Controversially sacked Matildas coach Alen Stajcic has found a temporary new job in Australian football, after the last-placed Central Coast Mariners appointed him caretaker coach for the rest of the A-League season.
With the Mariners languishing through one of the worst A-League seasons ever, coach Mike Mulvey was sacked following a horror 8-2 loss at home to Wellington – their 16th in 21 matches.
Central Coast have won just one match all season to sit last on the ladder by eight points.
With just six matches remaining for the season, Stajcic will be tasked with restoring some semblance of competitiveness to the embattled A-League franchise – with club sporting director Mike Phelan emphasising ‘stability and harmony’ in a press release.
“Alen is an experienced coach, he has experience at the highest level coaching his country and is held in high esteem for what he achieved on the international stage.
“What we need right now is a manager who can take the helm during a crucial period. We recognise the skills Alen has and the Club is confident that he will be able to draw on those skills for the advantage of the Mariners.
On whether Stajcic could potentially assume the full-time role, Phelan said they “will assess the situation” at season’s end.
Stajcic was the subject of headlines earlier this year, after he was sensationally dumped as Matildas coach following a ‘culture review’ that the FFA were reluctant to elaborate on.
Multiple Matildas players came out in public support of Stajcic following his axing.
At the time of his sacking, Stajcic had compiled an impressive record of 32-14-12 with the team, including appearances in the quarter-finals at the 2015 women’s World Cup and 2016 Olympics, as well as second-place finishes at the 2017 Asian Cup and 2018 Tournament of Nations.
He was named Coach of the Year at the 2017 AIS Sport Performance Awards, while also being nominated for the FIFA Coach of the Year award in 2018.
“I would like to thank the Central Coast Mariners for providing me this opportunity,” Stajcic said in the press release.
“We’re well aware of the hard work ahead of us, but that starts now. I relish a challenge and can’t wait to get started,” he added.
Brendan
Roar Pro
A brilliant win by the Mariners over the Jets. Welcome to Gosford, Alen Stajcic.
jbinnie
Guest
Rodger - Jut remember this move is actually fraught with danger for this man's reputation. Like Postecoglu and Arnold before him he has now taken the reverse step going from a situation where he had approximately 60-100 players all busting a gut to get a Matildas jersey. Now he has inherited a group of players 15-20 or so, which,under the circumstances,must be busting a gut trying to get out of a hopeless situation,a wooden spoon. Coaching a national team is just about as diametrically opposed as it gets to coaching a club side,a fact of life I think AP found out and ,according to today's press, GA may be finding out for himself. Let's hope he does well. Cheers jb.
Pork Chop
Roar Rookie
Nobody implied poor, insipid losing performances in sport with being female ....... oh wait ??? ..... you did nemesis. I would hope that stajic can lift the poor, insipid losing performances of the mariners to anywhere near his previously coached excellently performing women’s team.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Spare a thought for Stajcic too - his last striker was Sam Kerr and now he has Matt Simon.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
I think this is a very smart move. Staj is a proven coach who can handle players under intense pressure, more pressure than the A League delivers. He is able to showcase his abilities, not at the highest level but the highest level of club football in Australia. I wonder if the FFA had a hand in this at all. I remember the FFA Chair came out after Staj's press conference and disagreed with him about his sacking making him unemployable. Just thinking this appointment might help the FFA in any future court battle.
Onside
Guest
Wasn't meant to offend, but realise it has. To that extent I apologise.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Onside You’re not stupid - surely you can see that you have made a derogatory generalisation about female incompetence to denigrate a specific group of males. That is, you insult all women in order to poke fun at a few dysfunctional men. I will be surprised if your comment makes it through to lunchtime.
Onside
Guest
Sure Nem, I get it, knew as I posted. It's impossible to tell a joke that's not against someone or something. In reality, this joke is anti male.
Nemesis
Guest
The joke is only there for neanderthals who equate poor, insipid losing performances in sport, with being female.
Onside
Guest
A seamless appointment considering the Mariners have been playing like a bunch of sheilas. Yeah I know, not PC, but hey , the joke's there isn't it.
Ado Potato
Roar Rookie
It will be a good challenge for Staj. Having said that, coaches can only do so much if the structures around the players (finance, admin and governance) are not working well.
Franko
Guest
Mid 40's manager out of the NT setup, sounds like Paul Okon, no?
pete4
Guest
Certainly an interesting appointment I thought someone like Scott Miller, John Hutchinson would get it Different direction and tactics might bring the Mariners another win or 2 in the last 6 rounds
The Ball Bobbled
Roar Rookie
I wonder what Mr Big Noter was thinking while, from wherever he was, watching the game as his beloved team was getting thrashed. He must have been feeling full of anguish not being on the park to support his teammates or just missing out on the fray for that matter. No doubt spewing over his on field theatrics that earned him the 2 match ban. On the other hand had he been on the park he most likely would have been sent off, it doesn't take much at all for him to react. He surely let his team down in their round of utter humiliation. Will he learn anything from it? Well that aside things cant get much worse from their current state of demise so that at least is on Staj's side. I wish him well.
Pork Chop
Roar Rookie
Wow !!! ............ can’t do any worse. At least the toxic culture at the club has now been exposed with the boys in the naughty room training by themselves. I hope winning games is not on his agenda as there is just no cattle in the pen to do that. Put a gag on Simon and stack the defense 5-4-1.......... blood the youth........ that is aussie youths not english ones although mallon played his heart out.