Seven years is a long time in football. Back in 2006, Ange Postecoglou was held up as the face of Australian footballing failure and hung out to dry on national television.
Today, he appears destined to become the next Socceroos coach and the man tasked with rescuing the senior national team from near-oblivion.
Unless this is all some sort of convoluted Jedi mind trick from Frank Lowy to try and get Guus Hiddink to knock a couple of zeroes off his asking price, Postecoglou will shortly receive an enticing offer to clean up Holger Oseick’s mess.
Not that all of this is Osieck’s fault. It’s been coming, of course.
The finger of blame hasn’t missed anyone – it’s been pointed at the coaching staff, the old players, the young players, their agents, Lowy, the national curriculum, the NSW Labor Party, Miley Cyrus, Tinder, and the proliferation of leather jogging pants.
Australian football’s favourite pastime, aside from football, is tearing itself apart, so this cycle of arguments and agendas and innuendo could theoretically continue forever. Eventually, though, someone has to come in and sort it out.
Postecoglou has always been the frontrunner in the three-horse race for the vacant Socceroos job, and rightly so.
This is a job, and these are circumstances almost tailor-made for him.
Seven years on from his failure as Young Socceroos coach and public bollocking from Craig Foster because we shouldn’t be losing to China at any level, Postecoglou is everything Australia needs right now.
First, he’s Australian, which – for better or worse – seems to matter to people. He’s media savvy. He’s brave, passionate, calculated and intelligent. And perhaps most importantly, he’s anything but gun shy.
He won’t need to handle a gun in the Socceroos job, but he will need to handle a broom, and take it to a manifestly dysfunctional dressing room, pronto.
In his latest weekly column for The Age, which is good as any you will find on the domestic game, Postecoglou sums up all the greed and short-termism: “What has happened over the past six or seven years is that self-interest, self-preservation and survival mechanisms have ensured that we no longer see ourselves as true Australian sportsmen.”
You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who’s covered themselves in glory since Australia’s double bagel, perhaps aside from Mark Bresciano, who was the first to emerge from the rubble and bravely copped what was coming on the chin.
Then Lucas Neill painted a target on his forehead by claiming Australia’s biggest problem was that the new kids weren’t passionate enough, which is exactly the kind of constructive criticism you want to hear from your captain.
Neill came in for some huge whacks in the press, but none was as brutal as Fox Sports’ decision to examine his role in each of the 12 goals Australia conceded against Brazil and France. The truth shocked nobody.
Of course, it turns out Neill wasn’t trying to drive a wedge between the old and new players – he was merely trying to fire everyone up, he said after the Socceroos defeated Canada 3-0 this week.
“To react in the way we have, it was just what we wanted. We have got some confidence back and now we can build on it,” said Neill, as if Australia had just convincingly beaten a proper football team instead of, you know, Canada.
But the strongest sign of the newfound siege mentality of the golden generation was from Archie Thompson, who all but tweeted that if you weren’t a professional footballer at one time in your life, your opinion about the Socceroos’ plight is invalid.
A familiar line of argument from athletes at a time of crisis. “My JILA MINTS had an opinion,” he tweeted, as if he was trying to beat Kanye West at his own game.
Like Neill, he backtracked. But he had said enough already about the state of things.
Postecoglou’s first job at Brisbane, if you cast your mind back to the heady days of 2009, was to dismantle and destroy a rotten boys club mentality that was holding the Roar back.
He was not afraid to confront and then show the door to the likes of Craig Moore, Danny Tiatto and Bob Malcolm, which – given their personalities and tendencies at the time – would have been far easier said than done.
Then he set the standard of behaviour and performances he expected from his players, and quickly, the Brisbane shirt became the most feared in the country.
Roarcelona’s interpretation of tiki-taka wouldn’t have been possible without Postecoglou’s man management skills.
There is a risk we’re simply shifting the subject of our Messiah complex onto a more familiar face.
Granted, it’s a lot easier to do all that in the club game than in international football, but Postecoglou has such an aura about him that precious few doubt if he could do this job adequately.
He has shown numerous times of the past seven years that he is studious and passionate enough to discover the root causes of his own personal shortcomings and fix them.
It would be a terrible shame if he leaves Melbourne Victory after setting everything up for an all-guns assault on the A-League. He will also be a nightmare to replace – he’s almost a club demigod.
