Since the inaugural season of the A-League, Sydney FC has had five coaches at the helm. And the announcement of Englishman Ian Crook to replace Vítězslav Lavička as head coach makes him the sixth.
Bling FC has had a merry-go round of coaches and a lack of consistency and no real game plan going forward has meant that the team supposed to be beating Sydney’s blood has been up and down the A-League ladder.
The arrival of a new coach is never likely to generate stability in a club, especially after the three-year reign of Lavička, but the promotion of Crook from within suggests that Sydney FC is looking to the future just as much as they are looking for immediate trophies.
Crook first came to the Sky Blues for the opening season of the A-League, where he assisted manager Pierre Littbarski win the inaugural championship. His latest role for the club has been as National Youth League coach, and it’s in this role that Crook can offer more than anyone else could.
The Sydney squad has a wealth of young talent in its first team squad; see Terry Antonis, Joel Chianese, Dimitri Petratos and Mitch Mallia. And Crook, who knows their game intimately, is the perfect man to make them tick.
There are others who are only just beginning to break through too; Nathan Sherlock, Daniel Petkovski and Hagi Gligor are all pushing hard to become regular first-team action.
Crook shares a similar philosophy to Graham Arnold, as both men look to bring exciting young players through the ranks. And Crooks’ relationship with the young guns at Sydney FC will only benefit the squad in the long-term.
Unlike other foreign coaches who would be more likely to look to older, more experienced players to push Sydney to the title, Crook, who has seen the juniors develop over the past two seasons, will have more faith in his young chargers, and should trust them to help bring back the glory of winning the title.
It’s not to say that Crook is only a promoted youth team coach, as he has the managerial ability and experience to cope with some of the more established stars in the squad.
The Brit has a wealth of footballing experience – he played in Europe for both Tottenham and Norwich City, and has had backroom jobs at Norwich, Newcastle Jets and was head coach at NSWIS.
His first foray into managing was successful too, as he led Newcastle United in the old NSL to a second place finish – a hard task considering the team sat second from bottom the season before; a feat that earned him the title of coach of the year in 2001.
His second full-time management job didn’t go so well, however, as he was unable to lead America Samoa to a win in his four matches in charge of their World Cup Oceania qualifiers.
The results of his international management shouldn’t be taken adversely, though, as he is still a capable tactician and manager, and given the opportunity, will serve Sydney FC to great effect over the next few years.
Lovethegame
Guest
Apart from being born and playing in England at two fantastic footballing clubs, Tottenham (with Hoddle and Ardilles) and Norwich, then playing in Japan and Australia, how is Ian Crook an English coach? He coached first in Australia with some success at Newcastle Jets in the old NSL, then at SFC with Littbarski (three World Cup Finals), then in Japan with Littbarski, back to Norwich where they won promotion to the Championship playing football, then back to Oz, coached some great kids and had the SFC NYL team playing some great football. He has achieved his coaching qualifications in Australia. This is an Aussie Coach with a pommie accent. I don't think the geography of where you are born effects the philosophy of how you coach. As far as I'm concerned there are good coaches and bad coaches, just as there are good players and bad players. These bad coaches have a myriad of accents from around the globe, surprisingly just like the good ones!
ItsCalled AussieRules
Roar Rookie
If you called SFC the Gorgonzolas, now that would be cheesy.
ItsCalled AussieRules
Roar Rookie
He's not their first choice, but he ain't dead yet. Crook is a bit of a gamble, but they all are. Even if you hired Kenny Dalglish, is that a guarantee you'll win the A-League Golden Toilet Seat or the Tin Plate?
Sky Blue Ram
Guest
Please stop using the word Bling, it's cheesy.
Danny
Guest
Can't judge a book by its cover. That being said, he is a last resort pick so we'll see if he's up to it or not. Seems like he's doing a half decent job so far.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Ian Crook, has always had the talent to take on the Manager's role at any top flight professional football club. It was interesting to hear Poppa say that in discussions with SFC they never got past a casual meeting (that really surprised me). In the light of that, SFC after failing to secure the services of Arnie had a B plan in Crook all along----for Ian to step up to take on the main job. It now is clear to me Poppa was chasing SFC, but obviously SFC were not interested with his long term contractual demands of a 5yr deal. Ian Crook's pedigree can't be questioned as a successful EPL player----his history with SFC, on and off for the past seven years as Litti's assistant. Also Ian's very good work with the SFC youth team, by unearthing the present top young players of Chianese, Petratos and Antonis. The job is his to lose, not the other way around---he will be a favourite with the Cove---providing he starts off the season well to get that important momentum going for charge up the ladder early..
Savvas Tzionis
Guest
English coaching has had a TERRIBLE record for the past 25 years. Yet, Australia continues to persist in hiring these guys. Even the EPL tries to stay away from them! We truly are still hanging on to the apron strings. Our rejection of the AUSTRALIAN republic in favour of retaining our links to the 'homeland', not to mention no sign at all of getting a new flag.... all this is encapsulated in our anglo centric A league coaching circus. I stress, this would not be a bad thing if English coaches were any good.
MelbCro
Guest
Ian the 4th choice coach, already a dead man walking