Brisbane Roar have hired Ben Cahn as the club’s new head coach – the club’s fifth in 21 A-League Men’s games – in response to their historic City drubbing.
First-year coach Ross Aloisi quit his post last month after just nine games to link as an assistant with Kevin Muscat at Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port.
The Roar were then thumped 8-1 by Melbourne City – the competition’s equal-biggest losing margin – in their first game under interim Luciano Trani.
Roar chief executive Kaz Patafta had said Trani would lead the side for the rest of the season.
But on Monday, in the wake of their City hiding – after a “meticulous review of our entire football department” – the new Roar chief had changed his tune.
“We are proud to convey that the off-field challenges which have long cast a shadow over our club are now largely a thing of the past,” Patafta wrote in a club statement.
“However, last Thursday’s match has necessitated swift and decisive action.
“To that end, we are accelerating our appointment process for a new A-League Men’s head coach.”
Less than an hour later the Roar announced Cahn as the new head coach until the end of next season.
(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
His first game in charge will be in Brisbane against Sydney FC on January 6 – 20 games after Warren Moon was punted in February last year.
Cahn’s had stints at Melbourne Knights, Central Coast Mariners and Brisbane Olympic FC.
He won the 2023 NPL Victoria and 2020 NPL Queensland Coach of the Year gongs.
“I’m delighted to have been given this opportunity,” he said.
“I’m very grateful to management and the owners for backing me and trusting me to help them take the club forward.
“The new management have done a fantastic job in a short time in the face of a lot of adversity to stabilise the football club off the field, and I’m very excited to work with them to help deliver their vision for taking the club in to the future.
“I’m well aware that it’s a challenging time, the players have had to deal with a lot of disruption, but it’s a great time to set the standards for the journey forwards and for everyone to stand up and give everything.
“It’s a strong playing group with a strong mentality, and I’ve got every belief we can continue and build on the positive early-season progress and give everything to compete at the top end of the league.”
The club had started well under former assistant Aloisi, who had gone four games unbeaten before comprehensive back-to-back losses either side of his departure.
Trani will remain as Cahn’s assistant.
“Ben’s appointment is a statement of our ambition,” Roar chief operating officer Zac Anderson said.
“His philosophy and methods are in complete harmony with the Roar’s DNA, and his hunger for success mirrors our aspiration as a football club.
“We’ve witnessed his ability to elevate young talent to new heights, which aligns perfectly with our club’s vision.
“His innovative approach to the game will bring an exciting era of success to Brisbane Roar.”
Leon
Roar Rookie
Sadly, coaching merry go rounds are a feature of the game, and long term successful tenure, the exception rather than the rule. Head coaches come and go. Some jump. Some are pushed. Some just fade away. In regards to win percentages and trophies, Mulvey and, Ange have been Roar’s best. Neither had A League head coaching tenures prior to Roar. Neither was Australian born. Both were very much a gamble at the time with doubters aplenty. The well documented debacles and implosions that have been Brisbane Roar since the demise of Mike Mulvey, have been made in Australia. Not in Indonesia. The faults lie overwhelming with those employed onshore to run the club. Some criticize Kaz and Zac as mere accountants. They were footballers first, and the hope is that they are able to bring a mix of football knowledge, passion for the game, energy, and business acumen to the club. Renewal and rebuild is going to take time and there will be ups and downs along the journey as we have just seen. I had no expectations of top six coming into this season, nor of a trophy for some time to come. Though Ross came close. My expectations are that strong financial and operational foundations be built; positive relationships be built with governments at all levels as well as the local football community, the media, and the broader community. And that young Queensland talent is given a go. Some excitement along the way to make it interesting is also welcome. As the cameras rolled during the interview with Jamie Mclaren after the Melbourne City game, my thoughts were: Congratulations Jamie. Well done old man. You’ve done well. You’ve represented yourself, your family, your club, and your country with pride. But I was also thinking: Look over your shoulder mate. We have seen the future. And the future is Rylan, Thomas, Quinn, and more to come. And I will remember Rylan’s goal well after I have long since forgotten the result of the game. Welcome to Ben Cahn. The flame has been lit. Long may you keep it alight.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
Was never close, Cahn wanted to come back to QLD after Knights.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
Who haven't the Bakrie's pissed off at this point, really need a 2nd SEQ Team in the next expansion IMO.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
interesting appointment given the fact he interviewed for the position before ross got it. im not so sure on him taking the reigns during the season thoygh (it wouldve better to take it at season end to get his training methods downpat and recruitment of players he actually wants) - incredibly risky move for a coach that has highly been touted for years and having to change things on the fly this now leaves only 1 youngish NPL based coach who is capable of an a league gig, that hasnt been picked up yet - paul pezos (who coincidentally like cahn also interviewed for the brissy job before ross)
Brendan
Roar Pro
Finally! Cahn has an excellent track record in the NPL, & has experience with developing youth. Give him 12 months, & Roar will be looking like a Championship side, guaranteed. Ross who?
Grem
Roar Rookie
I’ve only read good things about Ben Cahn so I am hoping he has a long and wonderful career in the A Leagues. I am also hoping he does very well with the Roar. He will obviously need time to develop a team that he has so far had no input into. Hopefully a good season for the Roar this year followed by a better one next year. Maybe now with Kaz, Zac and Ben they have the team that will nurture Brisbane Roar into the club the spectators deserve.
Garry
Roar Rookie
I think it’s a perfect time for Cohn..they’ve been thrashed so with a tough game first up no one will be expecting miracles. He will be able to begin the rebuild right away. All most fans will hope for is a better defensive shape. The freshness may make it tricky for Sydney..but not too much I hope.! :happy:
Waz
Roar Rookie
The rumour is Scott wouldn’t work for the Bakries anyway
Waz
Roar Rookie
Look, it’s a Roar thing and has been this way for years … The Reserve Coach typically runs the Academy & coaches the NPL squad, that’s where Warren Moon came from and when Cahn was brought in the expectation was he would one day be Head Coach. Normally when a HC departs, if the Assistant stays it’s normally their job to step in but Trani is aging a bit and shows no sign of wanting to be a Head Coach shouldn’t have been given the role - at least not until the end of the season. So it’s the right call, they just went the long way around making it.
pete4
Roar Rookie
Classic knee jerk reaction I guess after losing 8-1 the player leadership group must of had no confidence in Luciano Trani. Ben Cahn will definitely be hoping for a bounce back this week
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
I Think Scott McDonald would have been a better choice but the A-League and Socceroo hating President of Gold Coast Knights Adrian Puljich would have made that difficult.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Was almost the new Mariners coach. Very very very popular on the Coast. Wise choice IMO he is class
Waz
Roar Rookie
Well, not an unfair point, but unlike players coaches have to get their experience elsewhere. The best coach Roar could have hired is now at Sydney, but we’re not that sort of club - we help make good coaches not hire them
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Maybe this was the plan and explain some of the dodgy behaviour during the match. I was wondering why Aldred was continuing with it even after so many goals were scored.
Waz
Roar Rookie
This is a good hire, and received extremely well within the local football community. Probably the hire they should have made instead of Ross, but only with hindsight. Unfortunately it still has poor optics: Why wasn’t Ben appointed immediately, or at least as interim (something smells?), why put Trani through that, and this is Roars 5th Coach in 21 A League games (or 5th Coach in 3/4 of a season). Sometimes they just make things harder than they need to be. But it is a good hire, well done to Roar getting there in the end.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
Another NPL coach? Lets not hold our breath.