We are still yet to hear a full explanation from Football Australia as to why Alen Stajcic was removed from his Matildas post just prior to the 2019 World Cup in France.
At that time, Australia’s national women’s team were riding high on a wave of ever-growing interest that had many believing they were near certainties to advance beyond the group stage, with the ceiling on their ultimate place in the tournament only restricted by what they themselves believed was possible.
Yet, astonishingly, a manila folder of surveys, reports of toxicity in culture, and rather vague references to Stajcic’s comments and behaviour as having been inappropriate at times, were rustled together as a weak reasoning for the coach’s removal, with most that knew him mystified and suspicious .
Subsequently, a series of voices alluded to the stunning awareness we would all come to after the true details behind the decision were released.
To this day, I have yet to read, sight or hear them from anyone in an official capacity.
After suggesting that people “would be shocked” after learning the ‘truths’ behind FA’s decision, former board member Heather Reid back-tracked, saying in a statement, “I regret making these statements. I apologise also for pain and suffering that I have caused to Mr Stajcic’s wife and two young children.”
With the advantage of retrospect and FA’s failure to produce the evidence that led to a collective board view “that the Matildas would benefit from a new coach for the FIFA World Cup in France”, two clear realities exist.
Firstly, there is still not a shred of credible and concrete evidence that explains the reasoning behind the decision to remove Stajcic.
Secondly, it was a mistake of the most enormous proportions.
Alen Stajcic when in charge of the Matildas.
After laying low in the aftermath of a turbulent time and with the World Cup he had planned for and dreamt of just six months away, Stajcic eventually resurfaced as the caretaker coach of the Central Coast Mariners in early 2019.
With the club in turmoil, the challenge was immense and after taking the reins permanently for the 2019-20 season, positive results were few and far between. However, by the time the 2020-21 season rolled around and Stajcic had overseen a decent period of recruitment and adjustments to game style, the Mariners finished third on the ladder, in their best effort since the 2013-14 season.
After proving himself as a competent and effective coach of the women’s national team, Stajcic had done precisely the same with an A-League club, before departing the Central Coast in search of a new challenge.
And now, after taking on that challenge in the form of the Philippines women’s national team, the 48-year-old has proven his credentials for a third time, guiding the nation to victory in the AFF Championship on home soil.
With a 3-0 win in the final against Thailand, the team known as the Filipinas continued a recent run of brilliant form that saw them stun Asia with an appearance in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup semi-finals in February. Now, with AFF silverware in the trophy cabinet in Manilla, the team heads to the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand eyeing competitive performances.
After assembling what appeared to be something of a rag-tag group of women from across the globe prior to the Asian Cup tournament, Stajcic moulded them into a competitive unit, despite fitness levels and experience being obvious concerns.
He assembled a crew of trusted people to share the journey, with that path now reverberating right across Asia and his team seemingly improving from match to match. To where that improvement ultimately leads is anyone’s guess, yet form suggests there will be few teams in the world feeling that a match-up with the Filipinas will be an automatic three points at the World Cup next year.
All the while, the Matildas’ climate is laced with concern and dissatisfaction around the results being achieved and approach being taken by current mentor Tony Gustavsson.
Bluntly, the wheels appear to have fallen off, their public image has soured, and the disparity between the quality of their play and that of the best-performing European nations appears to have widened significantly over the last 18 months.
I would suggest that the Matildas would be travelling far better under a man who knows them well, one who shaped their performances and development over a long period, and someone who might also have been able to extract even more from the host of players learning and improving every day while playing in Europe’s biggest leagues.
Alas, we will never know.
Football Australia jettisoned Alen Stajcic, thinking there was something better or for a reason of which we are yet to be fully informed.
The Matildas’ loss is the Filipinas’ gain.
The big question is: will we ever be told exactly why this brilliant tactician and player manager was removed in the first place?
anthony15
Roar Rookie
He was pushed out by a group of players that had an agenda against him. Corruption at its finest, so glad he found his feet elsewhere. Terrific coach and an excellent bloke.
Punter
Roar Rookie
I just watched the England v Spain game in the Women's Euros. Their is no way in the last 5-10 years of watching the Matildas, there is no way Australia has ever played to that standard of passing & moving, no matter who was the coach. That was one amazing game of Women's football, probably the best standard I have ever watched.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Exactly, gone are the days where the USA & lesser extent Japan & Australia had professional or at least semi professional, women's football is growing & fast.
