THE ULTIMATE A-LEAGUE SEASON PREVIEW

AUSTRALIAN October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au

T
THE B M AZINE
MAGA E

BONUS
INSIDE:
EVERY CLUB
RATED, ANALYSED

A-LEAGUE
TOP STARS GIVE
THEIR PREDICTIONS
THE SECRET OF

FIXTURE
VICTORY'S SUCCESS
SYDNEY FC'S
MARQUEE MAGIC

GUIDE
FANS V COPS

AND WE QUIZ THE

MAN BEHIND THE
SOCCEROOS ROW

PLUS: TEN TOP TALENTS OUTSIDE THE A-LEAGUE

 21-23 November Melbourne Showgrounds

P O R T !
O U R S
V E R Y
D I S C O
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N Y O N SITE D T EXPO!
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EDITORIAL

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Straight from the dugout
Email kairs@fourfourtwo.com.au

Art Director Danny McGonigle

You can follow me
Online Kathy Stone @SheWritesMe, John Davidson or send me a tweet
@JohnnyDDavidson, Ben Somerford @BenSomerford, on @KevinAirs442
Dejan Kalinic @DejanKalinic, Con Stamocostas @
ConStama10, David Manuca @DavidManuca
Aussie Contributors Kieran Pender, Michael Lynch, With 10 full seasons under its belt, the A-League should be coming of age. And
Cronan Yu, Dejan Kalinic, Kathy Stone, Ben Somerford,
Con Stamocostas, Vanessa Safajou. yet, here we are at the start of a new season with several clubs in turmoil.
Thanks to Taronga Zoo for the koalas, giraffes and view!
Newcastle Jets are, as we go to press, still owned by the FFA after Nathan
Tinkler was stripped of his title for failing to pay players. It's the second time in
ADVERTISING five years this has happened in the Hunter, with a similar fate befalling Con
Brands and Advertising Manager Constantine in 2010. Scots businessman Stephen Thompson is believed to be
Adam Jackson @adamj442Oz close to doing a deal to take over... but he has been linked to a buy-out for
Tel (02) 9901 6109
Email ajackson@fourfourtwo.com.au months now without it so far eventuating.
Head of Sport Likewise, Brisbane Roar, as we go to press, are on the edge of an abyss with
Hamish Bayliss
Indonesian owners the Bakries still failing to pay players on time and more than
Tel (02) 9901 6176
Email HBayliss@nextmedia.com.au $1 million said to be outstanding in players' superannuation and bonuses. They
are on a final warning from the FFA... but the sore is still being allowed to fester.
PUBLISHING
Prepress Manager Jonathan Bishop
A mystery buyer is also said to be on the sidelines, although that deal too has
Production Manager Alison Begg yet to be finalised.
Circulation Director Carole Jones
In Gosford, Central Coast Mariners are still being run on a shoestring after their
FOURFOURTWO GLOBAL "Russian buyout" deal vanished, while some close to the club claim wages at
UK Editor Dave Hall Western Sydney Wanderers are at the lowest allowable end of the salary cap.
International Director Alastair Lewis
Brand Director Hugh Sleight
But elsewhere in the league, it seems like a very different story. Wellington
Brand Director Asia Andy Jackson Phoenix's future in the competition is still in doubt while the FFA keep Kiwis
guessing about their inclusion, but they are one of the best run clubs in the
league, stable and solvent – rare commodities in the A-League. Adelaide United
too seem to have struggled through the hard times to emerge on a solid footing
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 O C TOBE R 2015

UPFRONT
8 Top 10 Transfer U-Turns
INSIDE
VICTORY
When deadline day deals rapidly go sour.

9 The 60-Second Dossier

All you need to know about Rafa Benitez

10 “TXT ME YEAH? :)”

Osama Malik shocks and surprises us. For real.

12 At The End Of The Day

Mile Sterjovski’s life-changing World Cup moment

FEATURES
14 One On One: Adam Vivian
With the dispute between the players union
Professional Footballers Australi and Football
Federation Australia escalating out of control, Michael
Lynch sits down with PFA boss Adam Vivian

20 20 Key Things To
T Watch Out For This Season
The season hasn’t even started but already we can
predict some of the key things we reckon will be pivotal
in the A-League over the next few months!

26 Victory’s Secret of Success

Melbourne Victory reclaimed their crown as the
A-League’s most successful club last season – and
they’re favourites to do it again We found out how...

39 20-Page A-League Season Preview

Every club previewed, analysed and rated by Fox
Sports’ Simon Hill, plus we chat to each club’s star
player to get their take on the season ahead

60 Sydney’s Marquee Magic

Stellar marquees have been the hallmark of Bling FC
Sydney... until Graham Arnold arrived. Now football
skills take precedence over celebrity status.

P26
71 Ten Top Talents Outside The A-League
We trawl the state leagues for some hidden gems that
deserve a break and a bigger audience in the A-League

83 Fair Go For The Common Fan

Has the A-League learned to cope with football
fans yet? The experts, police and supporters tell us...

MY PERFECT XI
98 Nicola Berti
The golden age of Serie A is basically all here on
one page, courtesy of the Italian legend.

P14

6 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au

 CON T E N T S

SEASON
PREVIEW

P60
Adelaide United 40

Brisbane Roar 42

entral Coast 44

Melbourne City 46

Melbourne Victory 48
P71
Newcastle jets 50

Perth Glory 52

Sydney FC 54

Wellington Phoenix 56

Western Sydney 58
P83

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 7

 UPFRONT
UPFR
TOP10
The
U-TURNS
Perth Glory Socceroo teen Daniel De Silva’s
late Roma/Roda switch isn’t the first time a
transfer has gone to hell at the last moment...
1 “Fergie? You’re not
gonna like this, but…”
A surreal phone call from then-Spurs
chairman Irving Scholar to Paul
Gascoigne, en route to Manchester after
promising Alex Ferguson he’d sign for
United, persuaded Gazza to veer towards
London instead (Fergie had gone on
holiday, convinced the deal was done).
Scholar offered the young Geordie
genius a BMW, a house for his parents
and a sunbed for his sister. “My sister
should have got a spray tan,” Gascoigne
Upfront editor Andrew Murray; Top 10 words Nick Moore
said later. “I’d have a few more medals.”
2Diego Maradona?
Not worth it
Poor Harry Haslam. The visionary
Sheffield United manager scouted
South America in 1978 – a time
when few British talent-spotters
got beyond their local park – and
came across young tyro Diego
Maradona tearing things up for “Oh, I had the nic
Argentinos Juniors. He talked dream. I was pla
with Mick Speight”
8 October 2015 fourfourtwo.co
om.au
the club down to $1.2m and the move
was on, only for the Blades board to get
cold feet over the fee. They bought Alex
Sabella instead for $320,000. Shocker.
3“Your dinner’s in the
bin... in another city”
4 What a strike!
When West Ham’s David Unsworth and
his wife Jane wanted to move closer to
their native North West in 1998, he had
a choice of Aston Villa or his former club,
Everton. He chose the former but lasted
barely a month amid rumours that Jane
underestimated her husband’s commute
home from Birmingham to Merseyside.
est
ying
“He was told he had to be home by 1pm
or his dinner would be in the bin,” huffed
the ever-tactful Villa boss John Gregory,
as Unsworth rejoined the Toffees.
A triumph for women’s suffrage.
A piece of (possibly embellished)
Turin folklore. Gigi ‘The Butterfly’ Meroni
was Torino’s darling, and after three
magical seasons attracted a bid from
big-boy city-mates Juventus. Workers at
the Turin Fiat factory – overwhelmingly
Torino fans – threatened their employers,
the Juve-owning Agnelli family, with
a strike if the deal went ahead. It didn’t.
Sadly, a fatal accident robbed
the fans of Meroni’s genius
a few months later anyway.
5 Everton Mullered
by Selecao star
Brazilian internationals simply
didn’t move to England in the
early ’90s, so Mike Walker signing
bona fide star Muller on the back of
a World Cup win in 1994 gave ardent
Toffees a genuine frisson. Alas, Muller’s
agent called, upset that the proposed
$20,000-a-week wages were “before
tax” and that (unlike Gazza) he wouldn’t
get a free house. Muller went to Japan;
Walker snapped up Duncan Ferguson
from Rangers. Like-for-like.
6 “Aren’t there sheriffs
in Nottingham?”
The 2011 UK riots didn’t just result in
looted TVs and a liberated bag of
Tesco Value basmati rice – they also
denied Nottingham Forest a Dutch
sensation. ADO Den Haag winger Wesley
Verhoek, who had dazzled against Forest
boss Steve McClaren’s Twente in the
Eredivisie, had agreed terms and passed
a medical, but arrived in the Midlands
just as it was partly burning to the
ground. Verhoek promptly decided he
was “homesick” and “didn’t think it was
fair to proceed”. Bottler.
 UPFRONT

PLAYING
OFF THE
SHOULDER
OF FOOTBALL

Spurs’ generosity
negotiated these conversational deep RAFA BENITEZ
ends between 1998 and 2006, only to

THE 60-SECOND DOSSIER

towards Gazza be defeated – so legend has it – by the
knew no bounds Boltonian brogue. “He was shocked to
discover he could hardly understand a

STRATEGO
word the locals were saying,” reported
The Bolton News after Hamann visited
the McDonald’s next to Wanderers’
56.29%
stadium. After one official day on the Win ratio at Liverpool.
Military board game Have that, Brendan!
books, Didi went to Manchester City.
with which he was

9 Le
obsessed with as a kid
Tiss can’t hack
The Big Smoke
Four years into
his illustrious Saints
career, Matt Le
Tissier – a Glenn

CHESS
He drives a Mini Cooper
Hoddle nut as a with a Union Jack roof
nipper – nearly joined RAFA’S

17
Spurs in 1990. “We’d
S
BIGGEST Followers on
REGRETS
agreed on wages,”
a He started playing at Twitter of his
Le Tiss admitted, but the age of 13 and says feline lookalike
he eventually reneged, it is useful for tactics @rafacatetez
mainly thanks to his
Career-ending

“SHOWER!” SLEEPLESS
fia
ancée Cathy not
You don’t see fancying life in the knee injury 10%
this in The Ha Selling Xabi Alonso
gue capital. “We were very

7 Diplomacy, setttled,” said the man while at Liverpool 10%

Glasgow-style whose loyalty led him His one word to Djimi The ‘facts’ rant After the 2007
The biggie. If you’re going to do to became known as ‘Le God’ in Traore at half-time of at Fergie 10% Champions League
something like become the most Southampton, “and the way I lived the 2005 Champions Accepting the Final he walked the
high-profile Catholic to sign for Rangers, didn’t really suit the bright lights of League Final, before Chelsea job 10% streets of Athens, as
it’s probably wise not to first let yourself London.” There’s a great kebab house calling him back due Over use of the word Liverpool had booked
be paraded around Celtic’s Parkhead on Stoke Newington Road, Matt. to Steve Finnan’s injury ‘cloob’ 60% too few hotel rooms
ground, saying: “There’s no other British
club I could play for.” But Mo Johnston
[above] did, before being tempted by
Graeme Souness to leap the terrifying
10 Liverpool fans,
look away now
It’s still a twitchy subject for Liverpool $12,000,000
sectarian chasm and whip animosities fans, but the fact remains that, with a
Fee Liverpool paid to end his five-year deal in 2010 (he was entitled to $32m)
into a frothy crescendo. Impressively, $65m offer from Chelsea on the table,
Johnson united the Old Firm: Celtic and Steven Gerrard did turn down $200,000
ONE-WORD TIMELINE

Rangers fans both hated him after this. a week and submit a transfer request
on July 5, 2005, six weeks after That

8 “I SAID: “YES, I’D LIKE Night In Istanbul. Later admitting to

2015 Merengue
1995 Valladolid
1993 Assistant

2001 Valencia
2000 Tenerife

FRIES WITH THAT!’”

2012 Interim
2005 Miracle
1986 Retired

“eating paracetamol like Smarties” as

1998 Maria

2011 Tears
2009 Facts
1960 Bebe

If learning English was a computer game he watched his shirt being burned by
then doing it in Newcastle and Liverpool Kopites, the Reds’ talisman now
would be like fighting an end-level boss claims the request was brinksmanship.
right at the start. But unassuming He rang his chairman at 11pm to say
Bavarian Dietmar Hamann successfully he wanted to stay. Smoothly done.

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 9

 UPFRONT

“TXT ME, YEAH?? )

Adelaide United’s Osama Malik gives us a jaw-dropping finale to
our every-expense-spared interview which we may never recover from...

Osama Malik
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WHY[PJPWH[LPU-V\Y-V\Y;^V»Z[_[TZN
interview. First up: What have u /L` TH[L 0 SPRL [V NV H^H` L]LY` VќZLHZVU HUK [OPZ
ILLU\WPU[OLVќZLHZVU& `LHY 0^LU[ [V 2LU`H ^P[O (^LY 4HIPS

.VVKZ[\ќ¶(^LY[VSK\ZHIV\[[OH[
YLJLU[S`9LN\SHY8^LSPRL[VHZR¶
4HIPSZHPK*SL]LSHUK)YV^UHUK
^L»]LHSZVOHK)H[THUHUK /HOH 0»K SPRL [V RUV^ ^OV \Y ZV\YJLZ HYL [OL`»YL WYL[[`
4LSTHUYLJLU[S`¶^OPJOJHY[VVU ZWV[ VU 0»K SPRL [V ZH` /\L` -YLLKTHU MYVT ;OL
JOHYHJ[LY^V\SK\IL^O`& )VVUKVJRZUVYLHSYLHZVU 0 Q\Z[^HU[[VIL OPT

3VSZLLTZYLHZVUHISL>LSV]L[OL *OLLYZ 0»]L [HRLU VU [OH[ YLZWVUZPIPSP[` T`ZLSM 0»]LOHK

OHPYTH[L¶^OV»Z\YOHPYKYLZZLY& [VVTHU`IHK L_WLYPLUJLZ^P[OOHPYKYLZZLYZ

([HSLU[LKTHU5V^^LSPRL[VHZR
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IL SV]LK +LLW 0 RUV^
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WOPSVZVWOLY 4PJOHLS A\SSV I\[ 0»SS [Y` T` ILZ[ ;V TL [OL
TLHUPUN VM SPML PZ [V SV]L

4PUK$ISV^U6UHSPNO[LY[VWPJ
^OH[KV\NL[\W[VVU\YKH`ZVќ 0»T H IPN MHU VM MVVK ZV 0 SPRL [V ZWLUKT`KH`Z Vќ
K\YPUN[OLZLHZVU& ÄUKPUNJVVSUL^WSHJLZ[V LH[

(YLU»[^LHSS0MTLTVY`ZLY]LZ\Z
correctly u were called up for a
:VJJLYVVZJHTWH^OPSLIHJR¶
^OV»Z[OLIPNNLZ[QVRLYPU[OL +LÄUP[LS` (YJOPL ;OVTWZVU ¶ 0 ^HZ S\JR` LUV\NO [VZP[
UH[PVUHS[LHT& H[OPZ[HISL 0^HZPUZ[P[JOLZL]LY`TLHS[PTL

Haha we’re not surprised. Do u

have any deep dark secrets to share
^P[OHUH[PVUHSTHNHaPUL&

45 minutes later 5VY\ZOTH[LI\[

HU`S\JR^P[O[OH[SHZ[8&-PUHSS`
we’re using this feature to audition
WSH`LYZMVY[OLJVTLK`ZLJ[PVUVM
(3LHN\L»Z.V[;HSLU[¶^OH[»Z\Y
ILZ[QVRL&
/TT [OL N\`Z PU [OL [LHT WYVIHIS` HSYLHK` RUV^ [OPZ
I\[ 0 YVJR ^VTLU»Z WHU[Z 0»T HJ[\HSS`^LHYPUN
^VTLU»Z WHU[ZHZ0^YP[L[OPZ [L_[

Can’t tell if that’s the secret or the

joke! Either way, give us a joke and 3 hours later 0»]L NV[  MVY \! T` MYPLUK YLJLU[S` NV[ JY\ZOLK
Words Kieran Pender

then we’ll leave you in peace! I`HWPSLVMIVVRZ)\[OL»ZVUS` NV[OPZZOLSM[VISHTL

Haha nicely done. Thanks for

chatting!
 UPFRONT

AT THE END OF THE DAY MILE STERJOVSKI

One taste of World Cup football transformed the way MILE STERJOVSKI felt about his career
I knew I’d made it as
a player when I
looked back on my
career after
retirement. During my
career I never wanted
to feel like I had made
it because I always
wanted to have the
drive to be better and
to achieve more.

I was happiest when I

made the squad for th
2006 World Cup in
Germany. As I had been out of
the Socceroos squad for almost a year
beforehand, I went into the tournament
without any expectations – but as soon
I got a taste of international football
again, I did not want to settle for being
a squad player. And what a World Cup
it was! We went into every game as
underdogs but earned a lot of respect
for the way we played: we were fearless,
determined and very competitive.
The highlight would have to be the
game against Croatia. To get the
required result to move to the next
round against expectations was an
unbelievable feeling and to top it off
with a standing ovation from both
sets of fans was something I will
never forget.
Interview Kieran Pender
Premier League
action at last
they all incredible players but the
difference for me was that they were
all great guys. The team atmosphere
was one of the best I experienced in
my whole career.
If I could change one thing about the
game it would be that whoever gets
fouled in the penalty box should be the
penalty taker.
Playing in Turkey was a great
experience. I was treated very well
there and really enjoyed my football.
Life away from the pitch was a little
My hero growing s called away with difficult though, because we were
up was not just one e national team. I reliant on others to get things done.
player. I liked many erally dropped my We could not pay gas and electricity
footballers – Marco ife and son home bills on our own, and if there were any
van Basten, Gabriel om the hospital problems with our accommodation we
Batistuta, George nd had to go away had to rely on others to sort it out,
Weah – and would r two weeks, to which was difficult and sometimes
try to replicate what Unforgettable nly play 30 minutes a very slow process. It was also
they did on the field champion n two games. challenging because I had to leave
in my own game. I my wife and two year old son regularly,
also really admired y proudest moment as I would always have to go to the
Darko Pančev and was receiving my first call up for the team hotel before and after training
John Markovski because of my Socceroos. It was something I had sessions and games.
Macedonian background. dreamed about and worked hard for my
whole life! My debut was against If it wasn’t for football I would
Winning the Swiss Super League with Scotland in Glasgow. I remember I was not have travelled the world and
FC Basel was something special. The very nervous going into camp, but a few met so many great people I can
celebrations in the city and the parade players really looked after me and now call friends.

in front of our fans are both things I will
never forget!
Weah – probably
The day football broke my heart was
Africa’s greatest
when my first son Luka was born and I
made me feel welcome, in particular
Josip Skoko and Stan Lazaridis. I would
talk to them if I had any problems and
to this day I call them for advice and
guidance. Training with the Socceroos
Mile runs Mile Sterjovski Football
Coaching, an academy for kids five
and up. For more information visit
www.msfc.net.au.

