Melbourne Heart are likely to be the first club to spin the A-League coaching-go-round, with either Ante Milicic or John Aloisi to secure the top job within the next fortnight.
With four jobs up for grabs and others likely to be created if in-demand Ange Postecoglou and Graham Arnold move, A-League coaching volatility is at an all-time high.
But the Heart have their shortlist from within – the two assistants to departing John van `t Schip set to present to the club’s board within the next week and one to get the job.
Former Socceroo Milicic has spent two years as van `t Schip’s deputy – and is highly rated for his one-on-one work with players and game insight.
Since retiring from playing 12 months ago, World Cup penalty hero Aloisi has coached the Heart’s successful youth team, and like Milicic is rated one of the nation’s brightest coaching talents.
“That’s the seed that was planted two and a half years ago – it’s not by accident you stumble across two good coaches,” Heart football operations manager John Didulica told AAP.
“We secured John van `t Schip on a two and a half year deal, but we always knew it may be a difficulty keeping hold of him so we had to identify people who could step in.
“There are two ways you can run a football club. One is to throw money at every problem. One is to build from the bottom up, and I think that’s what we’ve done.”
A deal could be done by the time of the Heart’s player of the year awards on April 26.
Milicic has also been linked with the top job at the new Western Sydney club.
But former Central Coast coach Lawrie McKinna, who has just quit his job with Chinese club Chongqing Lifan, is believed to be the front-runner.
His odds would shorten further if his former Central Coast boss Lyall Gorman moves from heading up the A-League to become the new club’s chief executive.
Brisbane Roar coach Postecoglou is considering – and tipped to accept – a huge financial offer to return to Melbourne and coach the Victory.
Central Coast Mariners coach Arnold has been heavily linked with the Sydney FC job.
Caretaker Gold Coast boss Mike Mulvey could also be in the running for a head coach’s role – especially if there are vacancies at the Roar or Mariners.
His seven-match stint at the now-defunct Gold Coast side resulted in one win and three draws with no resources, a team of teenagers and a doomed club.
Mulvey, a former NSL player with Brisbane Lions, has spent a decade developing some of Queensland’s best young talent at both the state’s academy of sport and Gold Coast United.
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