John Aloisi has pipped fellow former Socceroo Ante Milicic to be named head coach of the Melbourne Heart.
Aloisi will replace John Van’t Schip in the dugout for next season after just one year of coaching experience. The 36-year old was in charge of the Heart’s youth side last season and they finished fourth in the National Youth League.
Aloisi was duelling with Heart assistant coach Milici for the top job, and now Milicic may depart to join the new Western Sydney A-League club.
The first Australian to play top flight football in the three best leagues in the world – the Serie A, La Liga and the English Premier League – Aloisi is best known for scoring the winning penalty against Uruguay in the World Cup qualifier in 2005.
The Adelaide-born coach, who has 55 caps for Australia, had playing stints with Central Coast, Sydney FC and the Heart in the A-League. He retired from playing at the end of the 2010-2011 season and will be the youngest coach in the competition next season.
Milicic is also a former Socceroo, with six caps for Australia, and played for the Newcastle Jets and Brisbane Roar in the A-League.
The 38-year has more coaching experience than Aloisi after two seasons with Sydney United in the NSW Premier League, serving as an assistant coach for the Young Socceroos 2009-2011 and spending two seasons as an assistant to Van’t Schip at the Heart.
It is believed Aloisi’s marketability and high profile helped him get over the line for the job. The Heart may appoint a senior assistant or experienced older coach to help Aloisi in his new role.
asanchez
Roar Guru
I actually think he'll do well. Plenty of people bagging his credentials but you have to start somewhere. Jose Mourinho started as Sir Bobby's Robson's english interpreter at FC Porto, now he's one of the best coaches of all time. I don't think Heart will win the title next season, but that won't be because John Aloisi is the coach. They have good young players in their team, but as of right now don't have the depth in their squad and a 10-15 goal per season striker that a championship winning team needs. We're in the offseason though, and you never who they'll sign. One thing's for sure, JA will have plenty of contacts in Europe, both agents and players who I'm sure he'll try to use for signings. Good luck to him, he deserves a chance. Now he has to prove that he's up to it.
ItsCalled AussieRules
Roar Rookie
Aloisi Heart head coach. Will he go with his heart, or with his head?
pete4
Guest
Wish Aloisi all the best... however I can see especially if the Heart go winless in first 3-4 games huge pressure will begin to mount on him
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
"Kevin Muscat should of been made the Heart head coach". Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't think so Tim...
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
John Aloisi has a better playing record than Jose Mourinho.. Playing record simply has nothing to do with it; tho it helps to have played in all of the major leagues of Europe..
Andyroo
Guest
10 in 41 for Coventry and a lot of those 41 appearances came off the bench.
Andyroo
Guest
He has always seemed a really smart guy and has played in Italy, England and Spain. I know Milicic was the assistant but in his role as youth coach Aloisi actually was in charge.... I don't think it's a huge surprise he was chosen over who was assistant to a pretty average performing first team. It's not normal but not really abnormal either.
Johnno
Guest
This could turn out to be another mehmat Duracovic moment a popular ex player good for marketing and Franci awartipie. And both ended in tears. Kevin Muscat should of been made the Heart head coach.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
OK, I'm gearing up for HAL 8 as of now!! No doubt Aloisi brings his overseas playing experience and first hand knowledge of coaching styles and methods in Spain, Italy and England with a very creditable youth team performance in NYL. He seems relaxed and unruffled which will stand him in good stead both coaching wise and in front of the media. I like the appointment.
nordster
Guest
great seeing him progress through from their youth team gig. But a three year deal is it? Still he has some unique experience for an up and coming Aussie coach from his time in Spain. I know there'll be cynicism about the commercial value of having him. He can offer a lot as well on football terms.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Why do you think there is "no doubt" he will do well in the A-League? I'm happy to take the opinion of others that he's a nice guy, but he underperformed as a player while at SFC, and he's got two-fifths of bugger all coaching experience. Being a nice guy doesn't rank too highly as a coaching criteria for me.
Midfielder
Guest
Met John while he was at the Mariners I found him to be a very decent and highly intelligent bloke ... I hope he enjoys success...
MelbCro
Guest
I feel for Ante Milicic, if i was him i would walk
Chris of Brisbane
Guest
Well, he was hopeless as a goal scorer when Coventry City were in the Premier League, he didn't do anything at Sydney, so why does anyone think he'll do anything as Melb Heart coach, with no experience - I dont think so
Chris of Brisbane
Guest
Well, he was hopeless as a goal scorer when Coventry City were in the Premier League, he didn't do anything at Sydney, so why does anyone think he'll do anything as Melb Heart coach, with no experience - I dont think so
tommaso
Guest
Congratulations John - articulate, intelligent and vast worldly experience in football - also comes from a great football pedigree family - no doubt will do well in the A league - Good Luck and all the best
The Cattery
Roar Guru
I have to agree. I'd like to wish Aloisi all the best with his appointment, but it's crazy that you would appoint someone because they have a good profile, and anyway, is his profile that big in Melbourne to make much of a difference on the marketing side of things? I'm not so sure.
Lucan
Ante Milicic needs to walk now. This isn't a football appointment, if MH were serious about it Aloisi would've been culled early on. Still, good luck to him. JA is a lovely guy.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Best of luck Johnny you deserve the appointment... Now who for SFC ?
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Risky.... Looks like the marketing department won that internal argument.