12 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au

 KICKING OFF FROM 7TH SEPTEMBER
JUNIOR COMPETITIONS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
ADULTS COMPETITIONS FOR MEN, WOMEN AND MIXED
OVER 35 MEN’S COMPETITIONS

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ONE-ON-ONE
Is the PFA only interested in raising the
salary cap? Who should replace Frank Lowy?
Should all clubs be like Melbourne Victory?
And do we need promotion and relegation?
Adam Vivian
INTERVIEW BY MICHAEL LYNCH
It is the voice of the dressing room and the
stars on the pitch. As the players’ rep in the
boardroom, Professional Footballers
Australia is now a key player in the
Australian game.
The players’ union has become an
increasingly vital and vocal part of the
Australian football landscape since it was
founded by former CEO Brendan Schwab two
decades ago.
During that time, its role has grown
significantly in the development of the
A-League and the sport as a whole – and its
contribution to any debate is invariably
thought-provoking.
Adam Vivian took over as PFA chief
executive when Schwab stepped down to
broaden his career in a move that has now
taken him to Europe and a role as Vice-
President with FIFPro, the global players union
representing players worldwide.
Vivian has worked to represent the players
and contribute to the growth of the game
since. He sat down with Michael Lynch to
outline his views on where the game is and
what its future challenges are.
Has there ever been a better time to be a
player in Australia?
I think it’s significantly improved but there still
is a very precarious nature to the career of an
elite athlete across all codes. I think football is
punching above its weight, but we have still
14 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au
got a long way to go. Our league is unique
compared to other leagues and its difficult to
compare. In the global market it’s a fantastic
time to be a footballer, the investment in
broadcasting rights makes it a far better
proposition as a career. But I think particularly
domestically we still have a long way to go.
But its surely better than in the past, when
players in the old National Soccer League of
the 90s were effectively part-timers?
Absolutely. We are fortunate that Fox Sports
invest at the level they do. But we don’t want
to have all our eggs in one basket [from TV
rights] so the diversification
fication of
revenue streams becomes vitally
important. We don’t want to rely
on one revenue stream. We want
football to become a really
commercial product in its own
right through multiple
revenue streams.
How big a problem is the
financial instability of
several clubs?
Its been a huge issuee
through the history of the
A-League. That’s why y when we
look at the CBA in parrticular,
we try to get the prottections
put into place for the players
based on the precario ousness
of the ownership model. Our ownership model
is effectively based on the affluent position of
particular individuals. There are significant
concerns from that perspective. Trying to get
Below Hero or the ownership model right from a licensing
Villain? City flex perspective is vitally important. We have to
their wallets put the requisite protections in place. With
the money from broadcasts now, we can
nearly start guaranteeing contracts and
putting protections in place so that if we lose
licenses, or clubs experience financial
difficulty, the players are not wearing those
financial burdens. We sympathise with the
fans... and that’s why the players continue to
play through adversity, at times with late
payments when they are not earning. When it
comes to poor governance in the Australian
game, the two big victims have been players
andd ffans.
So what is the right ownersship model? A rich
sugar daddy, as is the curre ent case with
many clubs, or something e else?
I think the diversification in ownership is
important and the imporrtance of foreign
investment is a positive. Investment
in Melbourne City has given them
comfort and ccertainty. But we
can’t lose sight of the need to
develop local identities, local
brands and the engagement
with commun nity. Sometimes
you do run the e risk of owners
polarising the ffans. If you were to
look at syndicate ed ownership
models, where the e owners are
across multiple indusstries. Lets say that
“In the global market, it’s
a fantastic time to be a
footballer right now,
but domestically we still
have a long way to go...”
 ONE-ON-ONE

one of the owners’ business takes a dip but ‘He’s behind you...’
the other ones are in other industries which Pantomime season
are travelling well. In those circumstances at Hindmarsh
they can provide the cash flow and support.
Certainly the Melbourne Victory model is
exceptional. But they have had relative tenure
on their side and an extended period in the
market. But Wellington Phoenix have also got
a real diversification. Owners also have to
remember that they are football clubs, not
blue chip companies.

Is dishing out 20 year licences to current

clubs a good idea?
I don’t know why they didn’t just make them
perpetual licences. The ownership and
structural models could be very good.

We have seen several instances of players

not getting paid – how big a problem is that
for the code here and abroad?
It’s one of the most prevalent issues in terms
of our international dimension for
the union. Look at the domestic
issues here, we were quite public
at Newcastle and we still face
problems in other places. The
introduction of the embargo
rules is important. It means
that a club can be embargoed
until they remedy their
breaches, they are unable to sign
players until they meet their
outstanding obligations.

Does the FFA crack the whip enough to

recalcitrant owners in that situation?
Invariably, I think more could always be done.
We would also ask what more could we do?
Could FFA do more? Absolutely. Is enough
done? No… it’s multi-faceted. There are
complex situations, especially when there are
complexities with the tax offices through
garnishee notices. There are difficulties, but all
football stakeholders need to stamp down on
this behaviour and say it’s not acceptable.

Are you concerned about the lack of people

wanting to get into ownership of clubs?
We are cognisant that there may not be
queues of people wanting to take on licences,
particularly in certain markets. But look at the
ownership models of Melbourne City, Western
Sydney. These licences have a tangible value
now and it’s clear that a participation
agreement has a dollar value. People are
holding on to them where they can because
it’s commercially viable. And it is important to
protect that. The last thing you want to see is
those assets being diluted by the behaviour of
some clubs. There is a disparity between clubs,
and we have to be aware of that. You don’t
want that to become too big. The CBA has
protected minimum wages, but you don’t
want to see some teams training on paddocks
and others training in wonderful facilities.
Are you in favour of equalisation?
As a principle, it’s good. But we have to get to
a place where the clubs are viable in their own
right. We must make sure we don’t play to the
Above Jets stars lowest common denominator. We want to
were stiffed by continue and grow the league. We need to
Tinkler Below take the smaller clubs on that journey, get
Victory, successful them punching above their weight and make
and well-run themselves more financially viable.
Are you in favour of expansion of the
league? It would create jobs for your
members and grow the game. Could there
be a second division based on the old
traditional clubs?
I think everything is related to timing. We also
have to be aware of the solvency of the
existing clubs before we look to expansion. We
celebrate the NSL in terms of its history and it’s
time to acknowledge what it achieved and
that needs to occur. But in terms of promotion
and relegation, we are not there yet.
Expansion will inevitably occur but we need to
get the model and the system right for what
we currently have.
Governance is a bit of a buzzword in
contemporary sport. Are there issues with
that in Australian football?
There are a lot of measures in the club
participation agreements which would allow
the FFA to govern the league in a way that
would see it improve exponentially. I don’t see
why Australian football can’t be at the
forefront of global good governance in
football. Financial viability of the clubs, the way
they are governed and run. We need strong
ownership models. We need good stadium
deals – in an ideal world, we would like to see
boutique stadia utilised rather than the big

16 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au


“We don’t want athletes icing off in wheelie
bins [like at Melbourne Heart and the Jets]...”
ones that are so often currently used.
We would like to see clubs owning
their own facilities in that regard. You
have a tangible asset then in real
estate, while gate receipts and other
stadium revenues would be a huge
boost. That would be a huge step for
the clubs. I don’t see why the FFA
couldn’t help drive that.
Surely this can’t happen
overnight? I know stadium deals
are often onerous for the clubs,
but there are few current
alternatives, are there?
It’s timing related. We are talking
about looking forward into the
future. I am not saying we can
knock out 10 stadiums overnight.We have
fantastic pre-existing facilities, and with the
right relationship – and embracing the past –
you can have a relationship [with the older
clubs] that could be quite complementary.
Real estate in Australia is very expensive at
the best of times. But it also comes down to
the ability to negotiate a great contract.
There’s probably not a norm across the
league. We have seen some benchmarking
work that’s been done, and the FFA is
cognisant of this. But the way that stadia
agreements are negotiated varies from club to
club, depending on the club’s expertise.
International marquees
keep Bondi in business
I mentioned a second division
earlier. What is your take on
promotion and relegation?
Attendance is not overwhelming at
National Premier League games. I
think we need to allow competitions
like the FFA Cup to grow and develop
to see if that can engage a
community, reignite the fire and
draw the linkage between A-League
football and NPL level. There are
some great former NSL clubs in there,
so we must try and marry the two.
What might be seen to be old and
new football. I think the FFA does help
there, but we need to see how that
goes before we make any
commitments there. We need to get
Above John van ‘t the community clubs to be more
Schlip-Schlop-Schlap focused on how they are going to be more
was a wheelie bin fan professional again. We can’t dilute the
professionalism in that process.
The CBA expired on June 30, and since then
there has been plenty of debate but no
agreement [at the time of the interview].
Why not?
The players have only ever expected a fair
share of revenue. we are trying to encapsulate
all three agreements into one... for the
A-League, the Socceroos and the Matildas. We
are trying to get a deal for a Whole Of The
ON E - ON - ON E
Game agreement which would encapsulate all
professional football revenues and then divide
that up amongst the requisite playing groups.
In terms of a percentage, we would look to
around the 30 per cent mark [of game
revenues]. The players are only looking to get
at the revenue streams from the professional
game, not from the semi pro or NPL clubs.
Are you happy with the peg on the number
of imports per club to five? Han Berger
wanted it cut to four when he was the FFA’s
Technical Director as he argued it would
encourage local youngsters.
They consulted with us at the time. We also
acknowledge the fact that our foreigners –
well, a lot of them – have delivered immense
value to the league and they have been
important stakeholders in the growth of the
competition. We don’t want to shy away from
that at this stage.
What’s more important, the national team
or the national competition?
I think the balance has shifted from a
commercial perspective, from the Socceroos to
the A-League. But if you ask a player, the
pinnacle is always going to be to represent
your country. The A-League is a bigger
commercial engine than the Socceroos.
Everyone focuses on pay in industrial
agreements. But aside from wages and
transition from playing policies, which
are a big issue for you, are there any other
factors which you believe are important
for the union?
Injuries… It’s a significant industrial issue for
us. We introduced the injury report back in
2010/11 . We saw that there was an
escalation. The introduction of a minimum
medical standard saw a significant drop in
player injuries. We have to continue to develop
the minimum standards to see that improve.
We need to look at the W-League as well and
monitor that. I don’t see why we can’t be the
safest sport in Australia. Lower injury rates is
something football can offer that’s very
different to most sports. It cascades down to
the grassroots level. Parents want their kids
playing the safe sports when they are younger.
We need to really hang our hat on that. But we
have to adopt certain standards. Why can’t we
adopt the world’s best practice on concussion
management, for example? There’s no reason
why we can’t be at the forefront. We don’t
want athletes icing off in wheelie bins [as
Melbourne City, when they were the rather
more impecunious Melbourne Heart, used to
do and Newcastle Jets were also still doing
recently]. We want to be at the forefront of
facilities and that will help as well. If we can
improve the workplaces we will see a
significant reduction in injury. One of the key
areas for us has to be around returning to
work after injury. How can we best afford our
athletes the chance to return to work in the
quickest time? We want the best possible
doctors, medical facilities, advice and rehab.
These are things we need to focus on. Take
heat management. Scheduling, something as
fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 17
 ONE-ON-ONE
FFA fall guy, Frank Lowy,
holds on tight this time
simple as that, can see a significant reduction
in injuries. We can’t avoid heat, we play in a
summer competition, but we can manage it.
Players have looked to develop a minimum
standards in facilities. The data exists, if we
can embrace it, we can be at the forefront.
Is your relationship with the FFA
consultative or confrontational…?
I think we would like to see the players
really embraced as stakeholders in
terms of the decision-making,
particularly in light of what’s happened
at FIFA recently. The remedy to good
governance sits at the feet of the
players. They are the ones who love the
game and love what they do. There is a
philosophical view of how the
relationship should be. The expectation
is that we are not going to agree on
everything, but if we are embraced it
could improve. I don’t think the players
have been truly embraced as a partner
in this game as yet, although there have
been significant efforts. The relationship
between the PFA and the Federation has
improved but we still have a way to go.
When you hear club owners like the
Mariners’ Mike Charlesworth talk about
developing an Asian Super League,
what do you think?
It is far too premature to explore those
things. We have to get our backyard in order.
We need owners focusing on their businesses
and getting their clubs right before we look at
expansion and diversification in terms of
18 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au
“Whoever takes over at
the FFA has to embrace
the players and the fans.”
where we participate in our competitions.
Once we get to where all clubs are at
Melbourne Victory’s level, perhaps there
is a chance…
Melbourne Victory are often held up as
the template for other clubs to aspire
to, on and off the field. Should every
club be like them?
Absolutely… the way they do things and
conduct themselves in terms of
professionalism. The union, being based
in Melbourne, we get to hear a lot of it.
And we get to hear about big AFL clubs
referencing the threat of Melbourne
Victory. I think it’s important to the
Above This is not the competition that people benchmark
future you are themselves, and I am sure Victory don’t get
looking for, A-League complacent. They want to grow, be bigger and
better. They talk about wanting to win the
ACL. It’s not about complacency, the game
has to be about ambition…
Frank Lowy is stepping down at the end of
the year. Does the PFA have a view on who
should succeed him, or what should happen
in a post-Lowy era?
We have not contemplated it. We want to
ensure the decision-making processes are all
upheld within the constitution, and that the
right decision is made for the right reasons.
We want football to take the next step, so
whoever takes over has to embrace the
players and the fans. We have seen perhaps
some polarising of those audiences in some of
the decision-making that has gone earlier. We
want integrity and good governance at the
heart of every decision that’s being made. Our
main focus is to see the game grow and for
the clubs and all connected with it to enjoy
financial stability.
What’s on your wish list for next season?
What would be the first three items on your
letter to Santa…?
One is based on what we have seen through
our history, which is to have a meaningful
transition and development programme
underpinned for both former and current
players, so that we can embrace our former
Socceroos, our former NSL compatriots,
the people that made the big decisions and
sacrifices, and bring them back into the fold
of football. Secondly, I would like to see
profitability among all 10 clubs. And I
would like to see the A-League tackle this
notion of short-termism, short-term
contracting, and thinking and going from
survival mode to real investment and growth
strategies for an ambitious future. The game
can take the next step.
Who would you like to see quizzed here?
And what question would you ask them?
Tweet us @FourFourTwoOz with #1on1
 S L
ook, there’s been worse (and longer,
believe it or not!) off-seasons. The last
few months has seen Copa America,
the European U21s Championship, the
FIFA U20s World Cup, the FFA Cup and
the Matildas in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Plus we’ve had Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool
playing A-League sides, while Manchester City,
Roma and Real Madrid turned on the Euro
glamour in Melbourne before the EPL kicked
off again last month.
But despite all that, there is simply nothing
to match going to see your local side play in
the local competition…and the A-League’s
back, baby!
2014/15 will be remembered as the year
that Melbourne Victory re-established itself as
Australia’s premier football club, claiming the
Premiership and Championship in ruthless
fashion. Undoubtedly, Kevin Muscat’s trophy-
winning side will once again be the team to
catch this season.
Brisbane Roar disappointed in their title-
defence after a lacklustre start which cost
Mike Mulvey his job but a late season fightback
M
gives fans hope. Western Sydney Wanderers
fa
ared no better in their defence of the Asian
Champions title, dumped out of the group
sttage... with domestic form to match.
Perth Glory looked the surprise package –
until their salary cap rort was revealed.
However, a new season brings new tales.
Adelaide United are set to continue their
‘Barcelonification’ after appointing Guillermo
Amor as coach, and Wellington Phoenix will
be hoping that they can once again
challenge for a finals berth (as well as
renew their A-League licence…)
To get you in the mood as the season
kicks-off, let’s look at 20 talking points which
will define yet another blockbuster season.
w

THIS A-LEAGUE
Now get out there and enjoy it!

SEASONLast season saw salary cap rorts, disastrous

title defences, managerial implosions and
beer-swilling bosses going bust. CRONAN
YU looks in his crystal ball for this season…

1 MELBOURNE VICTORY
EYEING BACK-TO-BACK
CHAMPIONSHIPS
When coach Kevin Muscat signed the likes of
Besart Berisha, Matthieu Delpierre, Carl Valeri,
Daniel Georgievski and Fahid Ben Khalfallah in
the pre-season transfer window, you knew
that success was in the offing. And, like
Brisbane Roar before them, Melbourne Victory
ultimately took out the A-League
championship with a 3-0 over Sydney FC in the
final. Indeed, despite the loss of Mark Milligan,
Victory, along with Sydney FC, still arguably
possess the strongest roster in the whole
competition. And no doubt they’ll be the team
to watch out for as they attempt to
consolidate their reputation as the
competition’s most successful side.
2 FAIRER REPORTAGE
The A-League is underrated. Despite the
fact that the A-League has seen a
spectacular rise in interest, the mainstream
media’s reportage of the competition has
failed to follow such a trend. Often prioritising
rival codes the likes of the AFL, NRL and Super
Rugby, it’s time that media outlets set their
priorities straight. Whilst the standard of the
A-League is incomparable with that of
Europe’s, Aussie teams have performed
admirably against those hailing from up north.
So while the competition still has hiccups, it’s
time that greater coverage is given to the
nation’s fastest growing competition.
3 WEEDING OUT
HOOLIGANISM FOR GOOD
But it doesn’t help when anti-social behaviour
makes the headlines week in, week out. One
violent brawl – like last year’s running street
battle between Wanderers and Victory fans –
feeds the anti-football brigade for a whole
season (or longer). While the FFA has taken
measures to rid the sport of these rare
incidents, the onus is still on fans to police
themselves and ensure a safe environment for
all. In the glorious words of Simon Hill, it’s time
to ‘weed out the idiots’.
4 BUT…MORE TIFOS!
The A-League wouldn’t be where it is
without its diehard fans. Despite being
relatively young, the fan culture and
atmosphere, both of which contribute to the
match-day experience, have surpassed that of
rival codes. In addition, the competition
between rival supporter bases has seen the
standard of active support rise. So bring on
more spectacular tifos and chants…
5 HIGHER ATTENDANCES
While the action on the field has mostly
been of high quality throughout the past
few years, the atmosphere provided by fans
Scarves ‘better
than goals’
has often proved to be an even better
drawcard. The first two rounds of last
season saw 196,000 fans make their way
through stadium turnstiles, while a total
‘...except fo
of 1,827,000 fans in total attended
and half sc
A-League matches. Although average
attendances dropped by 3.3% last
season, things are set to climb rapidly
again in the wake of the Asian Cup, the
International Champions Cup and A-League
friendlies against Chelsea, Spurs, Villareal and
Liverpool which aimed to make the A-League
more attractive to a wider market.
6 PERTH GLORY’S REVIVAL
If last season, Perth Glory’s 18th, was
about recapturing the glory days of old,
then this season will be seen as the beginning
of a project to rebuild from scratch. After
“Thy lead he’ll not let slip...”
The Cove’s Saint Terry tifo
20 THINGS
sur risingly dominating proceedings in
the A-League during its middle stages
withh a proactive attacking approach
under the tutelage of Kenny Lowe,
r half Gloryy were caught up in a salary cap
arves...’ scand dal which ultimately cost the club a
finals position, and Jason Brewer his job.
Neverrtheless, despite several high profile
departures,
d t the likes of Danny Vukovic,
Rostyn Griffiths and Andy Keogh, the club have
brought in former Getafe winger Diego Castro
Gimenez to lead Glory’s assault this season.
7 POPOVIC’S SPANISH
ACQUISITION
Following a lacklustre Western Sydney
Wanderers season where the two-time
A-League runners-up finished 9th on the
ladder, were dumped out of the FFA Cup at the
round of 32 stage and failed to defend their
Asian Champions League crown with a
premature group stage exit, coach Tony
Popovic, perhaps unsurprisingly, opted for a
complete squad overhaul which saw him
release 14 players including Ante Covic, Tomi
Juric, Mateo Poljak and Matthew Spiranovic.
Now there will be a heavy Spanish influence
with the signings of defender Alberto Aguilar,
and midfielders Andreu and Dimas Delgado.
While Adelaide United continue to edge closer
towards their Barcelona dream, will the
Wanderers finally change their tactics and
follow their lead?
8 THE NEED FOR MORE
ADVERTISING
While the A-League is now established as a
growing force in Australian sport – with
derbies regularly attracting 40k plus crowds
and garnering massive publicity – the local
game still lags behind in advertising compared
to NRL and AFL. The big city clashes may draw
huge crowds, but more needs to be done to
crank up the awareness of the other games in
the fixture list, with big campaigns online, in
print, on TV, on billboards and street signage
to bring in new fans beyond hardcore regulars.
fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 21
20 THINGS
9 THE DERBIES WILL ONLY
GET BIGGER
It wouldn’t be the A-League without
blockbuster derbies, right? With bragging
rights and competition points at stake,
controversial bookings and dramatic goals are
inevitable. The classic encounters are coming
fast and furious this season with Melbourne
Victory set to take on Adelaide United in round
one, the fiery Melbourne Derby set to take
place the week after and the Sydney Derby set
to headline round three. And with so much at
stake, expect grudges to be renewed and
wounds reopened. The temptation for the FFA
now is to add an extra team each in Sydney
and Melbourne when the next stage of
expansion comes round in the seasons ahead.
10 BETTER OFFICIATING
It’s a trend which is becoming
increasingly worrying. One needs
only to look back at the Sebastian Ryall
simulating controversy in the Big Blue back in
mid-February with Kevin Muscat later
slamming the decision as a bad ad for the
A-League. Now the FFA have announced the
impending appointment of three full-time refs.
While it may be unrealistic to expect the
quality to improve overnight, it is a step in the
right direction – but only three pro refs with
five games scheduled each week? Hmmm
11 BETTER SCHEDULING
Speaking of blame games, the terrible
state of pitches is another commonly
used excuse. Yet, it’s hard to fault managers
for doing so. Torn up pitches, poor drainage
systems and uneven surfaces have
consistently come under the spotlight after
players were often made to play in terrible
conditions, partly due to different codes
sharing the same stadiums as well as concerts
and other events. The FFA needs to find a
solution with stadium authorities (and rival
codes) to ensure players can perform at their
best in optimum playing conditions before
fans start turning off during the season’s
climax – or worse, someone gets badly hurt.

