Stephen Christopher Corica just landed one of the most highly pressurised gigs in Australian football.
For the next few months, as the squad takes shape, players return to full training and the new blood starts to gel, life will be pretty easy for the 209-game NSL and A-League legend.
The mantra emanating from the new manager and the club itself will be about continuing the work done by impending Socceroos boss Graham Arnold and staying successful both on and off the pitch.
The language will emphasise the continued push for trophies but also a maintained professionalism and diligence; required if they are to continue their dream of one day conquering Asia.
After the rhetoric, somebody will light a blowtorch under Steve Corica’s backside. He will have his feathers well and truly ruffled at the first sign of anything less than the dominant brilliance of Sydney FC over the last two years.
Sydney FC celebrate their 2017 championship. (AAP Image/David Moir)
According to the fans, Sydney suffered two foundation-shattering losses in the regular season just passed.
The first, a Round 6 defeat to the Mariners in Gosford, saw the fan-base start to question some of the cracks that had appeared. There were even more pronounced rumblings when the Newcastle Jets held on for a famous, ten-man victory at home in Round 22.
Throw in the opening match of the Asian Champions League, where Sydney were towelled up by Suwon Bluewings, and the fickle nature of the city’s market was clearly in focus.
In typical Sydney style, as their team slumped to less than perfect, the fans wanted answers.
In reality, the team had been ‘up’ for a long time, sustaining an incredibly high level of performance and, despite Graham Arnold doing a solid job of maintaining that standard, it had to drop at some stage.
In Sydney FC’s case, they were simply beaten well on all three nights by teams that exposed weaknesses. The fans, promised A-League and Asian glory by the manager, barely knew where to turn.
As Corica will surely already know and soon discover even more intensely than ever, Sydney isn’t a nice place when it comes to patience, acceptance and perspective around their A-League franchise.
In fact, as 5 million people shove their way around, burdened by band-aid infrastructure and poor state services, the city lacks those qualities in general – not just when it comes to Sydney FC.
The Wanderers are living that reality as we speak; a vast distance from the early glory days under Tony Popovic, and Sydney FC have enjoyed the microscope being focused elsewhere.
Of course, when you are winning things are easy.
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An astute footballing mind with eight years in various coaching roles at the club, including a period as caretaker before Frank Farina was signed, Corica should be a snug fit.
In terms of adjustments and a cooling off period, as the players learn to work with the new mentor, Sydney have minimised that impact by appointing from within. Theoretically, it should be business as usual with a different voice shouting the instructions and a few tweaks to the gameplan.
Anyone expecting a vastly different approach next season will be disappointed. Corica himself has said, “My style will be much the same, entertaining and winning.”
However, is there an issue in appointing a manager with little experience and knowledge from elsewhere? All Corica knows is Sydney FC and its structures, and considering he is now in the cockpit of that very club, is that an issue?
Many in the fold felt an experienced European head was needed to take a club seeking to make a serious impact in Asian football to the next level.
Things will play out as they will and Corica will suffer the slings and arrows of a demanding and intimidating city that will expect things to roll on as they have done for the last two seasons.
Admittedly, the applecart was well and truly toppled in the semi-final, yet that loss might just open up a window of opportunity for Corica. Following Arnold’s juggernaut after back-to-back titles and a squad more than capable of winning another, might just have sent him on a doomed mission.
Alternatively, at 45, the relatively young Corica may use his new position as a stepping stone to greater things. For the continued development of our mangers and ex-players, we would all celebrate that.
It will be a significant test and one, I am sure, for which Corica feels ready. Sadly, if the show does indeed go on and Sydney continue their roll, he probably won’t get the credit he deserves.
If they stumble? Steve… Duck!
Buddy
Guest
Well there should be some interesting debating over that one as well!
Fadida
Guest
Marcus Babbel, now he's the highly credentialed coach they could have gone for
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
What problem Fred? Pretty sure everyone who turns up have Australian citizenship papers.
j binnie
Guest
Griffo- I sometime wonder if the fans who write into these columns really appreciate what Sydney FC has done over the last 2 seasons. Here are the figures for the top two sides in each year to help the discussion along. Season 16/17 Sydney FC, P 27, W 20, D 6, L 1, F 55, A 12, Pts 66 Second place Victory P 27, W 15, D 4, L 8, F 49. A 31. Pts 49 Season 17/18 Sydney FC, P 27, W 20, D 4, L 3, F 64, A 22, Pts 64 Second place Jets P 27, W 15, D 5. L 7, F 57, A 37 Pts 50 As can be seen from these figures Sydney FC has totally dominated the HAL and for a moment, if the reader concentrates on the goals for columns it can be seen that Sydney have consistently outscored their 9 opponents in the league, not by a goal or two but by more than a few. If the reader then looks at the goals against figures it can also be noted Sydney have outperformed their opponents in the defensive side of the game. So the picture is of a well balanced team both in attack and defence and at this time of printing Steve Corica ,who has been part of that team's accomplishments,needs to procure an experienced centre back and with the expected return of Grant the only other position to be filled I would suggest is the team captain Brosque,not because he has been a failure, but because time is catching up, and he could still be used as a sub. in place of the departed Simon. The question being asked ,can Steve Corica "cut the mustard"?. Personally I feel that today, far too much is made of the contribution coaches make to a team's "on field" performances. a successful coach's work is done before the first whistle is blown. Corica has been part of that scenario for some years now and should know what has to be done in game preparation. The interesting thing is going to be how he ,as a talented play-maker in his heyday is going to conduct what on paper, to date, has been a very very successful "on field" team. Cheers jb.
