Alessandro Del Piero is irreplaceable, Graham Arnold says, but the new Sydney FC coach has vowed to bring a similarly good player to the A-League club.
Arnold on Thursday was unveiled as Sydney’s eighth coach in nine seasons, with the former Central Coast mentor saying his three-year deal was a “dream come true”.
The former Socceroos’ coach replaces Frank Farina, who was sacked barely two weeks ago after failing to get the club beyond the opening week of the A-League finals.
Arnold prided himself on winning the championship and minor premiership during his three seasons at the cash-strapped Mariners without a big-name marquee player.
He now says he’s excited to be at a club where he will have a chequebook at his disposal.
He’ll look to fill the foreign and Australian marquee spots with Del Piero and Brett Emerton’s departures leaving both vacant.
The likes of Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Diego Forlan have been thrown up as possible targets.
“I wouldn’t say I was never a fan of marquees. I just worked at a club that could never afford to have a marquee,” he said.
“But if you look at what Alessandro Del Piero did for this league and for this club, it’s massive.
“We have to take our time to get the right ones who can have an impact like Alessandro did.
“We’ll never match that type of player with our next marquee in status but we have to try and match that in performance.”
Arnold, who had been in talks with several clubs including Newcastle since recently parting ways with his Japanese side, had rejected a lucrative offer from the Sky Blues in 2012 but said now the timing and the terms were right.
The opportunity to have complete control in rebuilding the side, the resources he would have and the addition of FFA technical director Han Berger to the board, he said, made it “an easy decision”.
Arnold will have to decide the fate of the likes of Richard Garcia, Milos Dimitrijevic, Matt Jurman, Joel Chianese and Matt Thompson who are among eight players coming off contract.
Chief executive Tony Pignata confirmed Mariners young gun Bernie Ibini, who is on loan from his Chinese outfit, had been approached as a target.
Chairman Scott Barlow acknowledged the club’s incredibly high turnover in coaches but said they were committed to a long-term plan with Arnold.
He said Arnold, who had taken the Mariners to the Asian Champions League, had been set the same lofty expectation with Sydney, which would require a top-two finish or a championship.
“We want to be competing in Asia regularly and, clearly, that requires us to have domestic success,” Barlow said.
“Having said that, patience is key.”
A lack of identity is often thrown up as a reason for Sydney’s lack of success in recent seasons.
Arnold, intent on bringing an exciting, attacking brand of football to the club, said Sydney had to move on from its ‘Bling FC’ tag.
“Now the identity has to be that we are the biggest football club in this country,” he said.
“We have to believe that – we have to show that … and the only way of doing that is getting success on the pitch.
“It will be made clear to the players that I haven’t come here to be happy with mediocrity. I’ve come here to achieve success.”
Frank Bellissimo
Guest
Arnie has many options to play with. Start fresh with strong local and overseas marquees using some decent money at his disposal. He admitted he wanted someone like Alessandro Del Piero. Clearly there wasn't the meeting of minds with ADP and Sydney's board in April. But after ADP has left looking for a club- and to date he hasn't found one- it could create an opportunity for Arnie to pick up the phone and speak with ADP directly to discuss a place in the squad- albeit a more limited situation than this year. ADP will still be the best player in terms of the biggest CV to ever grace our shores and we can regain the momentum with class in our team, along with a greatly revamped Sydney FC. If that's not going to happen, I can only hope that Arnie is as good at setting up a team on a king's ransom as he was settling up a team with no money at CCM. I wish Arnie the best of success to get Sydney FC back on the map again.
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
Funny how you know that chant.
AGO74
Guest
It's a big step up from State League to A-League. If he's serious about A-League he should seek an Assistant Coach position (Milicic is leaving WSW....). Otherwise, stick to State League and cushy Foxtel job......not a bad way to earn a living.
JonJax
Guest
Griffo :"If the club in general aims for a good third season, anything in the first two may be a bonus ". That's the sort of thinking that brought on the demise of the hapless Frank Farina.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Rudan would be a lot cheaper than Arnold :) But its a bigger risk - its like having a dollar on the 200/1 outsider, instead of $1million on the 4/5 favourite. No guarantee of success either way, but a much bigger risk. Rudan is a good leader and did a fantastic job at his first attempt with Sydney United, but I think it will be a long time before anyone gives him an A-League head coach job, unless Sydney United buy an A-League franchise. :)
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Its just a loan spell in the US to keep him fit till pre-season starts, but I wouldn't be bothered if he didn't come back. There are a number of ex-Socceroos who have returned to the A-League, but just continue to disappoint. You'd think they would be superstars in our minor A-League.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Angela, do we have to keep reminding you that it is not a "minor" Premiership. Its THE PREMIERSHIP and you get a nice big trophy for finishing first at the end of the season. The A-League Premiership Plate. Why do you keep making the same dumb mistake. You are a "minor" sports journalist.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Rudan wasn't even on the Jets radar. Not that that is saying much perhaps, but if Sydney is a 'big' club, they should be aiming high(er)... Arnold is a good appointment for Sydney FC. He is going to help them out more than just on the park, if the club is willing to listen and learn.
The artist formally known as Dave
Guest
I'm also interested to hear why the BBM is so popular. (There's plenty of SFC members on the Cove website who wanted him also). I've never watched his Sydney Utd team play so I have no knowledge other than they won it last year. Do they play fantastic football?
fadida
Guest
Rudan - zero A- League experience Arnold - 3 consecutive top 2 finishes plus a championship. But you'd choose "the Big Blue man", based on?
RBBAnonymous
Guest
They should have hired the big blue man, Mark Rudan. Still its not a bad appointment. I know Arnold will get them going in the right direction. They should make the top 6 next year quite easily. I wish SFC the worst of luck next year :))
Griffo
Roar Guru
He now says he’s excited to be at a club where he will have a chequebook at his disposal. That, along with total control, was the key part of the carrot for Arnold I think. If the club in general aims for a good third season, anything in the first two may be a bonus ;-)
Griffo
Roar Guru
I dunno bill, I just glanced right past it. Not the first time either... Maybe growing up playing football with 'minor' premiers, semi's and grand finals just makes me immune. I refer to the A-League Premieres/Premiership and Champions/Championship, but is Angela edited or multi-sport? It'll take time I think, but they will all get there in the end...
AZ_RBB
Guest
He might be back for a bit of next season.
MattQ
Guest
i thought Garcia had already fobbed off to the USA?
Franko
Guest
“We have to take our time to get the right ones who can have an impact like Alessandro did. “We’ll never match that type of player with our next marquee in status but we have to try and match that in performance.” I think every club in the country would like a player matching AFPs output on the pitch. He ran at a goal every other game and had a bucket load of assists. Good luck GA
bill boomer
Guest
Got as far as "minor" but won't read any further. Ignorance i can do without.