12 GUILLERMO AMOR’S
‘BARCELONIFICATION’
Guillermo Amor is a Barcelona man through
and through. The former midfielder made 311
appearances for the Blaugrana and has 37
national caps to his name during his time in
Johan Cruyff’s Dream Team. Like Cruyff’s
contemporaries, he values the system, that
one must never lose the style and given that
Adelaide United are set on building a long-
term project, his experience as coach of
working with La Masia youngsters has
arguably made him an upgrade on Gombau.
13 NEW INFLUX OF HOME-
GROWN TALENT
Each year, a new crop of talent burst onto the
A-League in style. This has partly been as a
result of the introduction of the National Youth
League back in 2008 as well as competitions
such as the National Premier Leagues and the
FFA Cup, all of which has provided young
footballers with a pathway to becoming
professionals. It’s been a delight to see the
likes of Matthew Leckie, Tommy Oar, Tom Rogic
and more recently Daniel de Silva move to
some of Europe’s best leagues after
breakthrough seasons. And with Ange
Postecoglou keeping a watchful eye over the
A-League to add to his Socceroos squad, it has
now become a logical breeding ground in itself
for the next generation of youngsters hoping
to realise their international dreams and a
route to Europe too.
14 MORE MARQUEES
The success of the International
Champions Cup and other high-
profile friendlies have, once again, thrust the
issue of marquee players into the spotlight.
The great irony is that while the likes of
What do Clive Palmer, Nathan Tinkler, Tony
Sage, and now the Bakries all have in
sp ots
nkler
Nathan Ti
r is open
the snack ba
Above Dimitar’s not Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Sergio Aguero,
Berbat-off to the Francesco Totti and others were having a run
A-League Below ‘Pull around in Melbourne, former A-League
my finger! Oh, too marquees like Marc Janko, Mark Milligan and
late’ others were securing moves abroad. Indeed,
the A-League recently lost out on signing
players like Pirlo, Drogba, Gerrard and Kaka,
but with Mark Bresciano, Tim Cahill and other
international stars likes Dimitar Berbatov and
Georgios Samaras nearing the end of their
careers, A-League clubs should, with the
assistance of the FFA, continue to attempt to
bring players of the highest calibre to our
shores to take the league to the next level as
has been happening in the MLS in recent years.
20 THINGS
15 RETHINKING THE
FINANCIAL MODEL
common? Well, they’re all financial
jugge ernauts who have, during their
respe ective stints, brought the A-League
into disrepute. It seems inevitable that
relying on a single benevolent billionaire
could lead to problems down the path
but the A-League seems intent to keep
reppeating the mistake over and over. It
see ems logical now for the FFA to
seriously reconsider their
co ompromised financial model to meet
thhe modern needs of A-League clubs.
After ten years, most of the A-League
A
cclubs are still struggling financially. A
ssolution needs to be found.
TTACTICAL EVOLUTION
One of the greatest criticisms
levelled at the A-League from the
wider football community is that the quality of
the league is below-par and hence not worth
watching. Undoubtedly, there are still a
significant amount of areas that need
improving, yet it’s often overlooked that
Australian football has evolved. Since Ange
Postecoglou’s days as Brisbane Roar’s
manager to Josep Gomba’s Adelaide United,
the game has undergone an evolution
whereby technical prowess now trumps
physicality, and the teams that can keep the
ball better are often better off. This season will
see an exciting mix of established coaches
and the newly appointed, with the prospect of
 20 THINGS

Nick Fitzgerald put

the wrong feet on...

All hail Fox

Sports
range of tactical approaches ahead. On and Tara Ru w their young side capable of
with up different styles, tactically, the competitions
shton
the field, the football has evolved hugely playing a proactive style of attacking
p is much closer than everyone thinks.
since the A-League began – and 2015/1 16 fo
ootball, a top six finish isn’t outside of

20 BEST COMMENTATORS
is set to take Australian football to the th
heir capabilities, while Newcastle Jets
next level. co
ould turn around last season’s disaster

AROUND
witth an unexpected tilt at a title.

17 MORE FREE-TO-AIR
COVERAGE
SBS’s A-League free-to-air Friday night
game looked vulnerable to be handed
over to one of the big commercial
networks at the tail end of last
season, but now looks set to remain
with the long-time football FTA channel.l
Growing the audience is still a vital part of the
A-League’s future though and with online
interest said to have come from unlikely
sources such as Google, Facebook and even
Netflix, it is possible the next broadcast deal
could be a multiplatform behemoth to give
the game a vital reach beyond simply Fox
Sports and the marginalised audience of SBS.
such
9 BATTLE FOR TOP 6
Want entertainment? While
there is no relegation battle as
h in the A-League, the battle of the ten
sidess to get into the top six is as close as it
gets. Indeed, most of the attention is
focused on the top two sides, nevertheless,
the ba
battle for a finals berth is often more
intriguing as teams do whatever it takes to
edge ahead of their opposition. This season is
no different, and with different teams taking
While Eurosnobs and local fans may clash
about the quality on the field, there’s little
debate about Fox Sport’s coverage of the
A-League and the microphonic goodness from
their top-class commentary team. The football
knowledge of Simon Hill is complemented by
Harper’s enthusiasm, Zelic’s banter and
Bozza’s mostly light-hearted attitude which
can swiftly turn into searing insight in the bat
of an eye. In terms of sports punditry in
Australia, they are unbeatable, offering quality
analysis as well as humour.-

18 DARK HORSES
When it comes to surprises, the
A-League always delivers – and
sometimes even in a good way! Last season,
the likes of Perth Glory and Wellington Phoenix
proved that any side could potentially achieve
success in the domestic league. In 2013/14,
Melbourne City nearly claimed a finals berth
after an excellent run of results in the second
half of the season whilst Western Sydney
Wanderers shocked everyone as they surged
towards an A-League Premiership and grand
final berth in their inaugural season. This time
around though, the Mariners could well be the
surprise package and there’s no doubt that

‘Is it Peace?’ ‘Apollo, I think’ ‘No, it’s Voodoo...’

‘Do Lynx still do Voodoo’ ‘Only in Oz!’ ‘Yeah!’
24 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au
 I N S I D E V I C TO RY

THESECRET TO VICTORY
Last season’s double reclaimed their crown as the A-League’s most successful club.
How do they manage it...and how can they keep it going? DEJAN KALINIC found out...

T
he worst team in Australia:
The words rattled through
Melbourne Victory after
their debut A-League season
in 2005/06. Only lowly New
Zealand Knights finished below
them in season one – but that
inglorious tag would drive Victory on
to dominate the following season
and complete the first of three
Premiership-Championship doubles.
Fast-forward to the end of the 10th
A-League season and Victory are no
Australia’s most dominant club, with
their six trophies taking them past
isbane Roar’s five. But such triumphs had
oked unlikely in Victory’s early days.
Victory’s first football operations
anager, Gary Cole, still shudders at the
emory of their disastrous first season:
That was horrible.”
Victory were among the A-League’s eight
oundation clubs, backed by then-
hairman Geoff Lord who was advised by
Tony Ising and Alen Rados – the three key
men who created, funded and actually
got Victory off the ground.
“Horror-struck” Gary Former Socceroo Cole was appointed
Cole faces the press from Lord’s Belgravia Leisure business,
before Merrick beat ex-Wollongong
I N S I D E V I C TO RY
Wolves and Parramatta Power coach Nick
Theodorakopoulos to the head job.
“In terms of money, it was a very, very trying
period because the only financial backer of the
company at that point was myself,” Lord said,
admitting it was “cobbled together”.
“And all you did was keep writing cheque
after cheque after cheque because there was
no revenue flowing in.”
Victory had a huge community focus,
seemingly before most other A-League clubs.
“Ernie and I understood that for Melbourne
Victory to grow it was very, very important
that the players get out into the community
and help us build the brand because nobody
 I N S I D E V I C TO RY

had a clue who Melbourne Victory was back

then,” Cole said.
“The players bought into that as well.”
When Cole arrived at Sydney FC in late 2011,
he said the Sky Blues had “only just started to
grasp how important it was” to get players out
into the community.
Victory managed to bring two players who
would become key parts of their story home
from Europe – Kevin Muscat and Archie
Thompson after Cole and Merrick adopted a
cheeky approach for players abroad.
“We worked out if he rang around 10am, the
players would’ve gone off to train,” Cole said.
“So Ernie got to talk to their wives and
partners, and we talked to them about this
new opportunity back in Australia.”
With the opportunity to start from scratch
came an early challenge, as a few younger
players did the “wrong thing” during pre-
season on the Gold Coast.
A meeting about respect followed, but
Victory’s football department wanted the
players holding each other accountable.
“What we understood was that if the culture
that we want is driven by the players rather
than imposed on them, it was going to be
fantastic for us,” Cole said.
“Because when they’re driving it themselves,
and it’s not a coach waving his big stick all the

“The benchmark was set very high – a lot of

time, then the organisation is good.
“That buy-in about the behaviours wasn’t
formalised club-wide, but it applied club-wide.
“The culture in the organisation was built on
success and hard work and everyone
understood there was only one way we were
going to be successful and that was to work
smart but work hard as well.”
It has held Victory in good stead.
“At a football club, it doesn’t change. It’s still
how it is at the moment,” says Leigh Broxham,
former kit boy turned Victory leader and club
stalwart.
“Ernie would set standards and parameters,
and then it’s left to the players to decide how
high you want to set your bar and what you
want to accept.”
Victory were seemingly a step ahead of
opposition clubs in numerous areas, including
community engagement.
Merrick had experience running a
professional football programme at the
Victorian Institute of Sport, while their
corporate partnerships grew.
“People laughed at us that first season,” Cole
said. “But aside from our finishing position,
people were laughing because we had
females involved.
“You look around the league today and
almost every club will have a female physio or
clubs didn’t get to that level for a few years”
sports scientist or a couple or
two or three of those because it’s
just become the norm… but not
back then.”
Former Victory captain Adrian
Leijer knew what to expect from
Merrick and he said the club was
setting high standards from the
outset.
Opposition clubs may be in awe
of Victory’s AAMI Park base now,
but Leijer said professionalism had been
established early on.
“I was fortunate enough to work under Ernie
in the VIS days so I knew what he was about,”
Leijer said.
“I knew he was setting up a very
professional environment, a successful
environment, and giving the club and the
players the best opportunity to have success.
“From day one, it was important – the off-
field stuff was all sorted out with physios,
sports scientists.
“The benchmark was always set
ery high and I suppose a lot of
lubs didn’t get to that level for a
ew years. Melbourne Victory right
rom day one was very professional.
“That helped us get a bit of a
head start on most clubs.”
The relief for Victory came with
support, as an average of over
16,000 fans watched the club in its
Top “So next time, debut campaign.
grab Kossie like this” Fans remain an enormous factor in Victory’s
Above Fans always success and they are still the best-supported
set Victory apart club in the league.
“What we quickly learnt was that there was
a latent demand for a neutral side, particularly
among UK residents who had felt not aligned
with anybody in the Victorian soccer world,”
Lord said.
“The English, the Scottish and the Irish were
quite strong in their support.
“I remember going to a number of local
football teams and a lot of them were in that
south-east belt, from Dandenong down to

VICTORY TIMELINE Frankston, where a lot of those British people

resided and they were very supportive.

NOVEMBER 1, 2004 DECEMBER 20, 2004

Victory unveiled. “I wanted to make a head coach Ernie Merrick hired. “At
A the
contribution to Melbourne. I’m not an time, that was branded new football versus
architect and I’m not an engineer so I couldn’t old soccer because we didn’t have a
build a bridge.” – Geoff Lord traditional old NSL coach.” – Gary Cole

28 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au


MUSCAT’S LESSONS FROM THE PAST
Victory’s iconic firebrand skipper turned thoughtful coach has seen the good and bad
from those managers who came and went before him – and learnt from them all.
K
evin Muscat took on an
unenviable job. Melbourne
Victory’s inaugural captain, he
was always destined to become the
club’s coach.
It was a matter of when, not if, and
it just happened to be that he would
replace Ange Postecoglou when he
landed the Socceroos job.
But rather than be overawed by the
responsibility, Muscat stepped in and
immediately made his own mark –
ditching Postecoglou’s dual-10s for a
striker-based system – but without
destroying everything that had
already been achieved.
“What’s important to understand is
that the general philosophy of the
football club has remained,” he said.
“Since the Ange era, the general
philosophy of the Ange era has
remained. We want to be known as a
football club where that stays in place
for however long possible.
“What is important is when we
made those subtle stylistic changes,
it’s got to be done with the
surrounding personnel, the personnel
we have, the personnel I brought in.
“It was pretty easy because
ultimately that’s what I believed was
best for the team and for the football
club. Once I decided that and I
believed in it, the rest was pretty easy.
“Implementing the game style is
hard, and getting that information
across to the players is hard. But the
hardest thing for anyone is to go out
and implement it and that’s what the
players do and they were outstanding
in that capacity last season.”
Muscat, 42, spent a large part of his
career in the UK before heading home
for the A-League for its debut season
in 2005/06. He’d played under and
been alongside several coaches,
including Ernie Merrick and
Postecoglou, and the less successful
Mehmet Durakovic and Jim Magilton.
Even after leading Victory to the
double in his first full season in
charge, Muscat is eager to improve,
and that still drives him.
“I want to learn something from
every conversation, let alone when
you spend months or years with
someone,” he said.
JANUARY 14, 2005
Archie Thompson is Victory’s first signing. “If
we could get some talented young players
around some experienced footballers, that
would set us on a good pathway.” – Cole
I N S I D E V I C TO RY
“The best way I can put it is even
when someone is not doing
something right, you can learn from
what not to do.
“I go into every conversation,
especially football but it’s the same
as life, you’ve got to be open-minded
and think that you can take
something and learn something
from every conversation.”
He added: “I’ve helped myself, I’ve
travelled abroad, I’ve spent time at
clubs and spent time with people
finding my own way of doing things,
my own style if you like.
“That will be forever evolving
because it’s something again that you
can’t stand still, I’ve always got to be
thinking of the next best thing.”
Muscat welcomes the pressure that
comes with coaching Victory and the
club’s expectations to succeed.
The 46-cap Socceroo’s man-
management skills were lauded last
season and he knows how important
they are.
“Finding that balance and being
given that time to influence a group
and maybe bring in personnel that’s
going to help you get your style
across, is without doubt paramount,”
Muscat said.
“Ultimately, if you’re trying to do
something you don’t believe in, it’s not
going to work because the players can
sense whether you believe in
something or not.
“Without their belief and buy-in, you
haven’t got a hope in the world. If
they can sense you don’t believe in it,
it’s a waste of time.”
Muscat believes his Victory team can
get even better, but he is unwilling to
go into detail.
“I’m not saying we’re going to
change things drastically but there’s
certain things in the way we go about
things, and understanding of things,”
he said.
“For example, everything we did well
last year, if we did it well seven times
out of 10, I want us to get to eight
times and nine times out of 10. It’s
just a gradual improvement.
“What that does do is keep your
hunger alive and your hunger to
succeed alive.”
MAY 5, 2005 AUGUST 28, 2005
Kevin Muscat named captain. “He was a Thompson scores the club’s first competitive
winner. He had this reputation of being a goal in a 1-1 draw against Sydney FC, who
hard man, but he was a winner and was had Dwight Yorke strike.
fantastic with the younger players.” – Cole
fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 29
 I N S I D E V I C TO RY

“The [financial] relief came when

memberships started to come in – we sold
quite a few memberships to get the ship
rolling.” Despite a 5-0 thrashing of Sydney FC
at Olympic Park in round eight of season one,
Victory fell away, and the calls for Merrick’s
head came.
“It was never considered by me, but there
was plenty of lobbying for him to go,” Lord
said. The club had established a code that
perhaps saved Merrick. “We took the view,
right through our early work, that three values
were very important to us,” Lord said.
“They came under a code called T.A.S and
that was a code we adopted in the club.”
Transparency. Accountability. Stability. The
last of those is a common and crucial theme
in why Victory have become A-League giants.
“Stability was probably something that was
another thing that stood out at Melbourne
Victory from day one,” Leijer said. “There were
fans calling for Ernie’s head, calling for change.
He used that failure in season one to really
push us on in season two and from day one of
pre-season, he mentioned where we finished
on the table – he kept mentioning it right
through pre-season.”
Despite their debut season disappointment,
support remained relatively strong… but
whether that would have continued if the
second season had followed a similar path is
debatable. Players poured their heart and soul
into making sure there was no repeat.
“I remember that pre-season, the work ethic
of the group was phenomenal,” Leijer said. “It in the first year, definitely make it Either side, Victory had become
was obviously pushed by the guys at the top in the second, and compete for e A-League’s benchmark – well-
and during that pre-season we just worked so the Championship in the third. upported, well-run, stable and
hard. It was different to the first season, Victory were Premiers and uccessful. It meant their six-year
everyone was together from day one and that Champions in season two. They rophy drought – which finally
season was just freakish really. were double winners again in nded last season – was
“Games we didn’t play that well, we’d win, 2008/09 before just missing out a staggering, but as Muscat points
everything just sort of happened for us. It was season later. out, Victory have still featured in
a season which I’ll never forget. It was a Following that were the first signs 40% of A-League Grand Finals.
special season with a special group of people.” of instability. Merrick was sacked Below Ange’s time Albanian striker Besart Berisha, one of
Even though Victory had excellent crowds after the 2010/11 campaign, where Victory with Victory was several key off-season recruits who helped the
during season one, success generates buzz finished fifth. Lord had already stepped down, brief but he left a club to its 2014/15 success, saw hunger and
and support. Just how big were the first two while Cole also departed. The changes legacy in place eagerness for a trophy when he joined.
trophies for the club? “Massive,” former unsettled the players and the club. “I saw that they are desperate to win
defender Rodrigo Vargas says. “I just think the “It was certainly a challenging period where trophies – but there was a lack of winning
club was in the first year, finishing second- there was a lot of change. It was the first sign trophies, and when I came here, the boys are
bottom, if things hadn’t turned around so of some instability at the coaching level,” already ready to work hard and I didn’t really
dramatically in the second year, who knows Leijer said. see something else,” the former Brisbane Roar
where the club would be right now? “It was a really, really challenging period star said. “The only thing I saw was that they
“That’s just the nature of sport and clubs. and it was a period where we were having a were really desperate to win a trophy.
Success breeds success and memberships and poor run of results, certain people were “I could see they are hungry and they are
sponsors and all that. Coming from second- jumping in and out which made things not winning trophies, they are really waiting so
last to completely dominate the next season – difficult. But to the credit of Anthony Di Pietro long for that and I can feel this since day one
I think we’d won the league with four matches and his board, to go and sign someone like through the squad.”
to spare, and winning the grand final 6-0, that Ange Postecoglou was an indication of the Muscat, captain in season one and coach in
really turned the club’s fortunes around.” desire and ambition to have success, and that 2014/15, knows multiple factors have
Going by a proposed three-year plan, the really changed things around. combined to make Victory a success.
title had come a season early, according to “As soon as Ange came, things got back on “Right from day one, the support that we
Cole. They had intended to maybe make Finals the right path pretty quickly.” received from the Victorian public here and

