Melbourne Victory are set to make a renewed play for Ange Postecoglou as their next A-League coach after Jim Magilton’s departure on Sunday.
Brisbane Roar coach Postecoglou is understood to be top of the Victory’s hit-list after Magilton declined to take part in the interview process – the Northern Irishman believing he had been told the job was already his.
Now Melbourne-raised Postecoglou has emerged as the man Victory want – and will do pretty much anything to get – including delaying any announcement until after the Roar’s finals campaign ends should he agree to return to Victoria.
The Victory are refusing to comment on any speculation linking coaches to the vacancy.
Postecoglou, who has two years to run on his current Roar contract, was wooed heavily by the Victory after they sacked Ernie Merrick just over 12 months ago.
Instead, he rejected their overtures and chose to remain at the Roar as they underwent a change of ownership.
The club’s new Indonesian owners are currently in talks to extend Postecoglou’s contract again and give him wider responsibilities after establishing the Roar as the A-League’s benchmark team.
As the Roar combine A-League finals and Asian Champions League commitments, Postecoglou now faces having to fend off questions about whether he will leave the club to join the Victory at a critical time of the season.
Brisbane are currently readying for their ACL match in Korea against Ulsan Hyundai on Wednesday.
Interestingly, bookmaker Sportsbet.com.au has slashed Postecoglou’s price to be next Victory coach from $17 at the start of Monday to $1.50 by mid-afternoon – saying 80 per cent of bets had been for the former South Melbourne coach.
Former Chelsea playing great Gianfranco Zola appears an unlikely candidate for the Victory role.
Reports emerged on Monday that Zola, whose daughter is currently in Australia, could be on his way to Melbourne.
But if the Victory are to sign Zola, they will face competition from his former English club Chelsea and Italian giants Lazio.
Italian reports claim Zola has been lined up to take over at Lazio next season, while Chelsea want him to join their backroom staff.
Zola, who is currently working in the Italian media, has not coached since a stint at England’s West Ham ended in 2010.
Just a fortnight after the board, senior officials and Magilton held court at a Victory fans forum, spoke of their plans for the future, and appeared on the same page, the former Southampton and Ipswich Town player departed.
Magilton led the Victory to only two wins in his 12 A-League matches in charge, but appeared to have the board in his thrall and had been making plans for next season.
But after learning a longer-term contract was not necessarily a given, Magilton sought legal advice in Melbourne last week before walking away on Sunday.
Whoever the Victory appoint will be the fourth coach at the troubled club in just over a year.
After foundation coach Merrick’s sacking after taking the club to the finals, his replacement Mehmet Durakovic was axed six months into a two-year deal.
Then Magilton, who was brought to the club on a short-term contract, failed to get the club to the finals.
The Victory showed few signs of improvement under Magilton, finishing well out of the finals race in eighth spot.
samuelsepulveda@hotmail.com
Guest
Farina back pls. pay him 1/5 what you offer to ange. with farina i am comming back to suncorp. ange is dreamming and everything is about him. With farina the game and the names of ourvplayer were impotant.
JohnL
Guest
What about this line AxelV? "Ange has already told us he loves our vision and that it's attracting him in a long-term perspective." Agree - that until he signs an extension there will be conjecture about him and Victory, but signs are pointing that he will be staying and dare I say it, going onto something bigger than just managing an A-League side. It's a pretty big opportunity to be in charge of academy programs that he will be able to imprint his coaching philosophy onto mutltiple coaches and a new generation of players.
JohnL
Guest
Thanks Fuss
Axelv
Guest
To be fair it's a bit of a nothing article, the headline is misleading, they haven't cemented anything.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I'm embarrassed at how little I know about local coaches, so I'm really not the right person to ask. But, of the AUS managers, who have coached HAL, I'd be happy with Mike Mulvey, Miron Bleiberg or Frank Farina. Also, everyone seems to have terrific things to say about Paul Okon and he was one of my favourite AUS footballers, but, as far as I know, Okon has no experience as Head Coach at any level. From the list of o/s coaches, I'd include (all are probably beyond MVFC's budget): Frank Rijkaard, Gianfranco Zola, Winfried Schäfer, Radomir Antić. I really like the style of football played, organisation & discipline of teams from the Balkans & Germany so a coach from those regions would also be valuable. As would successful coaches from the J-League.
JohnL
Guest
That is interesting Dinoweb, and something that hasn't been mentioned at all. Now for a conspiracy theory..... rumours on the weekend was that all the twitter talk about Ange going to the Victory were coming from the Mariners...hmmm. On another note, Fuss (if you are still around), who would you like to see in change of Victory next season - apart from Ange?
Dinoweb
Guest
What are the odds at Sportsbet on it not being Ange? I'd like to get some of that action. CCM is struggling financially at the moment. Must be really frustrating for Arnie to build a Championship side, only to see key players leave mid season because they can't afford to keep them. I would have thought he was the more likely candidate.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Is Zola's name still being touted after he dismissed the rumours?
Kasey
Guest
Looking good for Roar fans.
JohnL
Guest
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/soccer/roar-owners-cement-expanded-ange-role/story-e6frepmf-1226315851616
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Funny you should say that Kasey. The guys, who are saying the coach is signed & ready for announcement in 3 weeks, are the same guys who said: * H was talking to MVFC * H had agreed to terms with MVFC, despite Mandic categorically saying the deal was off * H had parted company with Bernie Mandic They have also been spot on with their comments about player departures, new signings (Julius Davies, Adama Traore, Miligan, etc.) NOTE: These sources have NOT mentioned the name of the new MVFC coach. All that has been mentioned is that the coach has been signed & the announcement will be after the HAL finals.
Kasey
Guest
LOL...What if they are the same ones that said Harry was coming?, we laughed then and yes a few of us mocked. It’s a selfish (not thinking about the good of the league as a whole) and personal point of view, but I’m happy to see MVC struggle again next season[its not like they're going to go out of business is it?]. I am a Reds fan so I think my position is entirely understandable ;)
JohnL
Guest
Hope these arent the same ones that were saying Ange had signed with Victory last season Fuss.... or that Victory were going to win the A-League ;)
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
According to several people, who have been extremely reliable with their MVFC tips, MVFC is not chasing any football coach because they already have the next manager's signature. The club is waiting until the end of the HAL season to make the announcement. Why wait until the end of the HAL finals you ask? Why, indeed! :-)
Kasey
Guest
I still can't imagine Ange leaving the Roar when he has publically set his sights on creating a dynasty of continental proportions for the basketcase that is MVC no matter how much they offer - unless the Bakries are cutting costs behind the scenes and Ange isn't happy with his new working envitronment.