It was rumoured and now it’s the reality for the Socceroos. Ange Postecoglou has quit as coach just seven days after qualifying for the FIFA World Cup. So, the obvious question now is who should replace him?
The World Cup kicks off on June 15, 2018. That’s just under eight months away, so it gives David Gallop and his team little time to find a new coach who will be able to fit straight into the structure and pick up where Postecoglou left off.
It’s not the first time Australia have been in a rush to find a coach. Qualification for the 2006 campaign saw Guus Hiddink take over less than four months before the Socceroos’ successful play-off against Uruguay.
He then took Australia to the knockout stage for the first time in the nation’s history.
The 2014 road to the Cup was also a shaky one after Holger Osieck was sacked by the FFA eight months out, with Postecoglou being thrust into the role. In a group of death, Australia did better than expected.
So, it can be done, but who is the right option?
Graham Arnold
The Sydney FC boss seems to be the frontrunner for the position. Plenty are calling for another Australian coach to take over from Postecoglou, and Arnold has had plenty of experience with the national team.
Despite being a club coach since 2010, spending time at the Central Coast Mariners and Vegalta Sendai before moving to Sydney, Arnold worked with Hiddink at the 2006 World Cup, then took over the head job for the Socceroos.
After six years of being an Australian assistant, he took over as acting coach after Hiddink left and stayed in the position until the end of the 2007 Asian Cup. He was then replaced by Pim Verbeek, but continued as an assistant coach and took on a role with the under 23s side.
It’s little wonder the man known as ‘Arnie’ is supposedly leading the race for the job.
(AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Ante Milicic
Following the trend of signing an Australian coach to replace Postecoglou, Ante Milic’s name has been thrown into the ring by many sources as a key challenger to Arnold.
The 43-year-old would be able to bring a younger edge to the team and given he is a current assistant for the Socceroos, he will have knowledge about the systems Postecoglou was running. The systems which enabled Australia to beat Syria and Honduras to qualify for the biggest football shown on earth.
The problem for Milicic is he has never held a top line coaching role. He has had assistant gigs at Melbourne Heart and Western Sydney Wanderers, but never a head coaching role, and for his first gig to be a World Cup would be a serious risk for the FFA.
Gianni de Biasi
De Biasi had a long club coaching career before taking over Albania in 2011. In both the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and Euro 2016, Albania punched well above their weight under the leadership of the Italian.
It’s thought he could get similarly good results out of the Socceroos, even with a short time frame to get used to the system.
The Italian confirmed that he was approached by the FFA in July, so he’s certainly on the radar.
Bert van Marwijk
Van Marwijk had his first foray into national team coaching with the Netherlands in 2008, spending four years in charge. In the 2010 World Cup, he took the Netherlands all the way to the final, losing to Spain in extra-time.
He then moved to Saudi Arabia, guiding them to a World Cup qualification for 2018. They were one of the teams who stopped the Socceroos from gaining automatic qualification alongside Japan.
However, the Dutchman quit just days after their last qualifying match and is now a serious option for the FFA.
Luiz Felipe Scolari
The 69-year-old is another World Cup winner, having guided Brazil to victory in 2002. His resume is a long one, having begun his coaching career in 1982.
In that time, he took Brazil to victory at the FIFA Confederations Cup during 2013, Portugal to the final of Euro 2004 and won three straight Chinese Super League titles with Guangzhou Evergrande before recently leaving the club.
There is no question he is a good option, but again, it could come down to the question of whether the FFA wants a domestic or international coach. Scolari’s asking price could also be a sticking point.
Kevin Muscat
In charge of Melbourne Victory since 2013, Muscat has had plenty of success in the Victorian capital. Muscat was an assistant under Postecoglou in Melbourne and has been head coach ever since the now-former Australian boss left the club.
In his first full season, Muscat guided the Victory to the premiers plate and championship in the same year and almost outcoached Arnold to win the A-League last season, only going down in a dramatic penalty shootout in the final.
Muscat also has experience with the Australian squad, having been called up by Postecoglou to serve as an assistant at the 2017 Confederations Cup.
(AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
Tony Popovic
It’s probably a bit of a stretch to say Popovic might come back to coach the Socceroos. After spending five years in charge of the Western Sydney Wanderers, he sensationally quit to take up a job with Turkish Süper Lig club Karabükspor in the days leading up to the current A-League season.
While he has plenty of experience and spent more than a decade playing in the national setup during his career, the chance of him coming back from Turkey to take up a job with the Socceroos seems next to nothing.
Still, he hasn’t had the smoothest of starts with Karabükspor and his record at the Wanderers was superb. He had three grand final appearances in four years and an Asian Champions League victory. That’s an impressive resume, and one the FFA would be best to consider.
Guus Hiddink
It wouldn’t be an article looking at potential Socceroos managers without mentioning Hiddink. But could the Dutchman actually take over the job for Australia again? It seems unlikely, given he is now in his 70s, but it’s certainly an option.
As already discussed, Hiddink got Australia to the knockout stage of the 2006 Cup with limited preparation time and has been successful since with stints in charge of Turkey, the Netherlands and Chelsea.
It would likely be only a short term gig for Hiddink, given his age and the need to then begin building to the next qualification campaign, but the primary focus must be on performance in Russia, and Hiddink could be the man to get the best out of the Socceroos.