SEPTEMBER 25, 2005 FEBRUARY 3, 2006 DECEMBER 17, 2006

It takes until their fifth A-League Victory finish second last. “We were subject Victory win the Premiership with four
match but Victory finally win, beating to severe lobbying to get rid of the coach but rounds remaining after a 4-0 thrashing of
Newcastle Jets 1-0 thanks to a continuity was important so we kept the the Knights.
Thompson goal. coach – and the rest is history.” – Lord

30 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au

 I N S I D E V I C TO RY

Kevin Muscat when he still had

“Our supporters. They’re so passionate –
we just captured everyone’s hearts...”
the numbers we’ve got in the stands obviously
helps,” he said. “We’ve had a lot – myself
included, like Archie – players who have stayed
at the football club for a long period of time. It
is an environment that players thrive in.
Players not only want to come to but want to
stay in – Leigh Broxham, Adrian Leijer – we’ve
had a number of players more than any other
club that have stayed with the football club.
“The underlying thing about the football club
is the stability we’ve had throughout. That
obviously comes from the top… led by Mr Di
Pietro, the chairman, and his directors, that
have given the football club an unbelievable
stability that has gone right through the place.
That’s given us the best chance to be the
football club we are now.
“Along with those things, winning trophies
obviously does help, being able to attract good
players, and to do those things comes back to
stability and being given the best opportunity
to be successful.”
hair to let down while celebrating
Thompson has enjoyed a strong relationship
with fans, and he puts Victory’s success down
to them. Few have won over Victory’s huge
brigade of fans like the 36-year-old.
“Our supporters. They’re so passionate and
football has always been big here in
Melbourne,” Thompson said. “For so long it’s
just been the sleeping giant and I think with
the success of the Socceroos, we just cap ptured
everyone’s hearts. Even if we’ve had averrage
seasons, they still turn out in numbers.
“There’s a lot of pressure on us as a tea
am
because other clubs don’t have this
atmosphere that we do, and they
actually look forward to the away
games against us because they get an
atmosphere. It’s always buzzing, no
matter where we are on the ladder.
“I think the success we’ve had is
because we’ve had such a good
following with our supporters and so
much belief in our club.”
THE KIT MAN
GUIDO CHAYAN
GUIDO Chayan has been closer than most
to Melbourne Victory.
Now 21, he was involved with the club
as a 13 year old in season two before
officially becoming the equipment
manager in 2012.
Below Leijer went Chayan says Victory’s desire to be the
from youth to skipper best was there from the outset.
“I’ve never come in and anyone has
ever expected less than 100 per cent.
That has always been from day one
through to today,” he said.
“Every single day is about improving as
an individual, improving as a group
towards the ambition of being
Champions again. That has always been
the case and it will never change.
“It’s one of those things, we’re a big
club within the country and it’s an
ambition that we must have.
“If we didn’t have that ambition, if
everyone was not pulling towards that
goal, I don’t think we would’ve been
as successful.
“The ambition has always been the
best. It’s been the same mentality from
day one.”

FEBRUARY 18, 2007 MARCH 12, 2008 JANUARY 25, 2009

Thompson scores five as Merrick’s men Victory play their first AFC Champions A second Premiership is secured ahead of
destroy Adelaide United 6-0 in the Grand League game, beating Chunnam Dragons Adelaide, after the Reds fail to beat Central
Final, in front of a crowd of 55,436 at 2-0. They fail to make the knockout stages. Coast Mariners by at least two goals.
Docklands.

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 31


Broxham, whose journey from fringe player
to oft-criticised squaddie to fan favourite, said
everything was in place for success at the club.
“Those two people [Ernie and Kevin] will
obviously go down in the history of the club as
great people and what they’ve done and what
Kevin is still doing for the club,” he said.
“Ernie won two Championships and what he
installed at the club then was amazing
obviously. He’s very successful. Kevin, as a
captain of the club for many years, drove the
change room and really helped shape the club
to what it is today… and he’s obviously doing
that now as head coach.”
Ian Robson, Victory’s chief executive since
August 2013 and a controversial appointment
at the time, has helped oversee their recent
success. He too recognises the club’s stability
as crucial and said he preferred not to make
major changes when he arrived.
“It’s more about how you embrace each and
every one of those circumstances when you
arrive and rather than saying: ‘This worked at
this club or this worked in this code’, you’d try
and find the circumstances and the
background, how a club has evolved and
created its own culture and gone about
FEBRUARY 28, 2009
Tom Pondeljak’s goal sees Victory beat the
Reds 1-0 in the decider.
32 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au
“One of the biggest hallmarks and
strengths of this club has been its stability”
developing what we call here the Victory
Way,” Robson said. “There’s no doubt that
above all else, one of the biggest hallmarks
and strengths of this club has been its stability
from an ownership perspective.”
On paper, Victory looked the team to beat
heading into 2014/15 despite uncertainty over
some of their foreign signings. It translated
into on-field success as signings Berisha, Carl
Valeri, Mathieu Delpierre, Daniel Georgievski
and Fahid Ben Khalfallah had a huge impact.
“The right mentality through the team – if
you don’t have this, you will not be able to be
so successful. You can be a talented team, you
can be a talented player, you can have a great
club, but if you don’t have the right mentality
through the squad and through the club then
it’s very difficult,” says Berisha.
“I think we have this, the players from day
one, they set the standards, they set the tone:
MARCH 20, 2010
Victory lose the Grand Final to the Sky Blues
4-2 on penalties after finishing second on
the table in the regular season.
Berisha made the switch from
Brisbane to Melbourne effortlessly
Above From humble ‘We want to be successful.’ They work hard,
beginnings to being they push each other to reach maximum
the A-League’s best performance and this is what counts.
“If you have the right mentality and are
ready to work hard and make sacrifices, this is
important. We had this obviously. It was the
same in Brisbane. We had discipline, we had a
team who were prepared to work hard and
had the right mentality. Just talent through
the team is not enough. You need to have the
right thinking.”
Victory want more as the AFC Champions
League awaits, but domestic success remains
the focus. Robson said becoming a permanent
fixture in the continental competition was the
goal: “I think any notion of where the AFC
Champions League sits has been well and truly
put into perspective by the performance of
[Western Sydney] Wanderers.
“We all know that, logistically, it is a
DECEMBER 11, 2010
A brace from Robbie Kruse helps Victory win
a Melbourne derby for the first time.
 I N S I D E V I C TO RY

challenge but we all crave the opportunity to

confront that challenge and we’re no different.
“We have our eyes set on our involvement in
Asia in a broader context and our experience
with Yokohama, Jeonbuk and Guangzhou only
whets that appetite. We see also a broader
business piece working closely with
government and local business interests that
we can play a role here beyond simply playing
football matches.
“What we crave ultimately is to become a
permanent part of that Champions League
agenda and the best way to do that is, of
course, you come back to where you sit
domestically. There are reasons why clubs like
Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Arsenal
and Real Madrid are ever-presents in the UEFA
Champions League and that’s because they’re
ever-presents as strong clubs in their domestic
leagues and that’s something we crave.”
As for the club setting up its own academy,
Robson said it remained on the agenda.
“This is something Victory have been
contemplating for some time,” he said. “A lot
of this is about getting the right location and
securing a place that you can call your home.
In a city the size of Melbourne, with the facility
challenges, it’s already confronting because of
the exploding participation numbers of the
game, that’s easier said than done.
“We think we’re making good progress and I
think it’s an important part of this club’s story.
We’ve always pursued quality foreign imports,
and last year’s crop were obviously significant
contributors to our Premiership and
Championship success, but we’re also very
proud of our role in identifying, developing and
nurturing young talent.
“We’re very committed to the principle of
that, we’re now looking as to how we build
that model moving forward. We’ve obviously
got our NPL side this year for the first time. It’s
ARCHIE: VICTORY’S
ETERNAL FLAME
Archie Thompson is the timeless veteran who just
keeps on giving for Victory. How does he do it…?
seasons with Victory because I’d
been playing so many games.
“We’ve had the depth that I could
come on when needed and play a
few games when I needed and have
a rest when I needed. I think that’s
why we had so much success last
year and I had success in front of
goals because we had a good blend.”
Thompson understands and
accepts age means his role at the
Victory is a changing one. He is
humble when it comes to his
incredible record in the A-League.
“I’ve always had good players
around me and I’ve been able to
score. That’s been the case for myself
the whole campaign,” Thompson
says. “You have periods where you’re
in a little drought and then people
start going: ‘When’s he going to
score? He’s not having the best of
seasons’, but sometimes as much as
you want to score goals, if you’re
doing other things well that are
contributing to the team, that helps
as well. I’ve been fortunate enough
to score goals regularly the times I’ve
been on each season.”
The goals have come despite a
serious knee injury suffered in March
2010 as a 31-year-old. “I didn’t think
I’d come back the same player,”

been a good experience and one we’ll build
upon. There’s a lot of really fertile grounding
that’s going to drive a lot of our football
programme at a level underneath where the
A-League, the W-League and the NYL sit, but
it’s a very important part of our development.
“All of this is set against the background
where the club has just turned 10 years of age.
I think it’s a time for us, we’ve consolidated
our place in this league, we’ve had our
challenges, as has the league, but that’s the
reality of the landscape of Australian
professional sport, it was never going to be
easy. But we’re excited about what lies ahead
for our club and for the A-League and for the
code more broadly.”
Suddenly, Victory are looking at complete
domestic domination and a regular place in
Asia. Yet not so long ago, they were the worst
team in Australia – and that fact will drive
them on to new Victory.
H
e may be the A-League’s all-
time leading goalscorer, but
Archie Thompson isn’t done yet.
Like all great goalscorers, the Victory
hero is still hungry for more.
Thompson, 36, sits on 89 A-League
goals, just clear of Sydney FC striker
Shane Smeltz (85). And with his
contract for 2015/16 sorted, the ton
is in his sights.
“I want to reach 100,” Thompson
says. “I’ve played as many games as
I wanted, over the 200-mark – who
knows where I’d have been if I had
kept no injuries at all, it could’ve been
a lot more – but I want to reach 100
goals and do it with Victory.”
Thompson admits he continually
questions whether he can get
through pre-seasons, but he was
seemingly asking the same when he
was 23. The 54-time Socceroo
showed few signs of slowing down
last season, scoring 11 times despite
making just 16 starts.
“I probably wasn’t as involved in
the play as I had been in other
seasons I’ve been at Victory,”
Thompson says. “I was finding
myself in good positions and getting
set up most of the time, whereas in
the past I’ve had to work pretty hard
for my goals and setting up other
people, but last year it seemed to be
that I was the one getting set up for
a change and it was good.
“I had a good mixture of both
coming off the bench and starting, so
I didn’t have any serious injuries that
have plagued most of my other
Thompson says. “I get asked this
question a lot by people who’ve had
serious injuries: ‘How’d you do it?’ You
have to do everything you’re told. You
can’t take shortcuts and I didn’t take
any shortcuts.
“I made sure I saw the end line and
you have to build little steps, little
goals to reach that line. When I got
towards the end of that line, I
thought: ‘You know what? I’m going
to be a better player than I was when
I got the injury.’
“In a way, I had to start from
scratch again, and after I did do my
knee at the age I was, I had to go
back and almost started like a canvas
with nothing on it and I had to start
from scratch and fill my body up
again and it’s been amazing.”

MARCH 12, 2011 AUGUST 20, 2011 APRIL 26, 2012

The club sacks Merrick after a tough season, Victory announce the signing of Socceroos Ange Postecoglou confirmed as the club’s
less than two months after inaugural great Harry Kewell. new coach after the failures of Mehmet
chairman Geoff Lord stepped down and Durakovic and Jim Magilton.
Anthony Di Pietro replaced him.

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 33

 I N S I D E V I C TO RY

HEAD TO HEAD: VICTORY’S COACHES ON TEST

How do the men who have coached Victory fare against each other in our report cards?

Kevin Muscat Ange Postecoglou Ernie Merrick The Rest

Man management Man management Man management Man management

Appears his best asset yet,
having juggled a star-studded
squad expertly during their
double success of 2014/15.
Tactical nous
Made his own mark at Victory
by changing Postecoglou’s dual
10s system and introducing
a striker to much success.
Media persona
Gets his message across,
sometimes subtly, when required
and is generally open and honest.
Transfer success
First real chance came ahead of the
2014/15 season and he nailed it,
signing Besart Berisha, Fahid Ben
Khalfallah, Carl Valeri, Matthieu
Delpierre and Daniel Georgievski.
Impeccable. When the Socceroos
coach talks, players listen. And
more importantly, they want
to play for him.
Tactical nous
Showcased innovation at both
Brisbane Roar and Victory, leading
the former on a 36-game unbeaten
run on the back of a stylish
possession game.
Media persona
Quiet yet insightful. Postecoglou
provides a level of depth few other
Australian coaches do.
Transfer success
Willing to make the big decisions on
the big names. Brought Thomas
Broich and Berisha to Australia.
Yet to receive the credit he deserves
in several areas, this one included.
The Scot has proven he can deal
with any players, ranging from big
egos to the quiet ones.
Tactical nous
His Victory team was often criticised
for being reliant on individual
brilliance, yet its success cannot be
questioned.
Media persona
A witty but often dry character,
Merrick has grown in this sense since
his early days at Victory.
Transfer success
Not a complete success, but the
coach who brought Carlos Hernandez
and Fred among others to the
A-League deserves some credit.
Tough to judge after such short
periods in time, but Durakovic and
Magilton both had Harry Kewell at
their disposal. The latter at one point
described the Socceroos great as
“very foolish” for admitting to a dive.
Tactical nous
Results tell the story, and the criticism
of Durakovic went as far as mocking.
Media persona
Neither had enough time to develop,
but both struggled during their time
in charge. Durakovic particularly
battled to get his message across.
Transfer success
Few opportunities to have a big
impact, with Kewell’s signing likely
much out of Durakovic’s hands

JULY 24, 2013 OCTOBER 31, 2013 MAY 17, 2015

Victory host Liverpool in a friendly, which Days after Postecoglou departs to take the Victory win the Grand Final against Sydney
the Premier League club wins 2-0 in front of Socceroos job, Muscat is appointed the full- FC 3-0, once again becoming the A-League’s
95,446 people at the MCG. time coach. most successful club with three
Championships and three Premierships.

34 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au

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 HYUNDAI
A-LEAGUE
PREVIEW 2015/16

Let battle begin again - it’s the time of the year where dreams begin, hopes are resurrected
and the most hardcore fans are the most pessimistic. The season starts here...
HYUNDAI A LEAGUE 2015/16

ADELAIDE UNITED
Last season: A-League 3rd Finals Semi-finals FFA Cup Winners

towards an A-League Championship, but a

coaching change is unlikely to help the
Reds’ cause. Under Josep Gombau, Adelaide
had finished sixth and then third, making
the semi-finals last season. However,
Gombau has departed and been replaced by
fellow Spaniard Guillermo Amor.
Fortunately, there are unlikely to be massive
changes under the club’s former technical
director. The Reds’ possession-based and
attacking game plan is likely to remain, and
the settled squad could mean it gets even
better. The pressure will be on as Adelaide look
to reach their first Grand Final since 2009.
THE GAME PLAN
Little is likely to change, but expect more
versatility in Adelaide’s game. The Reds mixed
up their possession game with direct balls last
season, and have been playing with both two
number 10s and two number sixes, and that
tactical flexibility can only help. As they were
under Gombau, Adelaide will be a team to
watch when it comes to their planning.
THE BOSS STRENGTHS
A trio of Spaniards and an Argentine. The
quartet makes a huge difference to the Reds’
attacking play in particular. Marcelo Carrusca
has showcased his quality in the A-League,
Sergio Cirio scored 13 goals in all competitions
last season, Pablo Sanchez netted a club-high
eight league goals in 2014/15 and Isaias adds
serious grunt and quality in midfield. They
have all settled and should get better. The
Reds also have arguably the league’s best
GUILLERMO AMOR goalkeeper – captain Eugene Galekovic.
Amor joined
countryman Gombau WEAKNESSES
in Adelaide in August Adelaide desperately need a striker to step up
2014, and he took and start hitting double figures this season.
charge as coach in Bruce Djite offers promise but the 28-year-old
July. The former is under pressure to keep his spot, not just
Barcelona and Spain from his usual bogey of injuries or loss of form,
midfielder is credited but also with Eli Babalj arriving on a season-
for some of the Reds’ long loan from Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar.
tactics last season, Babalj, a two-time Socceroo, is yet to prove
but this is his first himself as a reliable and prolific goalscorer but
senior coaching job. is sure to get his chances with the Reds.
LESSONS FROM LAST SEASON
Another striker has been signed in Babalj, and
goals will be needed. Champions Melbourne
Victory, runners-up Sydney FC and contenders
Wellington Phoenix and Perth Glory – before
their salary cap dramas – all had good
goalscorers in their squads. Also, the Reds
need to beat struggling rivals after losses to
Western Sydney, Central Coast and Newcastle
last season. They are valuable points dropped,
and second spot potentially given away, to
teams that failed to make the finals.
VIEW FROM THE HILL
Can the Reds cope without their
spiritual leader Josep Gombau,
and does replacement Guillermo
Amor have enough knowledge of
Australian football to continue their progress?
Adelaide have made a few useful pick-ups in
George Mells, Iacopo La Rocca, and especially
Eli Babalj. If he is the man to provide the
missing ingredient – goals – then the Reds
could be contenders.

FIXTURES
October
9 Victory (H)
16 Wanderers (H)
25 Glory (A)
31 Roar (A)
November
5 City (H)
13 Phoenix (A)
22 Jets (H)
28 Victory (A)
December
6 Glory (H)
11 Sydney (H)
18 Jets (A)
26 Phoenix (H)
January
1 Wanderers (A)
9 Glory (A)
16 Mariners(H)
22 Roar (A)
31 Jets (H)
February
5 Sydney (H)
14 Mariners (A)
19 Victory (A)
27 Roar (H)
March
5 Phoenix (A)
11 City (H)
19 Wanderers (A)
27 Mariners (H)
April
2 Sydney (A)
8 City (A)
What are Adelaide United’s expectations
INTERVIEW 15-16 goals. This kind of competition, when

MARCELO CARRUSCA
this season? you have one player like that, you have an
To impress. Like every year, when we start the advantage over the others. Sydney made the
season, we want to win and achieve in every final because they had [Marc] Janko – he was
single tournament that we play. This year we like this. We’re happy with the players we have,
have the season, we have the cup and we but it’s good to have one player that can score
have the game for the AFC Champions League. many goals.
We’ll see what happens but of course we want
to win everything. From a personal perspective, what did you
think of your own performances last season?
What needs to get better from last season It was good. It wasn’t how I expected to finish
for you to improve in the A-League? the season because I lost the last four or five
We need to improve many things. Maybe, games to one [quad] injury but I’m happy
because there are just 10 teams in the league, because we got to the finals, we played a
everybody knows everybody, it’s difficult to semi-final. Personally, I’m happy. I will try to
surprise the other teams sometimes. This year do my best and not have this kind of injury and
we’re going to train on different things, I can play 26-27 games plus the finals.
different kinds of attacking situations or
different tactics as well, in terms of changing Did injuries almost lead to your retirement
the middle, playing with two [number] sixes, when you were at San Martin de San Juan?
playing with one, playing with two number My first six months there, I had something like
10s, with one as well. We’ll play different in five injuries in two months. It was very bad. I
style that we can use depending on how we’re thought to retire of course. It was the worst.
going in the game.
James Jeggo surprised many with his
There have been very few changes to the performances last season. Are there others
squad. Is that an advantage heading into you see taking a step up for Adelaide?
the season? We have very good young players in the team.
Of course. It’s good to have the same players Jimmy Jeggo for me was not a surprise. He’s a
working for a long time because we know each great player. He showed his quality in every
other very well. Of course we’re going to miss training and after in the games he did very
[Nigel] Boogaard, we’re going to miss other well. I think this year maybe it can be Ossie
players, but we have good players as well in Malik. He didn’t play much last season. He’s an
the team. [Iacopo] La Rocca has come, a good unbelievable player. He can do a very good job
player with experience. We are ready to fight and I hope he can get the opportunity to play
in every single tournament. more games and show his quality.

