It’s 18 months until Frank Lowy steps down as FFA Chairman, but already the heat is on his eventual successor.
Under Lowy’s supervision, the Socceroos have qualified for three consecutive World Cup finals, and the 83-year-old says missing out on football’s biggest stage from now on would be unacceptable.
Lowy said at a fan gala event in Sydney on Thursday that he was reluctant to set criteria for new coach Ange Postecoglou to meet in Brazil next month – making it clear he wanted to leave coaching to the coach and playing to the players.
But according to Lowy, one thing that is unquestionably the responsibility of the chairman, is the overriding task of ensuring Australia qualifies for the World Cup every four years.
“I would have not believed it but this is the reality – we are here for a third time,” Lowy said.
“Part of the job of whoever is running the FFA is to be here every four years. This is a big condition to our success.”
Lowy will step down from the post he’s held since 2003 by late next year and he’s certainly set the bar high for the next chairman.
Should the Socceroos slip, it’s the boss upstairs who will be ultimately held accountable – with World Cup qualification having a major flow-on effect on the success of the A-League and the popularity of the game in Australia.
Australia would appear to be on a hiding to nothing in Brazil against the might of Spain, the Netherlands and Chile in their pool.
But if acute businessman Lowy knows one thing about sport, it’s that’s: “Life is not about paper. Life is about action and that’s what I’m looking for.”
And it’s Postecoglou’s drive and authority that have Lowy confident he’s found the right man to lead the Socceroos, even if reaching the second stage in Brazil proves a bridge too far.
“We will be very pleased with how he does… I’m sure he’ll do a great job for Australia over time,” Lowy said.
“He knows the game, knows where he wants to be. He’s direct, he doesn’t muck around and he’s his own man and we want a coach like that. We should be proud he’s an Aussie.”
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