Freddie
Guest
Just the Anglos huh? Still not recognizing the problem are you?
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
Well in turn here lies another problem---the Anglos never turned up when Arnold won two premiership plates. So what do you suggest SFC do?
Freddie
Guest
And here is perhaps the biggest problem for the A-League. Suggesting "Italians" will turn up to cheer on Corica, then (I can only assume?) disappear again if he is sacked, speaks volumes. Those who remain stuck in ghettos of the mind, which is what the A-League was designed in part at least, to remove.
Worried
Guest
Stephen Christopher Corica just landed one of the most highly pressurised gigs in Australian football. This must rate as one of the most over the top statements of the year! Sydney a pressurised gig! A team with lashings of money in the biggest market in the country. ALL he has to do is get them playing a style of football the fan base can be proud of! Any Style providing the fans and the players can be proud of the efforts. If you want pressurised you should have looked at Newcastle 2 or 3 seasons ago. No Money, Small market yet they kept getting fans to the game. Look at Perth or Wellington, again No Money Small Markets. Sydney have it easy compared to most A-League teams, and more often than not they get it easy from the referees too, the bounce of the ball seems to often go Sydneys way! High pressure, you're having a laugh!
RBBAnonymous
Guest
I think this is a good appointment. He has been there long enough and has more than served his apprenticeship, he deserves his shot. He knows the culture inside and out and will do a decent job at SFC. I wish the Wanderers would take note.
Swannies’
Guest
Should have signed Buddy Franklin as a marquee to try to get some bling
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Probably a bit of both Stuart. I think Sydney will still make the top 4 next season. Looks like they're going to retain about 90% of their squad. The challenge is there for the team to be Premiers 3 years in a row, which I think has never been done before in the A-League. Looking forward to seeing how Stevie will go. I know he is going to surprise a few of the doubters, cynics and haters and prove them wrong.
Old Greg
Guest
I think Corica will struggle, a la Ian Crook. I'm willing to bet that many of the younger brigade of SFC players will go to Europe/Japan/South Korea to be in with a chance of going to Qatar 2022 (eg O'Neill, Brilliante, Zullo, Grant). I'd have Victory and Adelaide as my top two next season. As for Perth, well it all depends on who Popa signs, and whether he and Pignata can get Mr Sage to open the chequebook.
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
Steve Corica, is of Italian heritage and one of their local junior heroes who rose through the ranks and played for a Sydney based ethnic Italian club back in the NSL days. He was well loved and respected as a player then and I think the Italian community will come right back to support their own.
fadida
Guest
He may or may not turn to be a fine head coach, though my instinct that like Hayden Foxe, Crook, Rado Vidosic he lacks the personality and strength to be the main man. Even if SFC continue to do well the second concern is that will this appointment do anything for an already apathetic support base? The Arnold years, despite their success, were often more Hobart than Hollywood, a gruff, whining coach and with a plan B of send on the Axe. The Sydney market is odd from an outsiders POV and I wonder whether "more of the same" won't continue to drop crowds. Success clearly didn't matter. A more ambitious signing in terms of playing style could have achieved both success and the "bling" factor that Sydneysiders need to keep them from the Rooty Hill RSL
fadida
Guest
You think the Italians might watch SFC because Corica is manager? I'd find that astonishing.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Agree with the stability and getting someone that knows the culture and work done in setting up the club and current team. With that said there is still much work for Corica ahead. After all it is a results business. How much that will cushion a bad run like Arnold had a few seasons ago will remain to be seen. I hope he does well and turns out to be a talented manager. Australia needs and should grow as many as they can get. Corica may be another Muscat, just without the gum chewing barrage of 'instructions' to all and sundry from the technical area.
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
Steve Corica, will have his own ideas. SC played as a midfielder and he was quite a good one at that. SC will need to step up---I agree with you on that point. However, I am sure he will as he lives and breathes SFC. I believe he has the backing of the squad and all of the support staff behind him. His character and strengths from his playing days will translate to his coaching role.
Football is Life
Guest
In this regard I do agree that a continuation or line of sucession is the ideal situation. I hope Corica steps up because he will be another deposit in the bank of Australian managers slowly but surely establishing. This will ultimately build a repository of Australian football knowledge and an "Australian Style". I guess my real concern will be that he will take same approach as Arnold. Non-progressive, adverse to youth, use aggression as your major weapon and be so predictable with your substitutes that eventually everyone gets sick of the predictability and it comes back to bite in the semis.
Football is Life
Guest
I have to disagree with your comment re: Poppa. Poppa spent years learning from some of the best at Crystal Palace as Assistant Manager. He spent time in Japan. He proved his pedigree with Wanderers in the ACL. Arnold on the other hand. Struth, being practicality an observer at Germany 06 and lasting a week in Japan, at which time the players refused to kick a football is not exactly a positive addition to a resume that has no overseas experience.
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
Good choice: the Italian supporters who live in the inner Sydney district of Leichhardt will support him (as I'm sure they will) and hopefully they'll come back in big numbers as when ADP graced the fields of the SFS. The man SC is a legend and has a good football career both for club and country. It's now his time to shine in the sun. Good luck Steve!