It was as unceremonious as you’d expect a sacking to be – John Aloisi fired from Melbourne Heart in December 2013 after a 17-game winless run.
As then-chairman Peter Sidwell said: “We’ve all got blood on our hands”.
The blame certainly didn’t fall solely on Aloisi’s shoulders, but it provided an unwanted blemish on a burgeoning coaching career.
Just over a year later, it’s a trip across town – via the popular small screen route – for the former Socceroo, who has been announced as a development coach at Melbourne Victory.
It’s the club’s latest shrewd appointment as they ramp up their emphasis on youth development.
Alongside youth head coach Darren Davies, Aloisi will be tasked with overseeing Victory’s National Youth League and National Premier Leagues sides.
Victory enters the Victoria NPL 1 East for the first time this season, entering a senior team – likely comprised a majority of the current NYL team – and an Under-20s side – which will be used to nurture younger players and create a production line of future A-League prospects.
It’s a production line that we’ve been craving for a number of years and something that will hopefully bear fruit in the next four to five seasons.
Melbourne City also enter the NPL system in 2015, with a senior and Under-20s team in the Victoria NPL 1 West. The two Melbourne sides join Brisbane, Perth, Newcastle and Central Coast, who have established themselves in their respective NPL competitions.
Aloisi will play a key role in mentoring Victory’s latest crop and his influence can’t be underestimated. His football knowledge, coupled with career experiences many of his players dream of, will allow the 39-year-old to offer knowledge that few other coaches can provide.
Having finished his career with Mariners, Sydney FC and Heart, as well as coaching Heart’s NYL team, Aloisi seems a perfect fit for Victory.
And the development element of his new gig will be pivotal in assisting Victory coach Kevin Muscat.
“His appointment is another step towards the development of our own football academy and we’re delighted to welcome him as part of the Melbourne Victory family,” Muscat said.
“John will work solely with our kids, educating the 40 to 45 players aged between 15 and 19 who will form our National Premier League teams.
“Ultimately, we want these kids to be taught ‘the Victory way’ and progress to play senior football for the club.”
Aloisi will become a key component of what is a league-wide push to establish professional academies that enable greater player quality and retention.
It’s a move the Mariners took a couple of years ago – although their setup has since been tarnished – and one that both Sydney teams are determined to adopt in the near future.
The 2015 NPL season will be the first real test of Victory’s youth ambitions. Their campaign begins against Dandenong City on March 7.
Matthew
Guest
This has nothing to do with coaching and everything to do with jobs for the golden generation.
magila cutty
Guest
"2005 heroics" this bloke was not the hero of the day as all he did was what is expected in slotting a pen. The real hero was Schwartzer who made two saves. It was Mark who put us through but whenever 2005 comes up it's all aloisi aloisi aloisi. It's high time this was recognised and past time for this journeyman to stop dining out on the achievements of others.
Horto Magiko
Guest
Hey fuss I got moderated telling you to not retire and that we needed someone here to keep the "people born out of wedlock" honest haha I also made a joke about you being MIA due to you smoking Cubans on the riviera with some love starved groupies - maybe that might've gotten me moderated also ;) anyway the trolls are at bay good sir. It's time again to fight the good fight!
langou
Roar Guru
He'll be back. Just having a bit of a sook at the moment but all it will take is one "ant sokkah" comment and he wont be able to help himself.
punter
Guest
Come back Fuss, I know MV has seen better days but that is how the cookie crumbles.
Justin Mahon
Guest
Good to hear from you Fus!
Justin Mahon
Guest
Everything old is new again eh JB? I work in education policy and research and follow curriculum development (in a range on contexts) all around the world. I can tell you, when I read the FFA's National Curriculum (even the early version) the underpinning research was very clear to me. As you know from your experience, HAVING and DELIVERING a curriculum are vastly different things though. The hard work starts now - but at least it is starting.
