Leagues before the bigger nations come calling. I believe Ange has coached in the Greek leagues before so he has some experience in that environment. For Ange though, you get a sense he wants to keep going at the Roar, but I also think a good offer to further test himself overseas will test the bond and ambition he has with the Roar. It will take those initial pioneers of Aussie coaches making it good in big leagues abroad, and cleaning up the ACL based at home, for those big leagues to start keeping a permanent eye on our coaching stocks here. At that point, a good season and ACL campaign will mean a call to Asia or direct to some European leagues. All it needs is for our coaches and their educations' reputation to rise here. You only have to look at the light that Portugal's coaches are being seen now, even though directly tested in the UCL and UEL, to see a similar future for our own. It will only improve our own domestic game, and give a new dimension to following our football cultures growth and standard past players and national teams.
Steve
Guest
Mick Hickman, Gary Phillips, Scott Ollarenshaw and the late Eddie Thomson are all remembered fondly by the Sydney Olympic faithfull
Midfielder
Guest
Apaway I could easily see Graeme Arnold, Ange Postecoglou, and Gary Van Egmond, coaching overseas... lets not forget Vidmar as well... If the Roar play as well as they are in the ACL and the Mariners can get Amini back on the park and re produce their form of last year me thinks it could be cashed up Asian clubs...were our coaches end up...
Rellum
Roar Guru
Ange may well head overseas soon. He is the only one who has shown he can learn, adapt and instil a system and style on a group of players. The rest are miles behind.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
I think we would have to win a World Cup with a home grown manager before you would see an Australian manager in the very top flight of European leagues. Not to say we could not do it but there would be a certain amount of discrimination against Australian managers going over to Europe for the top jobs.
Other chris
Guest
Note to roar, on the iPad the new website looks like I am drunk. Text overlapping with other text is never a great thing. Old site came up fine on same iPad.