I actually wrote back in February that Postecoglou shouldn’t be Australia’s next coach because he’s worth more to the game if he keeps lifting the bar for club football.
But then again, I also wrote in June that the win over Iraq that got the Socceroos into the World Cup was a “career-saving victory” for Osieck, and ended the article by saying: “Holger, you did it. Bravo.” Maybe Archie was onto something.
Postecoglou doesn’t need the job any more than he needs another wide attacking option at Melbourne Victory. It’s Australia that needs him, and though it will leave his club in disarray, the situation is so dire he can’t possibly say no to his country.
The timing isn’t great, but rarely in life is it ever.
There was initial reluctance for an Australian coach after Osieck’s sacking, principally so the A-League is not disturbed. But the more skeletons that came out of the national team closet, the more a coach with the skill set of Postecoglou seemed the only sensible option.
“I’m driven by one thing, I want to grow the game in this country, that’s all I’m interested in. So wherever I’m best placed to do that, I’ll do it,” he said this week.
With respect to Graham Arnold and Tony Popovic, and to Holger and Pim, that’s the kind of chat we’ve been wanting to hear from our Socceroos coach all along. And even better, it’s coming from a guy who can back it up.
Can he handle the pressure? Try telling him he can’t.
eric
Guest
I agree with Fozz on this one.We should try to get the best coach, Aussie or not.
Vince Rugari
Expert
OK. Pass the dutchy please.
bribieboy
Guest
Cameron, If you don't follow soccer ( er Football ) then I can't see how you can say AP must be appointed. I think this is the job of the FFA.As for giving a coach a long term contract whoever gets picked is unacceptable If they are not showing improvement in the team after a fair period then they too need replacing. I don't mean winning every game or comparing them to the 2006 side. Lets hope we all get behind whoever gets the job and take a bit of pressure off him
Qantas Supports Australian Football
Guest
RF----there is a fine line between someone who is trying to be arrogant but is just a phoney. In your case we both know which side of the line you reside...
The truth
Guest
Ange Postecoglou is not the man for the Australia job, tony Popovic is! If Ange Postecoglou is given the soccer roos job he will never coach again after the world cup. Melbourne have barely scrapped through finals campaigns with lucky ref calls in the past 24 months, sorry not to happen for him in world cup. Hope you Aussies don't get that over rated coach otherwise expect bottom place in group stage. From a Liverpool supporter.
Arto
Guest
@ Midfielder: I like your initiative in selecting a squad, although my team would be quite different! ;-) Starting XI: (@ the moment, not necessarily in June 2014!) (1-4-3-1-2 Ryan, McGowan, Williams, Beauchamp, Davidson, Holland, Milligan, Cahill, Rogic, Kruse, Kennedy Bench of 12: Langerak, Galekovic, Sainsbury, Spiranovic, Zullo, Bresciano, Carle, Vidosic, Garcia, Oar, Leckie, Duke, The only caveat I have is that without knowing necessarily who the culturally 'bad apples' are, it's a bit risky axing players based upon association! Thus, a couple of players who could be good to have in the squad have been excluded, eg: Schwarzer, Thwaite, North, McKay, Jedinak, Rukavytsya, Brosque.
Arto
Guest
@ mahonjt: I don't agree with your (or others') opinon that Hiddink is a 'sugar hit' - yes, it's a short-term solution as we couldn't expect him to stay around until the following WC, but if combined with proper planning (ie: appoint his successor now as well, use the time between now & the AC in 15mths time to work out a strategy in terms of how to achieve respectable results in the 2 major tournaments coming up AND which new players will be brought into the next WCQs) it has the potential to more likely be a 'detox cure'. If Hiddink/Bielsa, etc. has for example Postecoglu/Arnold/Popovic as an assistant then it would help the integration of new players as well as provide new ideas for them to test out in their A-League positions for the next 2 seasons. It would also remove the more toxic elements of the side now as well as keep those from the previous squads who do remain on their toes. It's not necessarily about the age of the players or the nationality of the coach - it's about their ability to contribute well to the NT (eg: if Schwarzer is still playing well by the end of the this EPL season, he should be going to Brazil. If a foreign supercoach like Hiddink/Bielsa/Lippi/Ferguson, etc. is available for a brief stint and can inspire our players to their maximum potential then choose them). NT coaches need to be better at man management and reading a game situation rather than coaching the players - the time the squad is together means that coaching is limited and it's more about the players being at their peak then and there.