In the league last season, Pablo Sanchez You’re contracted for the next two seasons.
scored eight goals, you scored seven If there’s one thing you want to achieve at

Words Dejan Kalinic

and Sergio Cirio scored seven. Is that Adelaide in that time, what would it be?
a positive or would you prefer someone I have this competition that I never played –
who can score 13-14? the AFC Champions League. I hope next year
It’s good for us to score many goals, but it’s we can play in this competition and I think and
good to have one player who can score 20, hope we do a good performance.

THE 60-SECOND DOSSIER

2014/15 4
LEAGUE SCORERS
IN NUM
NUMBERS
M

0 3
6
8

6
7

O Won by two or more goals

O Won by one goal 6
O Score draw
Carrusca

Goodwin

O Goalless draw 9
Sanchez

1
O Lost by one goal
Djite
Cirio

3 the number of draws headers scored by

O Lost by two or more goals
the Reds had away Sanchez in the league
from home in 2014/15
TEN-YEAR RECORD

15 6
1
2 2
3 3
4

6 6
Cirio’s key contribution, penalties scored, the
9
10 with eight assists and second most in the
PL seven goals league last season
05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 4/15

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 41

HYUNDAI A LEAGUE 2015/16

BRISBANE ROAR
Last season: A-League 6th FFA Cup Round of 16

The defending champions fell to earth with
a thud last season, scraping into the finals
courtesy of the Perth Glory salary cap
scandal. Gone is the aura of invincibility
they enjoyed during Ange Postecoglou’s era
and the first full term under Mike Mulvey.
New coach John Aloisi’s biggest task will be
to get inside the head of his players and
remind them what it’s like at the top of the
heap. A 3-0 demolition of La Liga side Villareal
and a competitive 1-0 loss to English Premier
League giants Liverpool in pre-season shows
there’s still plenty of quality in the Queensland
outfit.
THE GAME PLAN
Roar will need a greater return from their
celebrated passing game than just high
possession stats. Luke Brattan has the guile to
grab a game by the scruff of the neck but will
need to curb his tendency to drop too deep.
Aloisi will see him further up the park as the
team capitalises on his penetrating passes to
dictate play, but expect a more direct, well-
drilled-in-defence display from Ange’s days.
THE BOSS
STRENGTHS
This is a side bristling with youthful ambition
and a clutch of 20-somethings desperate to
add their names to the Socceroos teamsheet.
A little ‘look at me flair’ from the likes of
Brandon Borrello, Devante Clut (a brace
against Villareal) and Jamie Maclaren ramps
up the X-factor. Slippery Fish, Henrique, is
working his way back from injury while two-
time Johnny Warren medallist, Thomas
Broich, and battle-hardened campaigners,
JOHN ALOISI like Matt McKay, know what it takes to mount
The Socceroo great a title challenge.
endured an ugly start
to his senior coaching WEAKNESS
career at Melbourne For all the talk about wastefulness, Roar’s goal
Heart. After a stint as haul was on par with their double-title season.
Melbourne Victory Gone, however, was the ability to put together
development coach, any kind of meaningful winning run. Flashes of
he gets a second shot brilliance and a couple of thumping victories
to show his coaching over stragglers Central Coast and Newcastle
chops and guide the kept hopes alive. But three wins from the first
triple Champions 10 matches meant it was always a game of
back to trophies. catch-up. Consistency will be key.
LESSONS FROM LAST SEASON
Watching Besart Berisha and Ivan Franjic walk
out the door was a huge blow. Disunity was
arguably the season’s death knell. Uncertainty
over its financial viability is already threatening
to swamp the new era vibe coming off the
pitch. After last season’s messy coach axeing
of Mulvey, and talk of power plays from the
boardroom to the dressing room, Roar will
need to send a strong message that one hand
works the tiller, hopefully with a new owner –
and everyone’s wages paid on time.
VIEW FROM THE HILL
An off-season of turmoil at
Suncorp, with financial issues,
owners who want out, and a new
coach installed in John Aloisi.
Against that backdrop, it’s difficult to predict a
successful season, even though Roar still have
the nucleus of their title-winning squad of two
years ago. Jamie MacLaren is a good signing,
but he and the other youngsters will have to
come of age if Roar are to be contenders.

FIXTURES
October
8 Wanderers (A)
18 Mariners (H)
24 Phoenix (A)
31 Adelaide (H)
November
6 Sydney (A)
15 Glory (H)
20 City (H)
28 Jets (A)
December
5 Wanderers (A)
12 Phoenix (H)
20 Mariners (A)
27 City (H)
January
2 Glory (H)
10 Phoenix (A)
15 Victory (A)
22 Adelaide (H)
30 Sydney (A)
February
6 Mariners (H)
12 Jets (H)
20 Glory (A)
27 Adelaide (A)
March
4 Wanderers (H)
12 Victory (H)
18 City (A)
26 Sydney (H)
April
3 Jets (H)
9 Victory (A)
You’ve won four A-League Premierships and
INTERVIEW Jamie Young stepped up in your absence...

MICHAEL THEO
five Championships with Brisbane Roar and Yeah. Jamie’s come in and done a good job,
before that Melbourne Victory. Where do but my focus has always been on myself and
you keep all those medals? making sure I’m ready. I’ve been around the
I’ve got a few framed up – the Grand Final A-League for nine seasons. I only missed one
jerseys and medals as well, and obviously a because I went overseas (Norwich City). I
few photos from those games. It’s good to know what it takes to be successful. At the end
reflect from time to time. of the day John Aloisi’s going to make a call.

How do you stay motivated? What has John brought to the team?
Just that winning mentality – it’s like a drug. He’s been fantastic. A lot’s been documented
Once you get a taste, you want more. I’ve got about the club and the financial situation –
high expectations, and as a playing group we which is very difficult – but John’s come in and
always push ourselves to constantly improve. been super positive. He’s got high expectations
When I retire I want to have won as many of himself and the team. He’s been a breath of
Championships and Premierships as possible. fresh air to be honest.

How hard was being sidelined last season? Are we going to see a very different Roar?
Frustrating. Prior to that I’d only missed two We like to play with the ball on the ground –
games throughout my whole A-League career. that’s not going to change. There’s going to be
I had a fractured wrist and only ended up a tweak or two in terms of structure but overall
playing four games. Then I did my groin and we’ll still be going out there to win games, not
that wrote off my season. It was extremely trying to keep the opposition to 0-0. That’s
hard not being able to get out there and help never been part of our DNA.
the guys, especially as we weren’t travelling
too well. I’m not the best of spectators. Last year was a transitional period for the
Everyone deals with long-term injuries club. What’s your opinion of the youngsters
differently. If anything it just made me coming through?
hungrier to get back playing again. It’s a fantastic sign for the club’s future. Young
Brandon Borrello had a breakout year last
What caused last season’s slump? season and is looking very good. Devante Clut
When you’re the Champions, it’s always has come in late last year, played a few games
difficult to follow it up. People move on, and scored some fantastic goals. Dimitri
coaches move on. A number of things that Petratos has really come back in pre-season
could go wrong did go wrong. We’re still a focused and looking fantastic.
good team – we’ve got good players. It’s just a
matter of tweaking a few things and making You’re 34 now – will we see you at 40
sure we’re switched on and doing everything barking orders from the back?
in our power to put in a good performance. Yeah – like (Ante) Covic and (Mark) Schwarzer. I

Words Kathy Stone

certainly take care of myself. I’ve got another
How is your fitness now? two years left on my contract here and I’ve got
Good. I had a few little niggles but it was just a ambitions to play as long as I can. As long as
matter of getting through the long pre-season I’m successful and the club’s happy then I
to make sure I’m ready to go come round one. don’t see why I wouldn’t.

THE 60-SECOND DOSSIER

2014/15 LEAGUE SCORERS
IN NUMBERS

17 35
10 4
8

3
5

OWon by two or more goals

OScore draw
OGoalless draw 5
Kaluderovic

3
Henrique

OLost by one goal

Borello
Lustica

McKay

OLost by two or more goals 5 minutes for Henrique to goal scorers during the
become the A-League’s regular season with 10
first sub to score a hat- of those scoring just
TEN-YEAR RECORD trick in the 4-0 over Jets one goal

1 3
1 1
2
3
4
5 5
6 6
less goal was scored by the number of goals
9 Roar last season than in Roar scored in the last
PL their Championship- 10 minutes of the 5-4
05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 Premiership season classic against Sydney

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 43

HYUNDAI A LEAGUE 2015/16

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS

Last season: A-League 8th FFA Cup Semi-finals

victories last season produced the worst

campaign ever for the former champions.
‘New era’ is now the catch-cry for 2015/16 as
foundation player and skipper John
Hutchinson hangs up his boots to join the
coaching ranks. Canny boss Tony Walmsley
has made some astute, if few, acquisitions and
vowed to crank up the production of talented
(and potentially lucrative) youngsters. A $1.5
million take from Club Brugge’s sale of
goalkeeper Mat Ryan to Valencia suggests it’s
smart business but is it enough to keep pace
with the big end of town?
THE GAME PLAN
No beating around the bush, the Mariners
need goals. After scoring just 26 in 2014/15, a
43-goal haul is the target for a quick return to
finals football. Snagging Irish striker Roy
O’Donovan is just the start, and word out of
Gosford is the traditional hard-graft over-
achievers will be “unrecogniseable” on the
park, with an emphasis on quick transition play
and creative ball-to-feet possession.
THE BOSS STRENGTHS
Lack of finances has forced the club into some
creative choices. Today’s big names are out of
reach but it’s all go for tomorrow’s stars with
big raps for midfielder Anthony Caceres, 22,
and youth international Harry Ascroft, 20. The
club markets itself as an elite development
pathway for ambitious youngsters and five
ex-Mariners – Mile Jedinak, Mat Ryan, Alex
Wilkinson, Trent Sainsbury and Oliver Bozanic –
were named in the Socceroos World Cup
TONY WALMSLEY qualifier against Kyrgyzstan.
Stepping in for sacked
Phil Moss late last WEAKNESS
season, the former A large hangover of contracted players means
head of Sheffield the much-heralded football revolution will
United’s academy need to take place within the existing squad.
recruiting and the There’s flair and creativity in the likes of former
Mariners youth has Chelsea youth player, Fabio Ferreira, and
been extolling experience to burn in skipper and ex-Sheffield
“fearless football” United midfielder Nick Montgomery, Joshua
since taking on the Rose and Liam Reddy. But so much depends
toughest gig in the on whether the young ‘ones to watch’ of
Australian top-flight. 2014/15 can kick-on in the season ahead.
LESSONS FROM LAST SEASON
Poor overseas recruiting didn’t help the
Mariners’ cause last term. Hungarian Richard
Vernes ended his loan after just eight
appearances and Senegalese striker Malik
Mane was back at IFK Goteborg after just four,
amid rumours he failed to settle. Ferreira, a
worthy mid-season capture from Adelaide
United, struggled with fitness. Wisely,
Walmsley has been less speculative in his
import choices so far, bringing in O’Donovan to
add the finishing touches up front.
VIEW FROM THE HILL
Underwhelming off-season
signings – O’Donovan should be
good for a few goals, while
Caceres remains the team’s most
creative influence. But otherwise, they may be
reliant on the experience of Montgomery, Liam
Reddy and Eddy Bosnar to give them a chance
of finals football. A big season for Walmsley –
does he have what it takes to be a successful
A-League coach?

FIXTURES
October
10 Glory (H)
18 Roar (A)
25 City (A)
31 Sydney (H)
November
8 Phoenix (H)
14 Jets (A)
19 Victory (A)
29 Wanderers (H)
December
3 City (H)
12 Glory (A)
20 Roar (H)
26 Sydney (A)
31 Phoenix (H)
January
8 Victory (H)
16 Adelaide (A)
23 Wanderers (H)
30 Phoenix (A)
February
6 Roar (A)
14 Adelaide (H)
21 City (A)
28 Jets (H)
March
6 Victory (H)
12 Glory (A)
19 Sydney (H)
27 Adelaide (A)
April
1 Wanderers (A)
9 Jets (H)
The coach needs an extra 17 goals this
INTERVIEW friend of mine, did very well here. Liam Miller,

ROY O’DONOVAN
season. How many can he pencil you in for? another friend of mine, has won a grand final
I hope as many as possible. They struggled here. It’s really a forward-thinking, progressive
without an out and out goal scorer last year. I league right now. It is something that I really
was here to fill that gap and hopefully, if the wanted to be part of.
team can create the chances like they have in
pre-season training, I’ll score plenty of goals. How would you describe yourself?
I’m an on the shoulder kind of striker. I’m the
The team only managed 26 in 2014/15, the kind of guy that wants the ball played to my
same number you bagged for DPMM FC in feet. I don’t really enjoy the play when it’s very
the S.League last season. direct long balls from back to front. I want to
That might be the irony behind why they be in a team that plays a nice brand of
signed me [laughs]. I think it was probably the football, a very attacking brand.
worst season in Mariners history. But we’ve got
new staff, new players, new positivity around You’ve just turned 30, what sort of
the club this year. professional goals do you have?
I want to play at the highest level I possibly
So the mood at the club is upbeat despite can. I want to play for my country. I think me
last season’s disappointing 8th finish? moving to Australia, coming from the year
Since I’ve come through the door it’s been playing in Asia, has probably helped because
absolutely A1. There’s certainly not a grey it’s possibly more mainstream.
cloud hanging over the club. Hutchinson is
part of the coaching staff now and he’s You played for Sunderland in the EPL in
doing a great job. Tony wants to make a 2007/08 under fellow Irishman, Roy Keane.
real crack of being a manager and make What was that like?
a name for himself. We’ve got a great It was terrific. I learned a great deal playing at
fitness coach and young hungry players the very highest level of club football and
who want to do well. playing for a guy who I thought was one of the
greatest players of his generation, if not the
Who’s impressed you in the squad? greatest Irish player of all time. I had a taste of
Attacking-wise Ferreira, Caceres and Fitzgerald it and I still have ambitions to get back to that
are three players I like the look of. It’s a very level if I can.
young team so the likes of Reddy and Monty
are going to be very important and I hope that What was it that prompted you to make the
I can kind of be the bridge in the middle – that move to the A-League?
bit of experience and youth all in one. I did well last year in Asia – I scored a lot of
goals, we won a Cup and I got MVP and stuff
You already knew a little about the like that. When I spoke to Tony at the end of
A-League before arriving? the season, I was kind of thinking of going

Words Kathy Stone

It used to be on Sky Sports over in the UK so I’d back to England. I thought Australia might be
watch the weekly roundup and any games the next best thing, something different, and I
that came on TV. Obviously going back a few liked the style of football they played over here
years, the likes of Robbie Fowler got people in so I thought I’m going to give it a crack and I
the UK interested. Last year Andy Keogh, a hope it goes really well. I think it will.

THE 60-SECOND DOSSIER

2014/15 9
MOST CLEARANCES
IN NUM
NUMBERS
M

12 106
121

81

62

43
114

O Won by two or more goals 1

Jacob Poscoliero

O Won by one goal 5

Zac Anderson

4
Eddy Bosnar

O Score draw
Storm Roux
Josh Rose

O Goalless draw
O Lost by one goal 3
5 Central Coast’s longest Saves by goalkeeper
O Lost by two or more goals
A-League winless run, Liam Reddy were the
ended when Mitchell most of any gloveman
TEN-YEAR RECORD Duke scored a brace of the season

228 4
1 1
2 2
3 3
4

6
games – the A-League The number of goals
8 8 career of one-club man bagged by the Mariners
PL and inspiring skipper top scorer Fabio Ferreira
05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 4/15 John Hutchinson last season

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 45

HYUNDAI A LEAGUE 2015/16

MELBOURNE CITY
Last season: A-League 5th Finals Semi-finals FFA Cup Round of 32

A first ever finals win showed City had
at least made some progress in their first
full season under new ownership. The desire
to continue taking steps forward remains
and they took their chance to make
numerous changes to their squad at the
end of the campaign.
The signings have been promising and John
van ‘t Schip and his men will get another
chance to impress. If expectations were raised
last season, they are even more so this
campaign as Van ‘t Schip reshapes his squad.
City’s time could be coming, but they have very
impressive neighbours to overcome.
THE GAME PLAN
Van ‘t Schip is an experienced A-League coach
and his Melbourne Heart and City teams have
looked largely similar. His midfield was fluid
last season, but City did look toothless – again
– during 2014-15. New signings will
undoubtedly help, while additions are also set
to help City’s desire to have attacking full-
backs. A prolific goalscorer is what has always
been missing.
THE BOSS
STRENGTHS
A handful of good signings and suddenly City
have a competitive squad. The full-back
positions have gone from weak to strong
thanks to the addition of Ivan Franjic and
Michael Zullo. Erik Paartalu and Aaron Mooy
are a strong midfield, while Harry Novillo is a
star. Corey Gameiro, Bruno Fornaroli and Aaron
Hughes add to a squad that could excite
throughout the campaign. Look out for their
pace, particularly out wide.
JOHN VAN ‘T SCHIP WEAKNESSES
Pressure will build on Goals, goals, goals. Or lack thereof. Last
Van ‘t Schip if City season, City scored 36 in the regular season –
start slowly. His easily the least of any other top-six side. But
winning percentage that was still their equal best ever, matching
as a coach continues their 2013/14 tally. The pressure will be on
to hover just above Fornaroli, Gameiro and David Williams to
30 and cannot afford deliver, while more will be needed from Novillo
to stay there. This and Robert Koren on the scoring front. This has
could be a make or been an ongoing problem, with Williams’ 12 in
break season for the 13/14 the only time a City or Heart player has
Dutchman. managed double figures in a campaign.
LESSONS FROM LAST SEASON
The lessons are seemingly the same as
previous campaigns, with the need for goals
still persisting. Van ‘t Schip’s team looks good
in possession but struggles to penetrate and
that has to change. City’s impressive off-
season recruitment should help their cause,
but they are still without a proven goalscorer.
They struggled away from home, winning just
four games – including their final – on the
road. City also opened the season without a
win in their opening four outings.
VIEW FROM THE HILL
City look to have done some of
the best off-season business,
repatriating Franjic and Zullo. The
addition of Hughes to play
alongside Paddy Kisnorbo gives their defence a
totally new – and theoretically, more effective
– look. Gameiro is potentially a good signing
too, if he can regain fitness and form. Can City
find the consistency however? This may be the
year they – finally – make a challenge.

