Alen Stajcic’s availability in the coaching market is a major talking point in the football industry at present and Football Australia seems set to bring the former Matildas coach back into the fold.
Stajcic, who took the Philippines to the semi-finals of the recent Women’s Asian Cup, and thus clinched a first ever World Cup spot for the Asian team, isn’t confirmed as their coach for the 2023 event.
It is understood Stajcic has been approached by a number of national associations and domestic clubs about his services. He is keeping his options open according to sources.
In news that will thrill Australian fans, it is believed Football Australia (FA) asked Stajcic to apply for the vacant Olyroos job, which was vacated by Graham Arnold after the Tokyo Olympics.
David Zdrilic initially got offered the gig but turned it down to stay at Genoa in Italy.
FA have restarted the process to find a new candidate, with Stajcic firmly in their sights along with the likes of Luke Wilkshire, Brad Moloney and Tony Vidmar.
FA looks very different to the personnel that were there in 2019 when he was removed from his position as Matildas coach, and being the ultimate professional that he is, it’s believed Stajcic is open to a role with an Australian national team.
Which team it will be is an intriguing question.
(Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Apart from the Olyroos, the Socceroos coaching position will also become a key talking point, especially if Australia don’t make it to Qatar. Arnold’s team have to beat Japan and Saudi Arabia in their last two games to make it to the World Cup, if they don’t, they will need to go through a tough playoff process.
If they don’t get there and Arnold loses his job, Stajcic coaching the Socceroos would be an interesting prospect.
Along with Ang Postecoglou, Stajcic is up there with the best coaches Australia has ever produced. His relationship with Australian players and other Australian coaches is outstanding. This hasn’t always extended to FA’s board, however, a number of present board members are big fans of the coach who took the Matildas to a number four world ranking.
A number of A-League clubs will be looking for new coaches in the 2022/23 season. This could be for men or women. With pressure on the APL to extend the A-League Women’s to a full time competition, if Stajcic was available, he would undoubtedly be a major target.
In the men’s space, clubs like Western Sydney Wanderers, Brisbane Roar, Sydney FC and Macarthur FC may well be in the market.
The Wanderers have Mark Rudan on trial for now and he has two wins and two losses to show so far. The Wanderers haven’t made finals in four years. Stajcic took the Central Coast Mariners to finals after six years in the wilderness in 2020/21. So he wouldn’t be unfamiliar with a tough task.
The Roar’s Warren Moon is under pressure with his side second last on the ladder this season after coming fourth in 2020/21.
Steve Corica’s Sky Blues have recovered after a rocky start to the season, but a fresh voice after four seasons for a team that has lost the invincibility of previous years may be a goer. Ante Milicic at Macarthur is rumoured to have offers overseas leaving a potential spot open at Campbelltown.
While Australian fans would love to see Stajcic stay down under, there is every possibility he may go overseas.
It is understood he has had interest from a women’s club in Europe, a men’s national team, and of course the Phillipines WNT who will be looking to cause an upset or two.
No matter where he chooses to go, it’s fair to say Stajcic, similarly to Postecoglou, will have a large portion of the Australian football population behind him.
Janakan Seemampillai
Roar Guru
Yep I take your point
Kewell
Roar Rookie
Janakan, I just read your piece in The Roar earlier this year about the women’s under 20’s team. Which sort of validates what I have said.
Kewell
Roar Rookie
Janakan, Gus was pretty good, he got us to the next level. But what I am talking about is getting young players to the next level. All our international teams are being tested, and i it clear to me that the players are falling behind Asian countries in technique. Either that or we are not getting the right athletes. I don’t see an Australian coach with that unique talent. Even if we have to more money we will see the benefit in years to come.
Sunshine Tiger
Roar Rookie
Why would he even consider it was not only knifed but the assassinated his character, to say football Australia is a different beast is disingenuous at best . The puppet masters are still running the show
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The only place he has won is with Sydney FC women before City took over Heart. Did he win the Asia cup with the Matildas no, the semi final against Thailand which went to penalties as well, Mariners wooden spoon first season, finals second, Phillipines made the world cup and beaten the weaker teams however with an American team.
Janakan Seemampillai
Roar Guru
Have overseas coached worked though? Sometimes yes but mostly no. An Aussie coach who understands our players and culture would be best unless a really outstanding foreign coach presents themselves
Kewell
Roar Rookie
These sorts of decisions reek of necessity and desperation and may in fact be detrimental to young footballers improvement They are still developing and need a coach who can improve technical and tactical skills and raise them to a world standard. That means a new person from a overseas football culture who can then have input into junior and youth development generally. Surely there is some one in South America or Europe who would love some time in Australia and be paid more than would at home. If we keep using the same coaches we can’t expect a different result, and that is just not good enough.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Arguably he greatest strength is the ability to recognise young talent and develop them
The Ball Bobbled
Roar Rookie
Might have something to do with saving face mate
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Yep, "he's a terrible coach and I've proven it by pointing out he's won everywhere he's been. But he was just lucky"
Phil Kirkham
Roar Rookie
Whether or not you are losing your mind is something only you can determine. However this thread is about Alen Stajcic's possible return to coaching in Australia at a national level. It is only speculation I would think but if you have have something useful to add to the conversation please go ahead.
Mitcher
Guest
Am I losing my mind. Or is this entire post a testimonial to Stajcic’s unrelenting success?
Phil Kirkham
Roar Rookie
I get the feeling he prefers coaching women’s football either at club level or national level. Either way , I think he is lost to Australian football.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Well he used to be Sydney FC womens coach and I wasn't impressed by him then, of course he won championships but Sydney women are well funded. Then he took over the Matildas while it was improvement over Sermanni though Sermanni was the greatest coach of all time for introducing new blood early. The Matildas then went to another level, but at the same time I noticed it was assistants barking instructions, so I thought Milicic had something to do with it possibly, though I also saw Talay there doing the same. Well Milicic took over and it was a disaster so it must have been Talay. Stajic after being dumped from the Matildas went to CCM, where he frustatingly picked poorly performing players who had no workload off the ball. Then Stajic got lucky his club sold a few players and he succeeded with players he left on the bench the prevopius season top of the table and then he let it slip by hiring some foreign players who were lazy . Plenty of other good coaches montemurro city womens first coach, ante juric, rado vidosic, adelaide womens coach.
Janakan Seemampillai
Roar Guru
Yep and with the lure of more World Cup spots in 2026, I wonder if a spot at an Asian mens national team who has never made it before will be too tempting.
Phil Kirkham
Roar Rookie
Stajcic would do a great job in any of the aforementioned positions but, like Postecoglou, he has moved past the poorly administered national football scene. He will be much more appreciated overseas.
Janakan Seemampillai
Roar Guru
It’s part of the process. The FA would want to see what their plans were and if it lined up with their wants
Phil Kirkham
Roar Rookie
Do you know much about Stajcic’s coaching achievements or are you just trolling.?
Franko
Guest
Apply? What do they hope to learn in an interview about a man who literally worked at the FFA for 5-6 years and has had detailed investigations run about? Just appoint him.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
Yeah why not? Couldn't be any worse then Arnie.