Arto
Guest
I agree that it looks like he's going to be the next NT (if MV don't act unreasonably)... He's not my 1st choice for now, as it smacks of a knee-jerk reaction and I'd rather another foreign coach (this time of top quality - why not Hiddink again?) with an Aussie assistant who WILL be the successor (that should be a deal that's tied up NOW!) after the Asian Cup. I too though am optimistic that a changing of the personnel would make for a better showing and better results will help our future qualification processes. But let's be realistic and whilst I'm a firm believer in going out onto the pitch with the BELIEF that you can win otherwise don't play, we're not going to be playing in the Maracana on July 13 next year! Postecoglu could conceivably change 1/2 the starting XI (Bresciano, Cahill, Kruse, Milligan, and Schwarzer would probably be safe, as well as most likely having Holland, Jedinak, Kennedy, Langerak, McKay, Oar, Rogic, & Thompson in the squad) for the next friendly, if not 1/2 the squad and this would automatically provide a wave of optimism. The critical aspect of his changes would be whether they are based upon a problem with the culture of the squad or would they be for other reasons (eg: regeneration of team. change in tactics, simple change in coach's opinion of player abilities, etc.)?
Arto
Guest
Just watched that interview again, and to be honest I have to change my opinon on his performance there to standing up pretty well in the end. A lot fo what Fozz says is quite sensationalistic actually - jumping in and interupting, refusing to acknowledge Ange's responses, not even bothering to turn up to see the matches, not realising that Laos were disqualified in another youth tournament for fielding over-aged players, etc. Now I'm actually a fan of Fozz and for a long time have felt that Ange was terrible when in charge of our junior teams, but I think in that interview Fozz got it wrong. So hopefully seeing the go head-to-head would be more professional!
Tom Jones
Guest
Why? With you here dribbling makes it a lot of fun.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
And THAT's why Ange is the man for the AUS NT job. What belief he instilled in this MVFC team. The lads could have gone into their shell after 3 shocking referee decisions, but Ange has instilled belief - just as he did at Brisbane. The boys know, if they follow the plan, they'll eventually break the opposition. Could easily have scored half a dozen goals in the 2nd half - got behind AUFC's defence as we pleased. Hate to see him go, but Ange is our man for the AUS job.
fadida
Guest
O'Neill's best days are long behind him. Sacked at Sunderland having failed to inspire, did ok at Villa, won a 2 horse race in Scotland, great work at Leicester (15 years ago). British football club management certainly doesn't translate internationally where controlled possession is the key
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Agree a campaign of total failure is unacceptable, but that is what they have set themselves up for And you are wrong Bear, the rot should have stopped years ago...........not now when the horse has well and truly bolted...
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
****************************** yawns ******************************8 you still sniping Tom, might be time for you to get a life away from the net :)
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
We must be talking of a different O'Neill Andy, for he has proven every where that he has plenty of nouse. Just ask any Leicester, Celtic or Villa fans, and they will tell you. And I am a lifelong Villa fan, Season ticket holder since the 1960's, what stunt are you referring too??????????? If you are referring to him walking out on the Club on the eve of the new Season a few years back because lerner would not pull the moths out of his bulging wallet to make our top 6 finishes into top 4 , and Champions League...Well us Holte enders ended understood him walking Especially when Lerner green lighted in selling Milner
Punter
Guest
I would have to agree, Ange talks the talk & backs it up with results. Is this good enough for Int'l football, well only time will tell. He will not be afraid to give it a go.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Gallop's statement on the process http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/statement-from-david-gallop-regarding-socceroos/77358
The Bear
Guest
+
The Bear
Guest
good call...AND that's why we need an Aussie coach right now...one that hasn't become too cool for school, that is!
Griffo
Roar Guru
Reading between the lines of what Lowy has said in the press and it seemed the next Roos coach would be who ever could be released from their club first out of the three amigos... Whether Ange is the preference, or MV is playing ball a bit too hard and FFA are now opening a second interview line, remains to be seen.