A-League icon Thomas Broich has begun his coaching career in Brisbane — but not with the Roar.
The dual Johnny Warren medallist has accepted a position with A-League aspirants Brisbane City and will play a pivotal role in helping shape their football department and club culture if their expansion bid is approved.
City will pay for the 36-year-old to obtain his UEFA coaching qualifications in Germany over the next few years and each time he is in Australia, he will conduct junior clinics and assist with coaching the club’s NPL and academy teams.
It comes after Broich was released by Brisbane Roar after seven dominant seasons in the A-League, earning recognition as one of the best imports in Australian soccer history.
“Brisbane City just made a really big effort, they were really keen to have me on board and they offered to support me along the way, in multiple ways,” Broich told AAP.
“I felt like I’ve found a real partner here.
“This transition phase as a footballer is always a tricky one and they really looked after me.”
Broich has made recent appearances at City training and joined head coach John Kosmina in steering a first-team session, while he has also taken on an unofficial mentoring role with the Olyroos.
The Roar had emphasised the door would always be open for Broich to take up an off-field position when they parted ways earlier this year.
However, an approach from Brisbane City’s A-League bid chairman Robert Cavallucci convinced the 36-year-old to opt for a fresh start.
Broich stressed he had no hard feelings towards his former club.
“I’ve always said I would love to coach the Roar one day and I’m taking on this City role for completely different reasons — it’s not Roar or City,” he said.
“Ideally for me, it’s both.
“I still love (the Roar), my dream is to come back in the future.
“I just think maybe it’s a good thing to step away for a bit after such a long time.”
Expansion of the A-League remains at least two years away but Broich said he hoped his involvement would give City’s bid some momentum.
Broich had surgery on Thursday to remove a bone fragment from his ankle and while optimistic his playing days were not over, he is still yet to receive any real interest from clubs.
Andre Leslie
Roar Guru
Completely agree. Him staying in football in Australia would be a great asset for the sport.
Andre Leslie
Roar Guru
Completely agree. Him staying in football in Australia would be a great asset for the sport.
Waz
Guest
jb. My guess on the coaching qualifications is he wants a UEFA pro-licence but like you I would have thought the AFC licence was sufficient? There may also be some personal considerations in there though as his girlfriend has already taken up a teaching position back in Germany. There's a bit to run on this story possibly; Broich went public just before the WSW finals game which was a negative distraction for the club but his justification was he wanted a farewell in front of home fans and he wanted to play on with another club, he basically put his needs above those of the team which can't have gone down well behind the scenes. His second ankle operation makes him an unlikely starter in October so will we see him line up for another A league team or not? If he retires then there's been a lot of stuff n nonsense coming from Broich - he either wants to play on or he doesn't? I know you've been around footballers so you'll appreciate the very best players often come with strong personalities, I'd say that's Broich as well and he's looking after himself here (hopefully) although I think he may have misjudged the politics behind FCBC and in joining the "opposition" I think he'll find he's burnt a bridge with Roar that can't be rebuilt. Fans may struggle with that concept but you just need to look at the people behind FCBC to see there's no love lost between the two clubs. It's rather like picking sides in a divorce - best to stay friends with both imo lol. However, FCBC are absolutely certain they're in the next round of expansion, and their supporters aren't afraid to say it publicly (Nick Meredith even tweeted they would be an A league team next season) and maybe that was the carrot dangled in front of Broich? Either way, it looks more like a publicity stunt than real coaching at the moment so time will tell what it evolves in to I guess
j,binnie
Guest
Jordan -Just a question. Was Broich's surgery needed so badly that it kept him from playing right up to the last games of last season . Apparently the answer was "no" so why the urgency to "let him go".Maybe you could enlighten us . jb.
j,binnie
Guest
Waz - you don't say it ,but you hint at what you and I have been discussing for some time now,there is a story behind this article that is not being told. All the correct platitudes are being stated and published but anyone with a modicum of football knowledge has to ask why a player of Broich's standard,and undoubted knowledge, suddenly pops up in what could be rightly termed the "opposition camp" after playing for Roar right up to the final games of last season. The questions. - His damaged ankle didn't keep him out of starting line ups late last season. He did change his mind about retiring and indicated he would be prepared to play another season. Was his form so bad in those late games that his "dumping " became inevitable. With due respect, is an ageing Broich a better player to have on call than some recent signings. I think City have pulled a "fast one " here,typical of that old fox JK, and it will be interesting to see how this move unfolds. Another question to be posed. In this day and age if instant communication is there some advantage in getting a coaching qualification in Germany?. I would have thought that even at the lower levels of coaching qualification FIFA would have insured that the "subject level" was of a similar standard all across the world. No???? Cheers jb.
Waz
Guest
Well, he's running "coaching clinics" so it's not quite as many people think; it's really important FCBC stitch him in to proper coaching as soon as possible. Broich will be out of the country more than he's in over the next few years with competing agendas back in Germany so let's hope he stays here for a while. If anyone is wondering what that smell is though it's the faint whiff of a bridge burning somewhere ....
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Far, far more important is that he's staying around a playing a role in Australian football. Great news.
Jordan
Guest
Turns out BRFC made the right decision to let him go. Two bouts of surgery means that despite being an excellent servant for the club, his time was up.