Midfielder
Guest
Brilliant just brilliant
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xos2MnVxe-c :D
Midfielder
Guest
Fuss Thanks for the reply, suggest you re think your non posting decision... I have been on this site almost from the day it started and have seen it grow to the point where channel 10 invested in it and its influence has grown and it still is the only general site to provide Football with similar exposure to the main codes... Interestingly it has taught me about the sporting culture of a number of sports especially Melbourne and the Herald Sun stir and code war does come through the posts.. In the early days the Football tab was dominated by about 4 or 5 AFL posters .. slowly they left as will others who seem to wanta to put down Football... We both know a number of Football sites however this site is read by the media and for that I have stuck with it ... Hope you reconsider ... but if not good luck in what ever endeavours you have undertaken...
punter
Guest
Aladdin you say jail I say gaol. Eye of the beholder
j binnie
Guest
Justin = How right you are.The year is 1974 and I ,with around 60 others, attended the first "live-in" coaching course held in Queensland.At that course it was spelled out that kids under 10 should be given "games" set up in such a way that they,the kids, were getting a kick at the ball,or even better scoring "a goal". (small sided in condensed area) It was also pointed out that between 10 and 14 the emphasis should be moved slowly away from the "fun aspect" to the more serious task of teaching and ensuring emphasis on "skills learning". (4 years, a normal educational course) After 14 it was explained that "kids' were psychologicaly changing and were more open to learning tactical changes in their minds for findingout that they were actually playing in a team environment and another 10 "mates' had to be considered. To the best of my knowledge these are the same guidelines around which our "curriculum" is built. Now I refer you back to the year,---1974---,Wenger was 25, and playing football with some nondescript team in France,Holland had only began to emerge as a "world power" (albeit somewhat briefly) by playing in their first World Cup Final,losing 0-1 to Germany. So we must again return to my first coaching course in 1974. Where did all the educational knowledge that I have described come from????? It may surprise you to know that most of it is based on a physiological and psychological investigation into junior sport done by a university in -------England. We live in a strange environment do we not where the truth can be bent easily to suit whatever cause is being espoused???. Cheers jb
Justin Mahin
Guest
Have you seen how many of our 1st team players come from the NYL environment? More than any other club than possible the Marriners. We have a long way to go and will likely nail this better than anyone when we do. However, it has to be built patiently. The Marriners COE is already looking shaky by some reports.
Justin Mahin
Guest
He did, but only because pedagogical experts figured it out years earlier. Importantly the FFA built its entire national curriculum around this and was right to be so influenced by Dutch thinking in this respect. The dots are starting to be joined. Patience will pay off. Our code is like no other. This cannot be rushed. A-League clubs will get there, but first there must be a A-League.
Justin Mahin
Guest
He got his UEFA Pro licence years ago from memory.
RIP_Enke
Guest
You need an FFA A licence to coach a HAL team, so he would have that, but there are specific youth badges you can do, I would take a punt and say he hasn't done any.
AZ_RBB
Guest
He's alive!!!!!!!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Middy, I'm fine - thanks for the concern! I still visit this website, but will not be getting involved with any discussions any more. Too many football illiterates now hijack every discussion. i had to chuckle when they all went very quiet as the lads smashed their way to become Champions of Asia - I guess the egg dripping off their faces made them choke on their Humble Pies. All those who predicted the Cup would be a flop (Terry, AR, Mister Football, etc. etc.) were exposed for their ignorance of football issues in AUS. Best of luck with CCM ... We - and only we - Are Football FIUL
aubgraham
Roar Rookie
Maybe Uncle Junior caught his tongue.
j binnie
Guest
Uncle - Careful my friend,Kruse did not leave Brisbane for any other reason than it was in his best interest to do so for reasons far removed from football. Lustica actually played for Roar before he went overseas and returned to Roar via,as you say Adelaide,The other "Dutch exports " Sarota and Zullo all played with Roar before going overseas with Tommy Oar. Geira is also an "ex-Brisbane player" , The list goes on and on but what a silly discussion,does it matter where they spent their formative years and who they played for for a few years.They are what they are. Cheerss jb