Garry
Roar Rookie
workplace bans on them have always been useless tho..people in close contact are going to ‘mingle’ sometimes…. I think it come sdown to amount & context..for instance bosses and junior staff is rife with issues
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
When has Australia been one of winners let alone one of the perennial winners?
chris
Guest
I wouldn't call it demanding. I'd say petty and vindictive. He used to be the ONLY pathway for younger players to progress in NSW. He abused that power in many ways. But like I said, none of this will come out as its a combination of many things rather than one big bang moment. And yes I have coached against him and also have seen him operate up close when it comes to selecting players etc. Karma is a you know what.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i believe the word you are looking for instead of 'most pleasant' is 'demanding' lol, you'll find that most coaches with heritage from the balkans are all like this. - its one of the reasons for thier success as coaches not just in australia but around the world. havent had the pleasure (or displeasure depending on your point of view lol), but i have spoken to him once on the phone in relation to an adelaide player that he was keen on taking to the mariners. the feeling i got on that call has been echoed by ex players and coaching staff that have worked with him. however i wont cast full judgement until i/if run into him
josh
Guest
I like that pic of Staj in the story, it's no co-incidence is it :laughing:
At work
Roar Rookie
And if that's the case then it's a pretty reasonable request from Staj. Plenty of workplaces ban inter office relationships, and that sort of thing in a team environment could turn toxic very quickly.
At work
Roar Rookie
Firstly it was good riddance when Heather Reid was voted off the FFA board last year. Secondly, Staj has really stuck it up his former employers, and well done to him.
chris
Guest
The reasons Staj got the boot is probably more to do with a culmination of things rather than 1 solitary reason. For anyone that knows him and/or has spent time with him would know he is not the most pleasant man around. At times, out and out vindictive with player selections etc. A lot of this has to do with his time as FNSW youth coaching and at Westfields Sports high school. But my comment here will not sit well with the majority of people on here who don't know Staj and goes against the love in we seem to have every now and then about him.
Marcel
Guest
Well played sir !
Buddy
Roar Rookie
BT - I didn't say their days are over, I just said the days of leading the way are over. They did lead the way with women's football and now many countries have cottoned on to it and have developed at a very fast pace and have caught up imo. I don't see the USA as being the only place to go to be a professional player these days.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Thanks Chris, didn't think I said USA, Norway & Australia days are over. Some like to read to suit their agenda.
jamesb
Roar Guru
Stajcic saga is pretty boring, especially where there is no new details coming to light around his dismissal. Anyway, it’s good to see him doing well with the USA B team.
chris
Guest
I think most people got the gist of what Punter was saying. Ie, the days of perennial winners coming from the likes of USA, Aus, Norway are well and truly over. We now have a lot more teams (esp from Europe) in the mix. That doesn't mean the USA etc wont still be in the mix.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
So the days of the USA are supposedly over , yet the Phillipines squad is mostly USA players and the secret to Stajics success is bring in Americans. Ironically as well I see that Stajic has also got a Norwegian and an Australian now.
Punter
Roar Rookie
See this is the difference in views, it was not Norway's efforts I was looking at but England, this is where I see the difference.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Matildas were apparently riding high after the Asia cup 2018? More Stajic propaganda, the Matildas drew with Thailand 2-2 in the third place play off and won on penalties. Phillipines came 6th I see they started with the Americans already in that tournament. Stajic was the first to start the rot, not picking new players and keeping Van Egmond around. Phillipines has one of the largest Asian American populations and Stajic has done tremendously in tracking down every footballer with at least one Phillipino grand parent. Gustavsson being a lot worse than Stajic doesn't mean you go back to Stajic or that Stajic was a good coach. If you keep old and slow players then you will be wiped out in the current era. The Matildas if they keep Gustavsson they will be looking at repeating Norway efforts at the Euros against England.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i shared what i personally know about the 'staj-uation' and copped a posting ban on here for like 3 weeks lol Staj has got a NDA (which doesnt have a time period set to it) so you may never hear him personally speak on the situation. he's moved on from it now and concentrated on coaching and everyone has seen what hes achieved with a minnow. australia needs to be very careful about its position within the asian confederation, especially as the smallest nations are starting to pump money into the sport while australia continues to stagnate. semi on/off topic the AFC u 16 tournament starts in 2 weeks and i have some doubt if the joeys even get out the group (which to a casual fan of the sport looks easy, but its not) not that the joeys squad isn't talent laden, its more to do with the smaller asian sides making huge steps in their developement