Australian football pioneer Rale Rasic, the first coach to take the Socceroos to a World Cup, has died, aged 87.
Rasic, a Sport Australia Hall of Fame member, is renowned as among the nation’s most influential football identities.
The Bosnian-born Rasic, who played in Yugoslavia’s first division, came to Australia in 1962.
Just eight years later, he was appointed as Australia’s coach when aged 34.
In 1974, Rasic led Australia to the World Cup where the Socceroos were beaten by East Germany 2-0, lost to eventual champions West Germany 3-0 and then drew 0-0 with Chile.
Rasic was dumped as coach after the Cup, saying the nation’s football hierarchy believed he wasn’t a “real Aussie”.
“They took from me something that I was doing better than anyone else,” he had said.
“I was a true-blue Aussie and nobody can deny that. I taught the players how to sing the national anthem.”
He remained in contact with the ’74 squad for the rest of his life.
“They are part of my family … I certainly helped them realise their dreams but they also made me who I am with their devotion, commitment and loyalty,” he once said.
Asked what the Socceroos, past and present, meant to him, he told SBS two years ago: “Very easy question and I have a simple answer: the Socceroos and the green and gold jersey are my life.”
Rasic’s coaching career included stints at Melbourne Hungaria, St George, Marconi Stallions, Pan Hellenic, Adelaide City, Blacktown City, South Melbourne, APIA Leichhardt, Canterbury-Marrickville, Rockdale Ilinden, Fairfield Bulls and Canberra Cosmos.
In 2004, Rasic was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to soccer as a player, coach and administrator.
Voice of Reason
Roar Rookie
What a legend.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
The question for Football Australia is how to commemorate Rale's legacy.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Great comment. Thanks.
chris1
Roar Rookie
I attended a coaching clinic a few years ago with Rale doing a session on defensive shape. He was well into his 70s and for someone to still turn up on a cold winters day in the western suburbs of Sydney was amazing. He was enthusiastic, warm and complimentary with the group of FNSWI girls doing his session. I hope I have the same energy and outlook on life when I'm in my 70s :)
Rob Eccles
Roar Rookie
Rest In Peace Rale. You were a great human being. Generous with your time and your passion for the sport of Football. You gave it focus and leadership in Australia at a time when it was still "wog-ball". You rose from a 6-year-old, WW2 orphan, in Central Europe to be the first coach to take the Socceroos to a Football World Cup in 1974. Back when only 16 teams of 200 nations could qualify for the finals and today you are still the youngest ever coach of a team at a World Cup at age 38. You nicknamed yourself "Captain Cook" over this because you were proud to call yourself an Australian! You were an inspiration to my sons. You gave each of them many days, weeks, and months of your time. Coaching them, going on overseas tours with them and quietly in the background advocating them. All you ever asked for in return was a cup of coffee. "Coffee Rale?" I can hear my sons and nephews laughing with you even now!
sheek
Roar Guru
Goalkeeper, not fullback!!!
Stevo
Roar Rookie
https://keepup.com.au/news/a-visonary-who-changed-the-path-of-football-in-australia-and-my-friend-farewell-rale/
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
He gave football in Australia the belief they could actually compete on the international stage and I am sure inspired many to take up the sport. I worked with his brother,Doug,many years back so my thoughts go out to him and the Rasic family at this sad news.RIP Rale.
sheek
Roar Guru
What an era! Those guys in 1974 we part-timers who had to leave their jobs, which some would never get back. Jim Fraser, who might have contested the fullback spot with Jack Reilly, couldn't leave his security business. Part-timers playing the pros of Europe, who they surprised with their courage & tenacity. They may have been rough around the edges, but they won hearts with their grit. It says something that it took 32 years before before we qualified for the world cup again. Although the 1997/98 Socceroos were cruelled by the most unbelievably rotten luck. Rale Rasic was a pioneer, way ahead of his time. He was treated abominably by the Australian soccer hierarchy who were just a bunch of imbeciles!
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Honestly, it feels like a death in the family, and I didn't know him personally. He coached Footscray JUST where I played in my junior years. A statue needs to be erected.
Grem
Roar Rookie
A great coach and a big loss for Australian football. I wonder how much greater his career may have been if those in power in 1974 had reappointed him, as should have happened. He was ahead of his times in Australia. I also loved his sports store in Fairfield - 4R Sportsworld, which he co owned with Ray Richards. It was amazing as a very young football player to have 2 greats of the game helping you choose your football boots and cricket shoes.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
feel for people that have had a friendship of 30-40 years with rale, someone like ray gatt will be taking this news very hard. i have fond memories of when we moved to australia and my dad contacted rale for advice, they maintained a good friendship up until my dads passing a couple years ago. rale was too ill to make the funeral but he sent flowers - that was the type of person he was, an absolute gentleman and had a smile that would light up the room he was ahead of his time when it came to coaching and its rare to find a coach that was so well respected in adelaide, melbourne and sydney - when he took charge of club sides with a real history. one of the photos on the wall of my home office is of a much younger rale, frank & my dad - hard to believe that all 3 have passed in the space of 3 years with rale's passing (& frank arok's a couple years ago) that leaves only 1 legendary serbian australian manager still alive - zoran matic Vjecnaja Pamjat Rale
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
Rale was a stand-out manager who had taken the part-timers to the biggest stage of all the FIFA WC and performed well above their weight as part-timers status. RIP, Rale. :football:
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Vale and respect
chris1
Roar Rookie
A real giant of the game. He introduced football in this country to the rest of the world and vice versa on the biggest sporting stage. RIP.