The man who mentored English Premier League superstars Vincent Kompany and Eden Hazard will be responsible for helping unearth Australia’s next crop of soccer stars.
The noted Belgian youth coach was on Wednesday appointed Football Federation Australia’s new technical director, replacing Dutchman Han Berger.
Abrams played a key role in developing many of Belgium’s current ‘golden generation’ during his 11-year tenure in the youth system.
In that time he guided the likes of Manchester City captain Kompany, Chelsea star Hazard, Everton striker Romulu Lukaku and Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen – all of whom featured in this year’s World Cup.
Abrams said he wasn’t out to “make a copy” of his Belgian team in his new role but would prioritise talent scouting to grow Australia’s next generation of elite players.
“If we want to progress our football for the future … we need to instil a very good talent identification system,” he said.
“And (then) to give all the chances to these talented players.
“Then I think there will be a solution for the future of Australian football.”
His arrival and Berger’s departure marks the end of a Dutch-inspired era at the FFA.
During Berger’s tenure, Pim Verbeek coached the Socceroos, Jan Versleijen was Australia’s national youth coach and Hesterine De Reus presided over the Maltidas.
Berger was preceded by another Dutchman in Rob Baan, a former Holland assistant coach who was in charge when countryman Guus Hiddink led Australia to the 2006 World Cup.
Abrams will work under a new FFA structure, with Luke Casserly appointed head of national performance.
He will head the elite pathway and youth development structures, assist with coach education and guide programs for players up to the age of 16.
Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou will oversee all underage and senior national men’s teams, while newly-appointed Matildas coach Alen Stajcic will head up the women’s equivalents.
Abrams said he had only spoken to Postecoglou briefly but appreciated his low key style.
“He’s low profile. He’s a team player,” he said.
“That’s what I’ve until now discovered with Ange.”
Abrams will start work once his Australian visa requirements have been finalised.
Griffo
Roar Guru
I'd certainly like to know the decisions that went for Abrams over other candidates such as Jozak. I hope it wasn't a case of "Hey, you're from Belgium! We've been hearing a lot about them. Welcome aboard!". We've moved on from that line of thinking but much of his nationality and credentials were made in light of the youth development focus the TD role has become. Now the decision has been made, more power to Abrams to super charge the youth development and talent scouting.
Aljay
Guest
History lessons aside, it's fantastic to have someone so integral to Belgiums recent player boom however it does seems that he is much more of a coach than a TD. From his resume I can't particularly see where he would have developed other coaches as opposed to players. If he is primarily working with centralised youth squads then I can see this working out, but I thought the TD was due to roll out training to hordes of coaches across the country. Anyway, on the surface it's great news.
Aljay
Guest
Yep, like he didn't just look that up online before he posted it.
Evan Askew
Guest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19fcN3VaXs4
The Minister
Guest
U da history buff? Who knew! ;-)
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Belgium was a artificial creation put up by Britain at the Congress of Vienna after Napoleon was defeated for the second time at Waterloo-the constant tension between the Walloons and the Flemish was ignored for political expediency -Belgium was designed to create a buffer between France and Britain but then became a buffer between France and Germany -no wonder no one has strong feelings about it -apart from when King Albert of Belgium created his own " Congo Free State "-in which he perpetrated atrocities on the indigenous population in the name of commercial profit -then a lot of right -thinking people had very strong feelings about it !
The Minister
Guest
You've put way to much effort into this Kasey. But I commend you for it. I was being facetious. I come from Europe. I know Belgium very well. It's just not a country that excites me much. Crap food,overrated beer, sad weather, Squabbles between walloons and flemish, and a healthy post-colonial power instilled sense of arrogance. Apart from that, they'll always have Tin Tin though... ;-)
Kasey
Guest
Off the top of my head: famous Belgians: The Adventures of Tin-tin – comic book character Jean Claude vanDamme – Martial Arts Movie star Hercule Poirot - famous fictional detective Eden Hazard - footballer Dr. Evil - fictional Evil 'genius' Auidrey Hepburn - Famous Actress Gotye -musician born in Belgium, grew up in Melbourne Famous things in, near, or of Belgium Chocolate Trappist Monastery Beer Waffles The Smurfs French Fries (pommes frites) NATO HQ Spa Francorchamps F1 racing circuit
Kasey
Guest
^ this pretty much. For us fans its once again a case of I hope those paid to know about these things have made the right choice
The Minister
Guest
When i think of Belgium I think of................gimme a minute.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I'd be surprised if any fan has deep knowledge of Eric Abrams credentials & achievements; strengths & weaknesses. So all we can hope is that the decision-makers at the FFA know what they're doing. Welcome aboard, Eric.
Albert Ross
Guest
>>Belgium just seems to be a country that doesn’t seem to create many strong feelings in other nations in the world Given the historical tensions between themselves it's just as well that the rest of the world has relatively benevolent feelings towards them.
Kasey
Guest
My Opa used to call Belgium "Germany's speed bump" (on the path to France.) but as a Belgian Abrams should avoid the very sad racist slurs that the Dutchman Baan had to put up with regarding Lowy's Orange Mafia. Belgium just seems to be a country that doesn't seem to create many strong feelings in other nations in the world. I think this could be a very good appointment. He should have a bit of good ore to work withNow that the A-League is 10 years old, I wonder have we passed the barren patch in player development that was created by the death of the NSL?
Franko
Guest
Great, all we need now is some colonies in Africa to pillage and we are half way there ;) Facetious jokes aside, it is a good appointment. Interesting that Han stays in the country with SFC. “Abrams will start work once his Australian visa requirements have been finalised.” – Assume he is living here full-time then…?