FIXTURES
October
10 Sydney (A)
17 Victory (A)
25 Mariners (H)
30 Jets (H)
November
5 United (A)
13 Wanderers (H)
20 Roar (A)
27 Glory (H)
December
3 Mariners (A)
13 Jets (A)
19 Victory (H)
27 Roar (A)
January
2 Sydney (H)
9 Wanderers(H)
16 Glory (A)
25 Phoenix (H)
29 Wanderers (A)
February
7 Jets (A)
13 Victory (H)
21 Mariners (H)
26 Phoenix (A)
March
5 Sydney (H)
11 United (A)
18 Roar (H)
28 Phoenix (H)
April
3 Glory (A)
8 United (H)
What are your expectations for the season
INTERVIEW Can we expect to see you mostly at full-back

MICHAEL ZULLO
ahead, from a personal perspective and or in a more advanced forward position?
team point of view? What is your preference?
On one hand, people say not to expect too I’m completely comfortable playing either at
much from yourself in the first year back after left- or right-wing or left-back. During my time
a knee injury because it’s a massive injury and in Holland, I got to play a lot at left-back but at
it takes time to get your confidence back. On some stage I played in every position on the
the other hand, based on the way I feel right park. The two main ones are left-wing and left-
now, I feel like I’m flying. I need to get my back and at the moment I’m trying to create a
confidence back and that’s a big goal of mine, good relationship with Harry Novillo to see if
not so much reinvent myself, but go back to we can work together and form a good
what I do and what I know best instead of connection on the left. Left-back is a good
taking the safer option. I want to throw foundation, and left-wing or right-wing, if I
caution to the wind and go for it this year and get the chance, is where a lot of the enjoyment
whatever happens, happens. As for the team, lies in football because you want to get
we have to try and go as far as we possibly forward, you want to get around players,
can. The degrees of difference between each you want to score goals. Left-back is more
A-League side are so minimal that there can responsibility as a defender and it’s more
be little one-percenters between winning the hard work. That’s something I’ve learnt out
league and coming last. of the last few years and I’ve learnt to enjoy
both roles.
How do you assess your time in Holland? Do
you consider it a success or a source of Ultimately, do you want to end up back
frustration overall? in Europe in the long-term? And are you
I’m not a superstitious person, but looking targeting a return to the Socceroos as
back on it I was so unlucky at so many your main goal in the short-term?
different times – and at key times. You can’t A place in the Socceroos is something
learn these lessons until you go through them that every player in Australia strives for.
and experience them but I was so unlucky on I’m trying very hard not to think about that
so many occasions. When I first went over because I was in there consistently for a few
there, I got osteitis pubis, which was a massive years and I enjoyed my time being in the
setback. In the second season, when I was a squad but I probably didn’t play as much
starting XI player, I went through things that as I wanted to because I wasn’t playing as
every footballer goes through – the coach got much as I wanted to for Utrecht at the
sacked, new coach came in and had different time. It was being in the right place at the
ideas. The last year, when I was back in the wrong time and missing that little window,
starting XI again, I did my knee. I had ups and which is disappointing. It’s a goal for me to
downs but I have learnt lessons and I’m get back there, but I’m trying super hard not
definitely a better footballer and a strong to think about that and focus on Melbourne

Words Dejan Kalinic

person for it. As much as I wasn’t happy with City, on keeping that hunger real and fresh
how it turned out and I still have a few points and seeing where it takes me. I want to play
to prove in Holland, I feel that’s what life’s at the highest level I can possibly play at so
about – learning lessons and making the most I can look back on my career and not have
out of situations. any regrets.

THE 60-SECOND DOSSIER

2014/15 7
LEAGUE SCORERS
IN NUM
NUMBERS
M

9
4
7

2
3

32.4
O Won by two or more goals
O Won by one goal 3
O Score draw
5
Dugandzic

5
Williams
Paartalu

O Goalless draw
Koren
Mooy

O Lost by one goal 5 number of goals scored per cent of A-League

O Lost by two or more goals
from corners by City games won by Heart/
last season City under Van ‘t Schip
TEN-YEAR RECORD

8
6

9
5
9
clean sheets kept
8
assists provided by
N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 10 by City Mooy in 2014/15
PL
05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10-/1 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 47

HYUNDAI A LEAGUE 2015/16

MELBOURNE VICTORY
Last season: A-League Premiers Finals Champions FFA Cup Quarter-finals

ended, a period of dominance could be

developing at the A-League’s most
successful club. Victory have stayed
relatively settled after their double-winning
campaign, and that is a dangerous sign for
the rest of the competition.
Kevin Muscat is hungry for more from his
team and believes it can still get better. All of
Victory’s excellent signings of last season have
been retained so they will again be difficult to
beat. A busier schedule could unsettle them
slightly, but the quality of the squad should be
able to cope with most opponents –
particularly domestically.
THE GAME PLAN
Expect more of the same from Victory, given
they have little reason to change. Organised,
generally in a 4-2-3-1, Muscat’s men scored
the most goals (56) and conceded the fewest
(31) during the regular season in 2014/15.
With Fahid Ben Khalfallah, Besart Berisha,
Archie Thompson and Gui Finkler, they have
the attacking talent to rip teams apart.
THE BOSS They were all-round. The champions had the
best attack and best defence, translating into
success. While the attack was a standout,
Victory’s defence – led by Matthieu Delpierre –
and midfield, with Carl Valeri and the now-
departed Mark Milligan, were also excellent.
They even have strengthened in goalkeeping.
Nathan Coe’s departure led to the signing of
former Perth Glory goalkeeper Danny Vukovic.
Add league best shotstopping to his superior
distribution and Victory have yet more options.
KEVIN MUSCAT
In his first full season WEAKNESSES
in charge, Muscat led Milligan left, leaving a hole to fill in the middle
Victory to the double. of the park – and in leadership. Depth could
He kept a talented become a problem if injuries hit some of their
squad, with plenty of stars, having managed to hold onto most of
depth, motivated and them. With an AFC Champions League
rarely put a foot campaign to deal with, younger players –
wrong. The former including Connor Pain, Dylan Murnane and
captain is striving to Jesse Makarounas – will all have to play a part
perfect what we saw and step up at some point during the season.
last season. However, this Victory team is well-placed.
LESSONS FROM LAST SEASON
Perfection is what Victory are always striving
for and there are a couple of potential
corrections. They drew with Newcastle Jets,
and also lost to them, and coughed up leads
against Perth Glory and Wellington Phoenix in
games they looked set to win. The Premiership
could have been sealed earlier. Berisha, Valeri,
Delpierre, Daniel Georgievski and Ben
Khalfallah were all newcomers ahead of last
season and they are likely to be even better
alongside each other.
VIEW FROM THE HILL
A quiet off-season for the
champions. One very good
signing in Vukovic, and one very
big loss in Milligan. The squad
otherwise, remains intact, and that continuity
should allow them to be in the mix to retain
their crown. The unknown factor is how Asian
Champions League participation will stretch
them if, as anticipated, they make a better fist
of the regional competition this time around.

FIXTURES
October
9 United (A)
17 City (H)
23 Jets (A)
November
2 Phoenix (H)
8 Glory (A)
14 Sydney (A)
19 Mariners (H)
28 United (H)
December
5 Phoenix (A)
12 Wanderers (A)
19 City (A)
27 Glory (H)
January
3 Jets (A)
8 Mariners (A)
15 Roar (H)
26 Sydney (H)
30 Glory (A)
February
6 Wanderers (H)
13 City (A)
19 United (H)
27 Sydney (H)
March
6 Mariners (A)
12 Roar (A)
20 Jets (H)
25 Wanderers (H)
April
2 Phoenix (A)
9 Roar (H)
Given all that Victory managed to achieve
INTERVIEW play, I want to be the best player I can. It’s

FAHID BEN KHALFALLAH

last season, what are the team’s only one thing - I just want to win. For me,
expectations for the upcoming season? the most important thing for next season is,
We have to be Champions again. Hopefully we if I can play my best football and if we can
can win. I know it will be difficult, but we have play the best football we can and we know,
the same team except Milligan, who is gone, I think we will have a good chance to be in a
but definitely we have to win this season too good position.
and we play in the Asian Champions League.
For me, when you start a season or a Did you look at anything and not reach the
competition, the goal is to win. I know the levels you expected last season, perhaps in
Champions League will be very difficult goals or assists?
because there are a lot of good teams, but last For me, it doesn’t matter to score more goals.
season we showed to everyone that we have a I’m not someone who scores a lot of goals
good team so hopefully we can got out there during the season. I know if I can give a lot of
and win again. assists during the season I will be happy. I
know I can score maybe 5-6 goals during the
As a team, you boasted strength across the season, but I’m not a striker like Berisha who
park it seemed but what areas do you think can score a lot of goals. I’m not like that. I’ve
can get better at Victory? never played to be the best scorer because I
We have kept the same front four. We scored know it’s not my quality. I know my quality is
more goals than everyone and in defence we to give good balls to the strikers, for Archie,
conceded less goals than everyone. When you and I will try to do the maximum to be maybe
keep the same squad for one, two or three one of the best assisters during the season.
years, we can play better football. Last year I Just only one thing - my goal is to win the
was a new player, Delpierre was a new player, A-League again and the even the Champions
Georgievski, Valeri, Berisha too. Even with this, League. Now it’s a new step. It’s very hard
we won. We can play better football. We know because Asian clubs have a lot of money and
each other. Now I know how Berisha moves, can spend a lot of money, so it’s never easy.
how he likes to play football and how he likes For me, if we want to go up, we have to win
to receive the ball. It’s a very good thing for us something like that.
when you can keep the same squad with the
same coach. Your attack was the best last season. How
much better do you think you can still get as
You seemed to settle into the A-League a playing group?
instantly and were rewarded with the The minimum is to be the same level, but
double in your first season. What personal we know that we have to score more. We
goals do you have left here? want to score more. Last season we had a
To keep going and I want to be the best and I lot of situations. When you play 10 months
want to win with my team. I’m here for 10 together, you know the movement of each

Words Dejan Kalinic

months so it’s different. I know how Australian other. We know we have good quality. We
football is and I know the A-League, how the have to score more goals. It won’t be easy
other teams play, I know how the club works, because last season we scored a lot of
how Kevin is and everything, so I hope to be goals, but we can do it and we have to
the best. I want to be the best in every game I do more.

THE 60-SECOND DOSSIER

2014/15 LEAGUE SCORERS
IN NUM
NUMBERS
M

15 22
4
15

5
11

O Won by two or more goals 1 10

O Won by one goal
Ben Khalfallah
Barbarouses

O Score draw 7
Thompson

O Goalless draw
Berisha

Finkler

O Lost by one goal 7 set-piece goals goals contributed by

O Lost by two or more goals
conceded, including Berisha, who struck
5 penalties 15 and assisted 7
TEN-YEAR RECORD

56 1
1 1 1
2
3
4
5 5
7
regular-season away loss for the entire
8
goals scored league season
PL
05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 49

HYUNDAI A LEAGUE 2015/16

NEWCASTLE JETS
Last season: A-League 10th FFA Cup Round of 32

Calamity was written all 2014/15 as the Jets
were buffeted in the maelstrom surrounding
then-owner Nathan Tinkler and his
disintegrating sports empire.
With a paltry three wins, 2008’s Champions
collected the wooden spoon and went another
season without finals football.
The FFA’s takeover acted as a circuit breaker
and the industrial-sized fans were wheeled in
to blow away any lingering toxicity. With a
new coaching staff in place there’s a sense of
excitement among the players. The message
from HQ is ‘new beginnings’ as the club builds
a side worthy of a passionate football region.
THE GAME PLAN
The three buzzwords from the coach are
“winning, performance and momentum” -
all three were chronically absent during the
2014/15 debacle. But to make the top six
they’ll need to tighten up at the back. The
Jets shipped 55 goals last season. With the
likes of Nigel Boogaard and Daniel Mullen
marshalling the defence, they should prove
a harder nut to crack.
THE BOSS
STRENGTHS
The new gaffer has put his players through a
gruelling preseason to create a cohesive unit.
The signing of team players from Western
Sydney Wanderers – Mateo Poljak and Labinot
Haliti – was smart business, while
ex-Feyenoord midfielder Leonardo Vitor
Santiago should prove handy pick. However,
it’s perennial survivor and former Socceroo
David Carney who could prove crucial. The
31-year-old emerged from last season’s deep
SCOTT MILLER freeze in cracking form heading into 2015/16.
At 33, Melbourne-
born Miller is the WEAKNESS
youngest coach to There are a lot of unknowns for the Jets this
lead an A-League season. A young coach, a vastly changed
team. Ambitious and line-up and a recent history of falling far short
savvy, the former means the imponderables are plenty. After five
assistant coach at seasons of failing to make the finals, the club’s
Fulham spent seven long-suffering fans will hope for nothing less in
years at UK club 2015/16. Can a feel-good pre-season turn
and has degrees around the club’s fortunes? The trick will be to
in sports science keep a lid on expectations while making an
and psychology. assault on the top six.
LESSONS FROM LAST SEASON
Disorder is death. By the time FFA halted the
carnage, the senior playing roster – including
local legend Joel Griffiths – had been gutted,
along with the backroom staff. There was open
warfare between coach Phil Stubbins and a
clutch of high-profile players. The treatment of
Griffiths and the likes of loyal clubman Zenon
Caravello burnt a lot of bridges. Tinkler made
no secret of the fact he wasn’t a ‘natural’
soccer man and the outcome was all the
evidence fans needed.
VIEW FROM THE HILL
All change in the Hunter. FFA are
in control after Tinkler’s exit, and
unproven coach Miller gets his
first crack at the A-League. The
addition of Jean-Paul de Marigny will help, and
the atmosphere around the club should be
less toxic. The club made a host of signings –
standouts being Poljak and Boogaard. They
should have a better season, but it’s probably
too soon to talk about a repeat of 2008.

FIXTURES
October
11 Phoenix (A)
17 Sydney (H)
23 Victory (H)
30 City (A)
November
7 Wanderers (H)
14 Mariners (H)
22 United (A)
28 Roar (H)
December
4 Sydney (A)
13 City (H)
18 United (H)
24 Wanderers (A)
January
3 Victory (H)
9 Sydney (A)
17 Phoenix (H)
24 Perth (H)
31 United (A)
February
7 City (H)
12 Roar (A)
20 Phoenix (H)
28 Mariners (A)
March
7 Glory (A)
13 Wanderers (H)
20 Victory (A)
26 Glory (H)
April
3 Roar (A)
9 Mariners (A)
You left the Jets in January for six months
INTERVIEW gives you a lot of confidence and he’s big on

MARK BIRIGHITTI
loan at Serie B’s AS Varese. How was that? the technique side of things. He’s been in Italy
Great. It’s a totally different game over there. and I think it’s one of the best schools of
They’re very tactical and very defensive- goalkeeping in Europe at the moment.
minded. Here in Australia we’re very big on
playing out from the back and keeping Since joining the Jets in 2012 you’ve yet to
possession and over there it’s all about getting experience finals football – frustrating?
results. But it was a fantastic experience. I was Absolutely. The first season I was at the club
lucky enough to play the last seven games of Gary van Egmond was the coach and we just
the season. It was a good chance to test missed out on the play-offs. We had to win our
myself against some top players in Italy. last home game against Western Sydney and
ended up losing 3-0. When I was with
How does it feel to be back in the Hunter? Adelaide United I was lucky enough to make
It’s been a fantastic pre-season. We came the Grand Final and we came runners up in the
back a little bit earlier than the other A-League AFC Champions League. Being a footballer, you
squads and the vibe in training is really good. want to be a part of these games. With the
I’m really looking forward to having a big year changes at the Jets, we don’t want anything
with the club. less than making the finals this season.

With the club’s recent troubles, were you in You’ve got a tough start to the campaign.
two minds about returning? The first four games are against Melbourne
When I got the phone call from the Jets, Victory, Sydney, Melbourne City and Wellington
they persuaded me. I still had a year on my – they’re all big games but I’m confident in the
contract and I’ve so many fond memories at playing group. If we can get off to a good start,
this club. I’ve built so many good relationships it will set us up for the rest of the season.
with the players and backroom staff. The
supporters here are great and I love this city. Who’s impressed you in the side?
If I had to say one it would be David Carney.
Have you noticed any major changes under He went through a pretty rough time last year
new coach, Scott Miller? with everything that happened at the club but
Scotty’s a great coach. He’s been at some he’s come in this pre-season and he’s
great clubs and under some world class absolutely ripped it. To see the way he came
managers including Roy Hodgson. We also back at the start of pre-season was a real eye-
have a fantastic assistant coach in Jean-Paul opener. He’s going to be a pivotal part of this
de Marigny. The coaching staff is top shelf. team’s season.
Everyone has a fresh start to prove themselves.
It’s really good waking up in the morning and World Cup qualifiers ambitions?
wanting to go to training. I was lucky enough to go to the World Cup in
Brazil with the Socceroos squad. Every

Words Kathy Stone

What’s it like working with former Juventus professional footballer dreams of playing for
goalkeeper Jess Vanstrattan? their country. To achieve that goal you have to
I’ve had a lot of goalkeeping coaches in my play well at your club and at the moment I’m
career. In saying that, I’m only 24 – I’m talking just really focused on doing well at Newcastle
like a 40-year-old – but Jess is fantastic. He Jets and the rest will take care of itself.

THE 60-SECOND DOSSIER

2014/15 8
LEAGUE SCORERS
IN NUM
NUMBERS
M

-32 66
6

1
2

O Won by two or more goals

0
O Won by one goal
8
O Score draw 3
Pavicevic
Ki-Je Lee
Montano

O Goalless draw
Alivodic
Neville

O Lost by one goal 2 6 Goal difference, a HAL yellow cards, the most
O Lost by two or more goals
record shared with New of any club during the
Zealand Knights and season
TEN-YEAR RECORD North Queensland Fury

4
3
2

8
6
7 7
8
7
9
per cent of goals were
7
Biggest losing margin in
10 conceded in second- Jets A-League history
PL half injury time against Adelaide United
05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15
(7-0) in January

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 51

HYUNDAI A LEAGUE 2015/16

PERTH GLORY
LAST SEASON: League Position: 7th (Demoted to seventh due to salary cap violations) FFA Cup: Runners-up

Glory are practically starting from scratch
again, after last season’s disastrous salary
cap scandal which saw them booted from
the finals, fined $269,000 and subsequently
saw an exodus of players head out the door.
Among them were Andy Keogh, Jamie
Maclaren, Danny Vukovic and Scott Jamieson,
while Rostyn Griffiths and Danny De Silva left
due to their European ambitions. When
assessing Glory’s chances this season it’s hard
to ignore their squad turnover and the fact
they cheated to finish third on the table last
term. Coach Kenny Lowe has a tough job, but
he surprised many last season.
THE GAME PLAN
Griffiths was key to Glory’s style last term with
his control and distribution in midfield and
leaves a significant hole to fill. Lowe based his
gameplan on a stubborn backline combined
with clinical counter-attacks, with Nebojsa
Marinkovic and the now-departed Keogh
integral to its success. Full-backs pushing
forward, such as the impressive Josh Risdon,
added another dimension too.
THE BOSS
STRENGTHS
Glory still have some continuity in defence
with Dino Djulbic and Risdon. Veteran keeper
Ante Covic should complement a backline
which conceded only 11 times away from
home last term, with their counter-attacking
approach paying off. Right-back Risdon will be
a Socceroo in time, while Marinkovic’s set-
pieces are often deadly, with the likes of
Djulbic drifting forward to good effect.
KENNY LOWE WEAKNESSES
Was a shock Who’s going to score the goals? With Keogh
permanent and Maclaren gone, that takes away 21 of
appointment after an their 45 strikes from last season. Dutchman
unimpressive interim Guyon Fernandez looks a find on paper, but
stint in charge, but will be under immense pressure to score.
surprised many. Can Breaking down defensively-minded opponents
appear both bright is an issue too. Griffiths was an under-rated
and facetious at influence last term, with his composure in
times, while his midfield and set-piece threat. Ruben Zadkovich
gesticulations on the looms as his likely replacement, but may lack
sidelines will provide the necessary quality to enable Glory to be a
a few laughs. genuine top four threat.
LESSONS FROM LAST SEASON
The obvious lesson is the salary cap scandal,
which left the club desperately scampering to
rebuild its reputation. Owner Tony Sage has
shown some remorse while new CEO Peter
Filopoulos has a tough assignment in that
respect but will no doubt have the books in
order. On the field, Glory flew out of the blocks
last term, before a nine-game winless run in
the second half of the campaign. Confidence
and leadership slipped and Lowe needs to
offer more solutions.
VIEW FROM THE HILL
It’s difficult to foresee anything
but a season of struggle for Glory
– their squad having been
decimated following the salary
cap scandal. In the wake of key stars like
Keogh and Vukovic, some of the replacements
look like short-term fixes. With fans offside
with Sage, Lowe has his work cut out to restore
faith in his team, and the club. It could be a
long season in the west.

