Adelaide United’s Josep Gombau has confirmed he is on the shortlist of candidates to coach Japanese club Yokohama F Marinos.
Adelaide’s A-League coach Gombau told News Corp he is aware of being a shortlisted for the role at the J.League club.
“For me it was a surprise last Sunday when The (Adelaide) Advertiser put this news,” Gombau said.
“It’s the first moment that I know something and after that I tried to research and it.
“After I started to try to find what happened exactly and it’s true I am one of the candidates for this position.”
City football group, who are part owners of the Yokohama club, were reportedly impressed with Gombau and the attacking football his Adelaide side played when they defeated Melbourne City 2-1 in round four of the A-League at AAMI Park.
The group features a large contingent of former Barcelona personnel. As a former youth coach at the club, Gombau would have already been known to them.
Adelaide technical director Guillermo Amor is also a Barca legend, having played 311 games for the club and represented Spain 34 times.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
If he can get Adelaide into the ACL and they replicate their domestic form and style on the continental stage then I'd suggest there would be far more than just F. Marinos hunting for his signature. Gombau has little incentive to move at this point in time.
TimO.
Guest
This is what Gombau said in an interview recently: O90: Speculation has recently linked you with a move to Japan, particularly Yokohama F Marinos after they sacked their manager over the weekend, are you aware of their reported interest in you? Gombau: This is something that was a surprise for me, honestly I don’t know anything about this. I saw the news in Japan from the media because I have friends there and they sent me the links to the newspapers. But they have not made contact me, it is just speculation people will speak but the most important thing is that I have a contract with the club [Adelaide United], I have a commitment with the club. I like to start a job and finish a job and not leave the job in the middle of the season. And my challenge now is to do a good job in Adelaide, to try and be at the top, to play good football, to have a good season and after that for sure if you work hard and do the right things there will be opportunities for the club to win. But my mind at the moment is here and I started the job I want to finish it. I have this season and two more in Adelaide and my mind is here, I am not thinking about other things. Source http://outside90.com/exclusive-interview-with-adelaide-united-mastermind-josep-gombau-345/
nordster
Guest
Geez coaches in this league have a rough run. Why would anyone want to work here long term? You have success and then the level playing field mentality works against u...kills your recruitment, cant retain, they lose their best player...a few games in and bam, byeskis....
AZ_RBB
Guest
Fox Sports reporting Mulvey is gooooooooooone. EDIT: News Ltd is the main source at the moment. Not taking this seriously yet.
c
Guest
would be sad to lose him now i would expect he would complete this season at least and see if he can win the main prize
nordster
Guest
Not a good time to be Roos coach if he wants to maintain his burgeoning reputation. Better in japan...succeed there...wait ten years and then they might be worth coaching. :)
bobbym
Guest
Stay in OZ Joe you'll end up Socceroos coach.
nordster
Guest
Wow sounds like a great move. Most would consider it a negative for the league, but actually the fact that a Jleague club as big as Marinos might pick him up would be encouraging for other coaches like Gombau to consider coming here. At least as a stepping stone. The problem for many coaches here is the difficulty in maintaining consistency year in year out. Good teams have a habit of ending up rubbish after they peak.... He'd be wise to leave now before the inevitable HAL slippery slide...the level playing field effect, in part;) ....cumulativeness aint easy, harder than pimpin even....