Roarers, who do you think should take over the Socceroos in the run to Russia? Drop a comment below and let us know.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Fair enough, good ponts. I wasn't saying we HAVE TO have a home grown coach, I'm just saying GA represents a good choice and the best value in the short time we have to prepare from March to June. Realistically it would be a miracle for that team to get past the group stages no matter who they choose as manager, unless maybe Guus, but he has already said he is not interested. Can't wait till the draw comes out and we can buy our tickets to Russia. The boys from my club are putting together a group. I'm in for sure and I'm excited about going.
j,binnie
Guest
Claudio = It was I who asked the question re."shoe ins" ,not you. I base my observation on an apparent movement in today's game that we must have a "home-grown" coach. Past appointments in national team history don't reflect too well ,not on the coaches themselves, but rather on those who choose the men to fill the position. We have seen the hire of "world class " coaches, Hiddink and Venables come to mind, right down to the hire of local lads with almost little, or no experience, in coaching club sides never mind what should be perceived as he "top" job in the country in the football genre, Farina and Postecoglue prime examples. Realistically could these 2 men even consider saying "No " to such an offer.? I think not. Look down the list of men who have held the national job and the average length of time they have held the job and you start to realise that longevity is not part of the contract and to be honest this is a "cancer" that has now spread throughout the game no matter where it is played. Manchester United over the last 5 years are a classic example. So whereto for our Socceroos? Despite AP's efforts we are still heavily dependent on players who ply their trade overseas, no longer in "localised European competitions", but in places as far apart as Norway to China and the Far East. This situation alone almost calls for the appointment of a "gypsy type" someone with an insatiable travel bug and preferably none of the "normal restrictions", like family life Now we all like a trip or two to spice up our lives but surely 4 years living in planes, airport lounges, hotels,restaurants and bars ,not to mention endless hours spent watching games in all sorts of weathers,some nice but many inclement, is just a step too far for any individual, or his family. So, that being the case should we be looking at an individual,one with plenty of football knowledge, preferably single ,and of an age where his "home life" ,as we know it,is almost non-existent.and whatever is around the corner is always an "adventure". This surely cuts down the choices quite dramatically , and it has to be remembered that those doing the "choosing" have probably not a whit of experience in the "hardships" they are setting up for their selection. Not such an easy task picking a Socceroo coach. Cheers jb.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
jb, I didn't say he was a shoe in, just giving my opinion. Someone else will decide. Also I said that following the turmoil Postecoglou has left us in and his dead end football tactics, it doesn't matter who is in charge, we won't get out of the group stages with the players we have and relying on 38 year old Timmy to score goals for us. I think Graham Arnold is as good a choice as any and given the pressure he was under and the weight of expectation he took on with the job at SFC, he has shown that he has matured and learnt his lessons.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Very astute ball boy, had the right tactics for extra time and helped us claim the treble. He would be the right price too. Doesn't matter who we choose lets accept who we are and move on. We are not a footballing nation of world beaters. Give Arnie the job and let Ange spend more time with his family.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Cousin Claudio would love to coach Australia.
paul81
Roar Rookie
A Gombau fan. He fits in really well with the culture. He displays great passion. Actually, i think he's just an aussie with a funny accent.
paul81
Roar Rookie
The idea of a " Boz and Foz " team could be entertaining.
paul81
Roar Rookie
Actually...i don't really care for any english coaches.
paul81
Roar Rookie
I'm no Arnie lover, but you can't really compare him circa hiddink to now. He obviously has his own philosophy, that is working for him. Something he didn't have when he was caretaker.
paul81
Roar Rookie
The one immediate result i'd like to see is the " shots on goal " stat. We just cough up more opportunities than anyone i've seen.
Redondo
Guest
Bielsa has just been suspended by Lille - not sacked, as yet. Apparently he took an unauthorised break to visit a sick friend in Chile.
Kangajets
Guest
Wenger in
Edward Astor
Guest
I was hoping Klinsman was going to be on the list. What's he doing these days?
Fadida
Guest
Ha!
Griffo
Roar Guru
Well if big Sam has been thrown in, why not Advocaat, current manager of Netherlands...who failed to qualify. I'm sure he wouldn't run away this time with a free ticket to the World Cup :lol: :lol: :roll:
Griffo
Roar Guru
That would have been good...three or four weeks ago.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Worse than that was the near player revolt in the sheds during the tournament - that presser with Neill indicating he and some of the players would decide what was needed for the quarter final was telling. Different time and players who knew him well over nearly decade have moved on, by none other than Ange ;-)
Griffo
Roar Guru
Well Foz did want a coaching committee of ex-Socceroo captains after the Germany defeat in 2010 World Cup, but he was quite emotional then... 8-)
Griffo
Roar Guru
Yep. My pick. He tends to be aggressive in his style which would suit us. He has systems that might seem a bit bizarre (3-3-3-1 is a favourite of his) but he is a student of the game, almost mad scientist like is El Loco, and my hope is he would impart some of that onto the national scene. He certainly works at his players understanding their roles. He would certainly lift the media's knowledge up. He runs press conferences as long as they want to ask questions and understand his methods. Maybe not too long early on here but there is hope ;-)
Rolly
Guest
Overseas coach please with World Cup experience sign him on a short team contract.no local coaches are capable or have the experience at this level.