FIXTURES
October
10 Mariners (A)
18 Phoenix (H)
25 United (H)
November
1 Wanderers (A)
8 Victory (H)
15 Roar (A)
21 Sydney (H)
27 City (A)
December
6 United (A)
12 Mariners (H)
19 Wanderers (H)
27 Victory (A)
January
2 Roar (A)
9 United (H)
16 City (H)
24 Jets (A)
30 Victory (H)
February
7 Phoenix (A)
13 Sydney (A)
20 Roar (H)
26 Wanderers (A)
March
7 Jets (H)
12 Mariners (H)
20 Phoenix (A)
26 Jets (A)
April
3 City (H)
10 Sydney (A)
A lot of players have left after the salary cap
INTERVIEW somewhere around fourth to sixth and

DINO DJULBIC
scandal, but for those who have stayed, how we finished third, but it was different
do they respond? Has the saga somehow circumstances obviously. We want to finish
brought them together? top six.
We were all devastated last year when it
happened. We were all down because we You’re seen as one of squad’s leaders now.
couldn’t play finals. But we won most of our How does that sit with you?
games even after the news broke, so we I want to try to use my experience to guide the
showed some spirit. The players who didn’t rest of the squad through. I love winning, let’s
want to be here, or for whatever reason, put it that way. For me, it’s very important to
they’re gone. The ones who are still here are win games and I hope we can do that a lot this
happy to be here. They want to fight for the year. On a personal level, I want to play well. I
club. I know we’ve got an honest group and want to have an even better year than I had
players who want to be here. last year.

Given you put in all that hard work Let’s talk about some of the new signings,
last season, to have it taken away, is it a kicking off with someone you’ll work closely
challenge to generate motivation for the with, your new goalkeeper, Ante Covic?
playing group in pre-season? Covic has won the Asian Champions League,
Last year is last year. You have to move on. he’s got so much experience, he’ll be good to
All the players that are here have moved have both on and off the field. Playing against
on. We’re signing some good players in / Covic has never been easy, so it’ll be good to
pre-season. We’ll give it a go again and have him on our team.
hopefully we’ll have a similar result, on-field,
to last year. How about the new marquee signing Diego
Castro? Did you know much about him
There’s been internal criticism of the before the club signed him?
administration, with CEO Jason Brewer I’m not a big Spanish La Liga follower, so
departing, but how has coach Kenny Lowe unfortunately I didn’t know much about
responded and managed the situation with him. But I’m really looking forward to playing
the squad? with Diego. He’s got a lot of games under his
I’ve known Kenny for a long time. I knew him belt in a top league like Spain.
back in my state league days and I’ve always
been happy with what he’s trying to do and How about your new Hungarian midfielder
his philosophy. I’ve really enjoyed his time Gyorgy Sandor? What can we expect from
under him. him in the coming months?
He’s looking alright. It was very difficult when
Given the turnover of players in the off- he came to Australia at first but he’s settled

Words Ben Somerford

season, what is the realistic ambition for the in well. He speaks the language. He’s a good
2015/16 season? lad and his football looks quite good as well.
The ambition is just like any other A-League There’s other players who are coming here
club. It’s about making the top six. Anything such as Guyon Fernandez and Antony Golec,
above that is a bonus. We set our targets the it’ll be a good challenge for them. We’ve got
same as last season. We were hoping to finish a good spirit among the group.

THE 60-SECOND DOSSIER

2014/15 2 3
LEAGUE SCORERS
IN NUM
NUMBERS
M

11
12

3
9

O Won by two or more goals 2

5821
O Won by one goal
O Score draw
Marinkovic

10
Maclaren

O Lost by one goal 8

Harold,

Djulbic
Keogh

O Lost by two or more goals

Crowd for Glory’s final Number of years since
home game after the the club last won a
salary cap findings major trophy
TEN-YEAR RECORD

7 7 7
5
3

6
7
2
Number of players who
13
Number of appearances
8 played every league off the bench by
10
PL game in 2014/15; Maclaren in 2014/15, he
05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 Keogh and Thwaite played 20 overall

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 53

HYUNDAI A LEAGUE 2015/16

SYDNEY FC
LAST SEASON: League 2nd Finals: Lost to Victory in grand final FFA Cup: Lost to Adelaide in quarter-finals

Graham Arnold’s Sky Blues are out for
redemption after May’s Grand Final defeat
to Melbourne Victory. Sydney stormed home
after the Asian Cup break, going on a run
where they scored 25 goals in seven games.
Golden Boot winner Marc Janko is a big loss,
along with speedy winger Bernie Ibini.
Reinforcements have arrived in ex-Besiktas
hitman Filip Holosko, former Serbia
international Milos Ninkovic and Olyroos talent
Andrew Hoole, while Player of the Year Milos
Dimitrijevic has been retained in a major boost.
THE GAME PLAN
Arnold’s structured and patient game plan is
based on interchanging play to drag rivals out
of position. Sydney love to exploit the space
between the lines. Dimitrijevic works box to
box, while late last season Mickael Tavares
dropped deep in midfield alongside the central
defensive pairing, allowing the full backs to
support attacks. Chris Naumoff and Bernie
Ibini provided speed to utilise space on the
flanks created by movement, and support
strikers Alex Brosque and Janko to good effect.
THE BOSS
STRENGTHS
Arnold’s recruitment and propensity to give
youth a chance has built a strong squad,
ensuring there’s serious competition for
places. Ali Abbas will be fit again too while
Arnold’s well-received man management
should bring the best out of his players. The
side’s methodised approach will ensure that,
despite squad turnover, there’s a system in
place to fall back on. The Sky Blues had great
success with that on the road last season,
boasting the competition’s best away record
GRAHAM ARNOLD where they went the campaign undefeated
The former Socceroos until the fateful decider. Vedran Janjetovic also
coach’s first season kept the most clean sheets in the league.
with Sydney was a
much-needed breath WEAKNESSES
of fresh air. Arnold On the flipside of their tremendous away form,
boosted squad was their ordinary home record, collecting only
morale, instilled a four wins in 13 attempts at Allianz Stadium
solid style of play and during the regular season. Arnold had theories
recruited well, but but could never solve the issue. The current
silverware is what squad has shown defensive frailty, with Matt
he’s there to deliver. Jurman and Jacques Faty likely to be their
first-choice pairing. The loss of Janko and Ibini
means Holosko must hit the ground running,
while his support in Brosque, Shane Smeltz
and Matt Simon aren’t getting any younger.
LESSONS FROM LAST SEASON
There was plenty gained in Arnold’s first
season at the helm, but expectations will
remain high. He must find a way to improve
Sydney’s home performances and results. The
fact they only scored 19 times at home hints
at the root of the problem. Sydney must find a
way to unlock defensive-minded opponents.
VIEW FROM THE HILL
So close last season, and while
Arnold has lost top scorer Janko,
his replacement – Filip Holosko –
has the pedigree to perform just
as well. Arnie has also retained key players like
Tavares, Faty, and perhaps crucially, midfield
talisman Dimitrijevic. If you throw in Andrew
Hoole, plus a fit again Abbas, then there is no
reason why Sydney could not go one better
this time around.

FIXTURES
October
10 City (H)
17 Jets (A)
24 Wanderers (H)
31 Mariners (A)
November
6 Roar (H)
14 Victory (H)
21 Glory (A)
26 Phoenix (H)
December
4 Jets (H)
11 United (A)
19 Phoenix (A)
26 Mariners (H)
January
2 City (A)
9 Jets (H)
16 Wanderers (A)
26 Victory (A)
30 Roar (H)
February
5 United (A)
13 Glory (H)
20 Wanderers (H)
27 Victory (A)
March
5 City (A)
12 Phoenix (H)
19 Mariners (A)
26 Roar (A)
April
2 United (H)
10 Glory (H)
You joined from Newcastle Jets in the off-
INTERVIEW What was it like last season going through

ANDREW HOOLE
season and got a taste of playing for Sydney that drama at Newcastle Jets?
FC in a couple of the friendlies in front of Yes, it was a tough year for the club. I don’t
80,000 crowds against EPL giants Chelsea want to touch too much on it. Obviously now I
and Tottenham. What was that like? am looking forward to the opportunity of a
They gave me an easy game to start with! No, fresh start. I want to put that behind me. I did
it was a good experience to play against big enjoy my time there and hopefully they can do
teams. It was a great start for me and to get well this season coming.
some minutes was good for myself.
You’ve come from Newcastle to Sydney FC, a
Where do you see yourself playing at bigger club that have done well last season.
Sydney, because Arnie has talked about you Do you feel the pressure?
playing as a number 10? It’s a few different things. Coming to a
We haven’t really touched on it too much. club that has done quite well there can be
He’s thrown me into a few different roles some pressure, but you have to try and be
in terms of the two games against Chelsea confident within yourself and not put too
and Tottenham. I like playing more central much pressure on yourself. Coming to a team
as a number 10 – you can do some damage that has done quite well makes it a lot easier if
in there – but wherever he puts me I’m you have some quality here and some good
happy to play. Anywhere in the front third is older players.
good for me.
You’ve been involved with the Olyroos. You
What about the irony of scoring your long must have the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio
awaited first ever A-League goal against de Janeiro on your mind?
Sydney FC, who you’d already signed with It’s great, everyone wants to play international
last season. Did Arnie have a bit of a word football for your country. It was a good
coming into the team? stepping stone for myself. We have some
Yeah, he made a bit of a joke before the game qualifiers coming up in January for the
and told me not to play and had a bit of a joke Olympics and we’re looking forward to that.
after the game and he said: “Why did you take Obviously I take it week by week here at
the penalty?” Just a bit of a muck around. Sydney, but when that comes up you definitely
Obviously it was good to score and I want to want to do well and definitely get onto the

Words Bne Somerford and Con Stamocostas

get more goals this season because last Olympic stage.
season it wasn’t good enough from my
perspective in terms of the front third. I would It’s a big year for you, a new club and
definitely like to bag a few goals this season. potential Olympics representation. What
goals have you set for yourself?
How would you assess your season last year Not any goals at this stage. I think it’s about
on an individual level at Newcastle? biding your time and taking it week by week.
I wouldn’t call it a breakout season. I was Obviously I’m just concentrating on Sydney at
just trying to be professional in a struggling the moment. Like I said, when those things
side for quite some time. I have a lot of work come up, I have to focus on that. I’ve just got
to do this season for Sydney FC and I am to take it one step at a time. Ease into it and
looking forward to that. don’t put too much pressure on myself.

THE 60-SECOND DOSSIER

2014/15 3 1
LEAGUE SCORERS
IN NUM
NUMBERS
M

16 34
16

2
9

O Won by two or more goals

O Won by one or more goals 4
O Draw 8
Naumoff

O Lost by one goal

Brosque

Smeltz
Janko

O Lost by two or more goals

Ibini

7 Number of points Number of points

Sydney FC claimed at Sydney FC claimed
home in 2014/15 away in 2014/15
TEN-YEAR RECORD

5 46
1
2 2
3
4
5 5 5

7 Number of clean sheets Number of goals

9 Vedran Janjetovic kept Sydney’s all-time
PL in 2014/15, an leading scorer Alex
05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 A-League record Brosque has netted

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 55

HYUNDAI A LEAGUE 2015/16

WELLINGTON PHOENIX
LAST SEASON: League 4th Finals: Lost to City in Elimination Finals FFA Cup: Lost to Adelaide in Round of 32

In late March, Wellington moved four points
clear at the top of the A-League ladder. With
five rounds left to play where Phoenix had
four of those games at home, they seemed a
shoe-in for the top two, and perhaps even
their first silverware, the Premier’s Plate.
Unfortunately it all went wrong, suffering
three demoralizing home defeats, before
bowing out in the Elimination Finals at home
to Melbourne City. There’s a determination to
right those wrongs in 2015/16, but they’ll have
to do without Johnny Warren Medalist Nathan
Burns who has left for FC Tokyo.
THE GAME PLAN
With Glen Moss, Ben Sigmund and Andrew
Durante forging a solid defensive foundation,
coach Ernie Merrick has employed an attacking
game plan where his busy midfielders attempt
to control the tempo with Burns and Roy
Krishna enjoying success on the wings. The
crafty Michael McGlinchey works well with
Dutchman Roly Bonevacia in central midfield
creating openings, while the team’s fearless
adventure keeps opponents on the back foot.
THE BOSS
STRENGTHS
Wellington’s willingness to get forward
ensured they often took the initiative and
capitalised on their pace, with Krishna enjoying
a breakout season, netting nine times.
Familiarity is a big strength for the ‘Nix,
particularly in defence where the likes of Moss,
Sigmund, Durante and Manny Muscat have
played together for years. The squad hasn’t
changed much this off-season which should
provide some continuity and enable the group
ERNIE MERRICK to gel further as is the Merrick method.
The two-time
A-League champion WEAKNESSES
coach has plenty of Arguably squad depth played a part in the
admirers, penning a Phoenix’s late season fade, caused in part by
three-year contract their struggle to recruit top quality players.
extension back in Merrick needs to be bold in the transfer
March. Merrick has market. He may also need to bolster their
brought stability and holding midfielder options, with Vince Lia and
a professional Alex Rodriguez turning over possession at
approach to the club, times. Wellington’s attacking options also
but can he bring appear limited, with no obvious Plan B
trophies? following Joel Griffiths’ injury-enforced exit.
LESSONS FROM LAST SEASON
Merrick was happy to allow Jeremy Brockie to
move to South Africa because he didn’t fit the
system, but Wellington may need an
alternative route to goal when their style of
play isn’t working, and find a way to plug the
gaps in defence. The club’s late season slump
included successive 3-0 losses at home to the
eventual grand finalists, while Melbourne City
stifled their midfield in the Elimination Finals,
suggesting Wellington had finally been figured
out, albeit late in the competition.
VIEW FROM THE HILL
The departure of Burns left a huge
hole for the ‘Nix to fill. So far, only
ex-Sydney FC striker Blake Powell
has come in, but there will surely
be others. Merrick delighted neutrals last
season with enterprising play and crucially
they learned how to win on the road. With five
of their first eight away, they will need to
replicate that in the early part of the season to
have another successful campaign.

FIXTURES
October
11 Jets (H)
18 Glory (A)
24 Roar (H)
November
2 Victory (A)
8 Marines (A)
13 United (H)
21 Wanderers (A)
26 Sydney (A)
December
5 Victory (H)
12 Roar (A)
19 Sydney (H)
26 United (A)
31 Mariners (A)
January
10 Roar (H)
17 Jets (A)
25 City (A)
30 Mariners (H)
February
7 Glory (H)
14 Wanderers (A)
20 Jets (A)
26 Phoenix (H)
March
5 United (H)
12 Sydney (A)
20 Glory (H)
28 City (A)
April
2 Victory (H)
10 Wanderers (H)
You’ve lost Nathan Burns and Kenny
INTERVIEW on what we did last season. We took massive

MICHAEL McGLINCHEY
Cunningham, but otherwise it’s a fairly strides from where the club finished the year
settled squad with few changes? before. We believe we are a top six side and
That’s going to help. Some of the boys have that’ll be the minimum again. From there, we’ll
been together for years, but most of us are see if we can go one better than last season.
now coming into our second season together.
We’re a bit more gelled than at this time last Given all that, to bow out at home to
season. We’re implementing a few more Melbourne City in the Elimination Finals
formations and strategies. must burn at the players?
It does hurt. The players are disappointed it
Burns scored 13 last season and created finished the way it did. From sitting top of the
even more, so how do you replace him? table and top two for a while, to go out in the
It’s very difficult to replace a player like that. first round of finals, it is disappointing.
His general character around the club was
excellent too. He was more than just a goal Obviously Wellington can’t spend like clubs
scorer, he was a good link-up man as well. such as Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City
Whoever comes in is going to have big boots or Sydney FC, so can you realistically match
to fill but I’m sure the club are looking to try to it with them? Are there any doubts given
bring another overseas player in. It’s a great last season’s fade?
opportunity for the boys already at the club to I don’t think it creates doubt. We know what
try and secure that spot too. they’re all about. They’ve got some fantastic
players. We’re obviously a smaller club but we
Ex-Sydney FC striker Blake Powell is one of need to do what we did last year. We proved
Wellington’s few additions. What’s your what we could do last year with this group of
impression of him? players. It’s not an issue of belief. It’s about
I’ve been very impressed with him. I think going out and doing it.
most people at the club have been. He’s
shown a lot of promise. He’s a very quick You talk about belief, is there a feeling
player. He’s good to play with, you’ll play a that the club is building something special
through ball and he’ll always get on to it. under two-time A-League Championship-
He’s a decisive finisher as well. He’s been winning coach Ernie Merrick?
enthusiastic in training and has settled in We know Ernie has done it before. Maybe it
really well. I think he can score some goals shocked us last season that we got up there so
for us. high. It won’t shock us this season. We’re
going to give it a good crack and see if we can
You weren’t far off making the top two last finish as high up the table as possible.
season, so what’s the ambition for 2015/16?
Silverware this time? The international schedule looks pretty

Words Ben Somerford

I think at the moment we’ll obviously aim for clear, so that may offer some consistency
the top six, but deep down we’ll know we sat for the squad...
in that top spot for a while and we let it slip in Hopefully that’s the case. That usually kills the
the last five to six games. If we get in that team when there’s an international and most
position again, we’ll be a bit more ruthless in of the team goes away. If that’s the case then
how we approach it. I think it’s about carrying that’ll definitely be a bonus for us.

THE 60-SECOND DOSSIER

2014/15 3 4
LEAGUE SCORERS
IN NUM
NUMBERS
M
13

577 211
9

O Won by two or more goals

O Won by one goal 5
Cunningham

O Draw
McGlinchey

Bonevacia

O Lost by one goal 7

Krishna
Burns

O Lost by two or more goals 4 Number of votes Burns Number of votes

received to win the runner-up Marcelo
Johnny Warren Medal Carrusca was behind
TEN-YEAR RECORD Burns in the tally

8
6
4

6
4 4
181 4
Number of Wellington Number of goals
9
N/A N/A 10 A-League games Durante has scored for
PL played by skipper Wellington in his 181
05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 4/15
Andrew Durante league appearances

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 57

HYUNDAI A LEAGUE 2015/16

WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS

Last season: A-League 9th FFA Cup Round of 32

What a contrast in fortunes. After defying
the odds to lift the AFC Champions League
crown, Tony Popovic’s men wilted under the
heavy schedule of a continental campaign,
unable to kickstart their domestic season.
A miserable four wins saw the former
Premiers, two-time Grand Finalists and 2014
Kings of Asia tumble, only escaping the
A-League wooden spoon by a single point.
The new owners will want more for their
investment and Popovic has responded with
typical ruthlessness, gutting 75% of his player
roster and injecting some Spanish flair into a
revamped line-up.
THE GAME PLAN
Wanderers seemed surgically attached to a
4-2-3-1 system that relied on defensive
resilience and quick counter attacks. The seeds
of a new style were sown last season – albeit
with inconsistent results. A more mobile
midfield with the likes of Mitch Nichols, as well
as fullbacks Scott Jamieson and Scott Neville
bombing forward suggests a new mindset at
Pirtek Stadium.
THE BOSS
STRENGTHS
The 2014/15 disaster will not sit easily with the
passionate fanbase and ambitious coach.
After last season’s recruiting mis-steps, the
club has made some astute acquisitions not
least of which is new assistant coach Andres
Carrasco. The Catalan style-master spent 15
years at La Masia, FC Barcelona’s famed youth
academy, and is joined by compatriots Alberto
Aguilar, Andreu Guerao Mayoral and Dimas
Delgado, along with Italian marksman and
marquee Federico Piovaccari.
TONY POPOVIC
The former Socceroo WEAKNESS
and 2014 AFC Coach The exit of centreback Matthew Spiranovic,
of the Year shocked along with the virtual decimation of the strike-
all in 2012/13 by force grabbed most headlines. X-factor Tomi
creating title-winners Juric is gone. Foundation players Mateo Poljak,
from cast-offs, some Labinot Haliti and goalkeeping legend Ante
proven performers Covic – the bedrock of consistency – are big
and a dash of Shinji losses. The club is putting a lot of faith in the
Ono brilliance. Can he coach’s ability to pull-off a high-risk rebuild.
weave the same The big question is whether the squad can
magic again? gel in time
LESSONS FROM LAST SEASON
FFA scheduling saw the Wanderers run into
the ground last season. Chalking up more than
70,000km in their Asian campaign, they were
slugged with a punitive home fixture list that
saw them endure away games to Melbourne,
Wellington and Perth in their first four matches
of the season. The post-ACL malaise was
understandable and A-League clubs going for
continental glory in future will hope they’re
given a fighting chance by Australia’s
governing body.
VIEW FROM THE HILL
A total overhaul has hit the squad
after last year’s dismal effort, and
Popovic must hope the results
improve, or he could be under real
pressure. There are some exciting acquisitions
– marquee Federico Piovaccari could be
another Marc Janko, and Mayoral has the
potential to be the sort of playmaker they lack.
Mitch Nichols adds to the mix, and they should
finish a lot higher up the ladder this season.

