Ange Postecoglou will lead the Socceroos to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil next year after being named as the new head coach of the team.
And while Brazil might be still eight months away on the calendar, Postecoglou’s appointment seemingly could not come soon enough for Australian football — taking the attention off the wounds inflicted on the Socceroos with back to back 6-0 defeats — and giving the fans something to look forward to again.
With experience coaching Australia at a junior level (and achieving remarkably good success given the players available to him at the time), Postecoglou will not tolerate the lackadaisical performances seen from certain players over the past few months.
He will demand peak fitness, ultimate commitment, and will begin to level the playing field between the Socceroos and the rest of the world once more.
The former Victory coach will look to the A-League to get the next wave of Australian football heroes rather than sticking with the same players for minimal success — something that many were crying out for under Holger Osieck.
Tactically speaking, he’ll bring a much more positive style of play to that seen in the managers before him. His possession-based style will help the Socceroos play the ball well out of their own half and sustain pressure on their opponents at the other end. His knowledge and insight of the game will ensure that there’s no gaping hole or overarching weakness for opposing attackers to exploit.
Postecoglou will — both in the short-term and the long-term — start to bring Australian football out of the slump that it’s in right now.
He’ll give it life. He’ll give it passion, and inspire us to do the same.
Balancing the needs of this World Cup and World Cups to come will no doubt prove to be the biggest battle he’ll face in the next 12 months, but Postecoglou isn’t naive about the task that’s ahead of him. “We are preparing for a World Cup next year and an Asian Cup on home soil,” he said in his first statement as coach, “but we must keep one eye on the next World Cup cycle.”
“There is a need to balance a long term strategy with short term goals.” (Insert rejoicing.)
Whether Postecoglou actually turns out to be the knight in shining armour that many (certainly including myself) will paint him out to be in the coming days still remains to be seen. Brazil is—on the calendar, anyway—still a long way away and there’s a lot that has to be done between now and then before any talk of “success at the World Cup” should start taking place.
But for now, just a few hours into the job, Postecoglou is there. He’s passionate and committed and seemingly ready to take the steps needed to give Socceroos’ fans something to cheer about at the World Cup next year.
All of which is more than can be said about that other bloke.
Adrian
Guest
Ange failed two attempts to qualify Australia at youth level, dont know what he will do at Interational level, remember coaching Melbourn Victory to coaching agains the world's best, could be a bridge too far for Ange, plus how can you say a coach will bring success,players are a major component to it and your players are not good enough then wha can you do. Besides Ange is no Mourinho, cant understand all the excitment ringing about.
mahonjt
Guest
Wow. That is some excellent analysis you have going there. More please.
pbedo
Guest
Foz, Amateur?! He's getting paid isn't he? That usually spells professional
Clayts
Guest
....And A League players all around the country rush to check their levels of income protection insurance at the news that Keven Muscat is now the head coach of the 'biggest football club' in Australia. Good for socceroos potentially, HUGE step backwards for the A league. Adrian Zahra having nightmares
Stevo
Guest
True. Professional coach VS Amateur football pundit ;)
Jukes
Guest
I am all for this appointment. I think Ange is the sort of person who will get the best out of the players and demand that they play his style of football. I have no doubt that he will bring in the sort of changes we have all been crying out for. I look forward to Australia playing a more positive and adventurous style of football. He has a good understanding of all the players available and what the current needs of the national team are. Like everyone else here I am just dying to find out who will make the starting XI of his first match, more importantly for me will be who doesn't make it.
fadida
Guest
Cahill remains a very effective player, and one who had always made himself available for the NT. He deserves a spot in the squad. It will be very interesting to see who he's identified as his "type" of player. Definitely the end for Og, Carney, the Corndog, Brosque.
Johnno
Guest
Ange VS Foz round 2
The Bear
Guest
I've thought hard on this for some years, too.
Alex
Guest
No need for the link Johnno I'm well informed. Surely if you'd watched the interview yourself you would've been even slightly impressed by the fact that he stood firm throughout the interview. I agreed with Foz entirely, Australia shouldn't be losing to Laos in football. But look at what he's done since then, he transformed Brisbane into the best team in the comp (not anymore, but i digress) and he improved Victory out of sight. You can't ignore what he's done recently with youth and point out what he did six years ago, maybe he didnt know something then that he knows now.
Stevo
Guest
The excellent thing now is that not only is the coach of decent quality, has a proven track record of winning silverware, is from Oz and gives a toss about what he is creating for the future, but he will create a buzz that will keep the media and amateur football pundits salivating and churning out articles for the next few years. Also boost Ange's retirement fund :)
Johnno
Guest
Really Alex did you see Ange 2007 Aust youth team record, Foz ripped into him on national TV saying he should be sacked, they had a massive argument while Les was playing the diplomat, he had an awful record failing to get Aust to World youth cup 2007, and was almost sacked after that interview. http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/04/06/foster-v-postecoglou-six-years-on/
Alex
Guest
I wasn't disputing that, at no point did I say he was. However, he has a track record for bringing in youth and state players and making them half decent, as a Sydney fan I point hesitantly to Andrew Nabbout last year...
Johnno
Guest
Well my point is there a better coaches on the World market, than Ange we all know it.
Alex
Guest
I rest my case
Johnno
Guest
Wow didn't know that I looked up his facts he did only 59, sad news indeed.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"Sorry but give me ... Bruno Metso" Oh dear.. Bruno Metsu sadly lost his battle with cancer & passed away last week.
Johnno
Guest
Save his country turn it up, please. So "the World game" doesn't have any better coaches on the market than Ange, and more suitabily qualfied the soccer's. Please. Sorry but give me Hiddink any day of the week over Ange, or a Paul Le Guern standard coach or Bruno Metso. But know we should always put a local first, shouldn't we, NOT.
Phil
Guest
Congratulate\ions on the appointment Ange and all the best.
pbedo
Guest
Fifa should rule that all national teams be coached by a national of the same country.