FIXTURES
October
8 Roar (H)
16 United (A)
24 Sydney (A)
November
1 Glory (H)
7 Jets (A)
13 City (A)
21 Phoenix (H)
29 Mariners (A)
December
5 Roar (H)
12 Victory (H)
19 Glory (A)
24 Jets (H)
January
1 United (H)
9 City (A)
16 Sydney (H)
23 Mariners (A)
29 City (H)
February
6 Victory (A)
14 Phoenix (H)
20 Sydney (A)
26 Glory (H)
March
4 Roar (A)
13 Jets (A)
19 United (H)
25 Victory (A)
April
1 Mariners (H)
10 Phoenix (A)
You’ve been a professional footballer for 15
INTERVIEW quality was there but the schedule didn’t help.

ROMEO CASTELEN
years. Have you ever experienced such a big There was a lot of travelling. We were playing
player turnover before? okay but not really getting the results. Of
I had a period in Hamburg when we released course I was expecting much more and it
quite a few players – like 9 or 10 – but 18 didn’t work out how I expected. It was a little
players is quite a lot. It’s a whole new squad disappointing because I came here to win the
and also the new players have to come in and A-League, to play in the final and to win that.
adapt to the club. It’s a challenge, but the new
players coming in have a fresh mentality and a After struggling with injury last season, how
new hunger. We have a coach that is very is your fitness heading into this campaign?
ambitious and he’s brought in new staff and Can we expect to see more from you?
new players so we are very confident that this I feel amazing. That’s why I’m looking forward
year we’re going to be very successful. to this season because the people haven’t
seen the best of me yet. I know what I can do
What have you made of the new signings? and what are my qualities. With a good pre-
We have some good players coming in, like the season – which I didn’t have last year – I have
Spanish guys, and we have to see how we’re a good base to make the people from my club
going to gel together. It’s not going to be easy. and the A-League enjoy my game. I’m much
(Nikita) Rukavytsya was a very good player, fitter and I know the A-League now, so I’m
(Tomi) Juric did well, (Ante) Covic also did very even more prepared. If Romeo Castelen has a
well and (Matthew) Spiranovic – so we’ve lost very good season then the Wanderers should
some quality players. It’s not easy to replace be in the top three.
that straight away. But you can have a very
good team spirit to compensate and the new Is that the goal coach Tony Popovic has set?
players coming in will get a fair chance to If you know Tony a little bit, he is always going
make their contribution. for number one. That’s also my goal – we have
to go for number one. That is my mindset, the
There are some good reports about your club’s mindset and for Tony especially. It’s a
combination play with Mitch Nichols. new team he’s building so I give myself a little
Mitch has a good final ball and good football bit of space and say we should be in the top
players don’t need a lot of time to gel. Also three at least. That’s what I hope and expect.
with Andreu – players that have that quality, We have to win the Grand Final. That is the
it’s not that hard to link up with. biggest thing in the A-League and for that we
have to have a consistent season.
You left relegated Dutch club RKC Waalwjik
for the Wanderers who were flying high in With your high expectations it must have
Asia. How surprised were you with the way been tough watching the 2015 Grand Final
the domestic season panned out? and not being part of it.
It was very strange because I came in and My two best mates Mickael Tavares and

Words Kathy Stone

everything was good – the players and the Jacques Faty were in Sydney FC so I watched
mentality were very good. We were in the the boys playing and I wanted to be there
Champions League and I think mentally we also. Now it’s up to us to make it. I want to be
were riding on a high. It was a big successful and win prizes – that’s why I came
achievement for Australian football. I think the to the Wanderers.

THE 60-SECOND DOSSIER

2014/15 3
MOST CLEARANCES
IN NUM
NUMBERS
M

18 16
511
911

653

619
831

O Won by two or more goals 2

O Won by one goal 2
14
Topor-Stanley

O Score draw
Spiranovic
La Rocca

O Goalless draw 4
Poljak

Covic

O Lost by one goal 2 players left during the games won or lost last
O Lost by two or more goals
offseason sparking a season by just one goal
full squad rebuild
TEN-YEAR RECORD

288 7
1
2

days A-League winless members of the

9 run ended on February squad who have
N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
PL 8, 2015 with a 2-0 win played for three or
05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 over Wellington more A-League clubs

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 59


FROM BLING
TO BANG
TO BOOM
Revealed: The philosophy behind the
self-styled “Manchester United of
Australia” where Sydney FC’s obsession
with big-name marquees has evolved to
meet the needs of their football, not their
profile on the social pages of newspapers.
Words Bne Somerford and Con Stamocostas
M A RQ U E E M AG I C
S
YDNEY FC’s first chairman Walter
Bugno had one ambition : “We
wanted to be the club that everyone
talked about, like Manchester United,
where you either love them or hate
them. We wanted people to have an opinion
on Sydney FC, good or bad, because it meant
they were talking about us. Everything we did,
such as signing Dwight Yorke as marquee,
was about trying to spark interest.”
Thus the tag ‘Bling FC’ was spawned. From
the outset, Sydney was the A-League’s
glamour club. They had the money, they had
the superstars, they had the Hollywood actors
- with Anthony LaPaglia coming on board as a
part owner - and they would go on to win the
inaugural Grand Final. It all shouted glamour.
That was the original vision. Marquee and
guest players have come and gone, such as
Juninho, Benito Carbone, Kazuyoshi Miura,
John Aloisi, Nick Carle, Brett Emerton, Marc
Janko and Alessandro Del Piero, with mixed
success and sometimes to the detriment of
the on-field results. More recently, chairman
Scott Barlow and CEO Tony Pignata have
allowed head coach Graham Arnold control of
recruitment, but for a decade this has been a
club with a marquee obsession.
Reflecting back to season one, Bugno
explains: “Sydney is entertainment. We had to
go marquee. Someone who everyone in
Sydney goes: “Oh my God, I have to see him!”
The signing of Yorke was massive for the
infant club and competition. He’d won the
UEFA Champions League along with a host of
titles while at Manchester United. Given his
affiliation with a number of English top flight
clubs, he was a familiar face for the Australian
market so aligned with the Premiership. That
cheeky smile and ‘All Night Dwight’ reputation
added to the charm and swagger, but Bugno
revealed he wasn’t first choice.
“We didn’t have many targets that met both
the on-pitch quality and off-field marketing
capability,” Bugno recalls. “We ended up with
two, Dwight Yorke and Roberto Baggio.”
“We thought Baggio was the epitome that
we should target,” Bugno says. “We
approached him, but the financial ask was far
beyond our reach. That dropped pretty
quickly.” Little did Sydney know the success
they’d later have luring another legendary
Juventus striker...
Sydney proceeded to move for Yorke where
assistant coach Ian Crook’s relationship with
then-Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce
elped the clubs reach agreement.
“He wasn’t playing at Birmingham
d could’ve just collected his
ages as a contracted player,”
ugno says. “They didn’t charge us
transfer fee and paid out a big
ortion of his contract, so Dwight
idn’t lose any income. He wasn’t
n expensive marquee, certainly
ot to the level of the marquee
layers since.”
Ahead of Season One, Sydney’s
search for a big name wasn’t
restricted to their marquee player,
fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 61
 M A RQ U E E M AG I C
ARNIE’S ARMY
MARCHES ON
Still smarting from his flop in Japan, Graham Arnold transformed
stumbling, starstruck Sydney into slick, free-scoring Sky Blue
Grand Finalists. Next stop: Home form and some silverware…
I
n April 2014, Graham Arnold
returned to Australia with his tail
between his legs after a six-month
coaching spell in Japan. He’d shown
bold ambition and it hadn’t worked
out. Annoyingly, he felt the media had
painted the wrong picture of events
too. Fast forward 18 months and the
memory of Vegalta Sendai has
virtually vanished.
“I know what happened in Japan
and I could have easily stayed,”
Arnold insists. “I chose to leave
because I couldn’t adjust to the
culture and I couldn’t coach the
way I wanted to coach because I
couldn’t communicate.”
As a 50-year-old former A-League
Premiership and Championship
winning coach returning home, he
showed great humility. Weeks later he
was announced as the new Sydney FC
coach and not long later, he got
down to work.
He adds: “Everyone learns lessons.
I never thought I’d come back to such
a great club as Sydney FC, I enjoy
every day working at the club. It’s
an honour.”
Chairman Scott Barlow says: “The
first day he walked through the door,
Graham took a real leading role in
creating a culture of togetherness
and family.
“His ability to do that is one of his
key strengths and I’ve been really
pleased with that. From day one when
he arrived, that’s been a major focus
of his and the culture of the club is
stronger and better for it.”
After years of instability and
inconsistency, Arnold’s Sky Blues –
from players, coaches and staff – were
a different unit: They were a family, as
Barlow puts it.
SYDNEY TIMELINE
1 NOVEMBER 2004
Sydney FC launched as one of the foundation
A-League clubs. Walter Bugno to be the club’s
inaugural chairman
62 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au
Goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic adds:
“When Arnie came in, he changed the
culture of the club dramatically, we
can all see that now. Last season
showed that everything just glued
together and his philosophy worked at
the club. Every player is on board, now
it’s just fine tuning it.”
Arnold has also taken a meticulous
approach to getting the right
ingredients for success. “Everything is
planned down to the fine detail,”
defender Sebastian Ryall says. “We
got a chef that came in, he changed
the set-up in the change rooms. The
physios and masseuses came in every
day. You can definitely see the
progress the players are making and
the club as a whole.”
Squad depth seems to have
suddenly improved under Arnold too,
with youngsters given opportunities –
and capitalising on them.
“He’s really helped me along,”
teenage fullback Alex Gersbach says.
“He’s shown faith and confidence in
me and that’s given me the ability to
go out there and do what I do and
really contribute to the team.”
Arnold’s man management style is
universally appreciated by his players.
He gets the best out of his squad and
backs his players to the hilt. Arguably
though, he took that too far during
last season’s finals series when he
claimed they were the ‘best team in
the league’ and should have won the
league by 10 points ahead of the
Grand Final.
The story goes that the offending
article was pinned to the wall in the
Victory change-rooms, in the showers,
the cubicles, physio room, everywhere
– and used as motivation for the 2015
Grand Final.
“I don’t regret that at all,” says
Arnold. “I have to show belief in my
players. It had nothing to do with
Melbourne Victory. They are very, very
well coached team by Kevin Muscat
with some great players.
“I had to show confidence in my
team and show the belief in my team.
It was at a private function with a lot
of Sydney FC supporters and I didn’t
really expect it to have got out to the
media but I don’t regret saying it all,
because what I did say, I believe.
“From Christmas until the end of
the season, we were the best team in
the league.”
Arnold’s late season charge was in
contrast to the side’s slow start as
players and staff adapted to each
other – but there will be no excuses
in 2015/16 with the veteran coach’s
expectations now clear.
“We want to be a better football
team than last year and for the
players individually to be better than
what they were last year,” Arnold says
with some reservation. “If we do that,
then, as a team, we will be better.”
CEO Tony Pignata has no doubts
about his absolute faith in Arnold.
“Do we want to win the Grand Final?
Definitely,” Pignata says. “We got
close last year and missed out, so we
definitely want to go one better.”
DECEMBER 20, 2004
Pierre Littbarski appointed as
inaugural coach
 M A RQ U E E M AG I C

but also their head coach which drew

widespread speculation. But Bugno revealed
Pierre Littbarski wasn’t their original
preference. “We started off with an ambitious
choice of Gianluca Vialli,” Bugno recalls. “He
was the first person we approached and by
far our number one choice.”
Bugno and co put together a dossier and a
seven-minute video, selling Sydney as a city to
live and the club’s vision. Sydney
y y employed
p y
Australian agent Lou
Sticca, who pitched the
idea to ex-Chelsea and
Watford manager Vialli in
London. The Italian was
interested, but his English
wife wasn’t prepared to
move to Sydney.
Future England boss
Roy Hodgson was close
to reaching agreement
with the Sky Blues too,
until the Australian media broke the story and
scuppered the deal. Experienced Dutchman
Arie Haan, ex-Aston Villa boss John Gregory
and the relatively untried Littbarski were
those remaining on the shortlist.
“Pierre wasn’t a very well known coach, but
as a footballer he had few rivals,” Bugno adds.
“He had a pedigree at the top and we thought
that was a good storyline for us to build the
Sydney FC brand around.”
Yorke left one game into the second season,
lured back to England as the cash dried up at
Sydney. The club wouldn’t sign a marquee
again – although they had Carbone come for
an injury-affected guest stint – until World
Cup winner Juninho’s arrival in 2007.
However, his impact was also limited.
The then-34-year-old Brazilian’s former
Sydney team-mate Steve Corica recalls: “The
unfortunate thing was for most of the season
he was playing with a broken collarbone.
Sometimes he couldn’t run properly. We
didn’t see the best of him.”
Sydney tried their luck with Australian
marquees returning from Europe, firstly Aloisi,
then Carle and on to Emerton. None had the
desired effect and Aloisi’s tricky first season
was a wake-up call.
“The first year he came in,
hee was disappointed in
himself,” Corica remembers.
“B
But in the second he won
the double and won back a
lo
ot of fans. Carle started his
first season well, while
fi
Emerton was a very good
E
pro but didn’t have the best
p
of seasons. Sometimes
o
it’s tough coming back
from overseas.”
Sydney diverted from
their Australian marquee

8 APRIL 2005 5 MARCH 2006 17 MAY 2006

Dwight Yorke announced as Sydney become inaugural A-League Terry Butcher confirmed
marquee, giving birth to the Champions, defeating Central Coast Mariners as new coach
moniker ‘Bling FC’ 1-0 in the Grand Final in front of 41,689 fans
at the SFS.

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 63

 M A RQ U E E M AG I C

THE FINAL Sydney FC lost the first Grand Final in

their history when Melbourne Victory
snatched glory with a 3-0 hammering
at AAMI Park last May

ALEX BROSQUE
“We’ve had teams try to suffocate us and not
let us play our game in the past, but we’ve
worked our way out of it. But the way Victory
were able to maintain that for the whole 90
minutes, that took everyone by surprise. We
haven’t really spoken about it, but if we are
lucky enough to be in the final this year, it will
be something that we bring up and don’t let
happen again.”

VEDRAN JANJETOVIC
“We did accomplish things last year but the
Grand Final is the one that hurts the most and
that will motivate the boys to come back this
year and get that one step closer and win it.”

TERRY ANTONIS
“When the first game comes around, that’s
when we will release all the anger and
definitely when we see Victory again it will be
a good game.”

8 FEBRUARY 2007 12 FEBRUARY 2007 3 AUGUST 2007

Butcher sacked after Branko Culina Juninho signs
the club’s semi-final appointed interim coach as marquee
exit

64 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au

 M A RQ U E E M AG I C

ANALYSIS

22 OCTOBER 2007 3 MARCH 2008 31 JANUARY 2009

Culina sacked. John Sydney sign John Aloisi as marquee in a deal Kosmina sacked, prompting speculation
Kosmina takes over the making him the highest-paid player in any Tony Popovic or Roy Keane could take over
next day domestic football code

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 65

 M A RQ U E E M AG I C

You’ve played for a decade in

Turkey, so why the move to Sydney?
This summer my contract with
Besiktas finished. I got an offer from
Sydney FC and I was interested. I
think that football is getting better in
Australia every year. Also my previous
coach Vitezslav Lavicka and previous
teammate Karol Kisel both spoke
about Australia only in superlatives
therefore it was easier to decide.

Did you know much about

Australian football prior to signing?
Honestly, I did not look at the
Australian league but I knew about
the Australia national team and I
know a few players who played in
Turkey – for example, James Troisi
and Mile Jedinak.

Did you know much about Sydney FC

prior to signing with the club?
I knew it is the biggest club in
Australia and I knew that Del Piero
played here. I’ve heard many
important and interesting details
from Lavicka and Kisel and I had lot
of questions.

Did you previously know/play with

any of the Sydney players?
I knew Marc Janko from the Turkish
league and Austrian national team.
Shane Smeltz whom I met at the
World Cup in South Africa where
we played against New Zealand. I
knew Mickael Tavares from Slavia
Prague too.

What can you add to the side?

I believe we will win the league this

HUNGRY
year and our team will be successful
in the Asian Champions League. I
want to be a useful player in our

LIKE A
team and help as much as I can.

Graham Arnold labelled you multi-

SLOVAK
dimensional. What type of player do
you see yourself as?
I would say that I may be a dynamic
player, using my quickness to get
Two minutes with past defenders and either score or
new marquee man, prepare chances on goal for my
teammates.
Filip Holosko
You’ve signed as marquee, following
some big names, does that create
any extra pressure?
Of course, it is not an easy position
for me after such big names but I
don’t feel any extra pressure. I
believe in myself.

4 FEBRUARY, 2009 20 MARCH, 2010 28 MAY, 2010

Czech Vitezslav Lavicka Sydney do the double for the first and only Socceroo Nick Carle
appointed the club’s fifth time, winning on penalties in the Grand Final signs as marquee
coach in five seasons against Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium.

66 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au


“Once we got the ball, we tried to get it to
Del Piero. Defensively, he didn’t do a lot...”
experiment, landing the biggest fish in
A-League history when they secured Juventus
superstar Del Piero on a bumper contract in
2012. CEO Tony Pignata labelled it a
“momentous occasion”, while chairman Scott
Barlow called it an “historic day for football in
this country”.
Crowds flocked across the nation wherever
Del Piero went. He delivered with 24 goals too,
although that didn’t translate into on-field
success for Sydney who finished seventh and
fifth during his time.
“Once we got the ball, we tried to get it
straight to him,” Corica recalls. “Defensively he
didn’t do a lot. But whenever he had the ball,
he was always dangerous.”
FEBRUARY 16, 2011
Brett Emerton confirmed as marquee, days
after Victory signed Harry Kewell who
Sydney were also chasing
Things have changed with the modern day
Sydney under Graham Arnold. Pignata says:
“Getting Del Piero was huge for the league
and huge for the club, but there’s not a lot of
Alessandros out there. Now it’s about getting
the right marquee.”
In the past two seasons, with Arnold given
recruitment control – not the club’s marketing
department – Sydney signed international
strikers Janko from Austria then Slovakian Filip
Holosko as marquees. Janko delivered on the
field, winning the Golden Boot and scoring
some stunning goals, but along with Holosko,
they don’t have the star attraction of some of
their predecessors. It’s a clear change from
the original vision.
14 MAY, 2012
Ian Crook appointed
new coach
M A RQ U E E M AG I C
“It was a huge coup to get Del Piero. It’s not
a one off, he’s raised the interest,” Pignata
says. “But it’s got to work commercially and
on the field as well to bring those type of
players in.”
One of the spin-offs of Sydney’s divergence
in their marquee obsession is the impending
Above Janko left the league broadcast rights deal and how the lack
club with the Golden of star power may affect negotiations.
Boot after slow start “That’s a reasonable point,” Barlow says.
“Sydney FC have taken the lead over our
10-year history, bringing big names into the
A-League and the benefits of that have been
seen to Sydney FC but they’ve been seen to
the A-League as a whole.
“Has that been getting more difficult? Yes.
But you’re seeing crowds continuing to grow,
you’ve seen the quality of football grow and
the friendlies against Tottenham, Chelsea and
Liverpool have shown the gap in standard isn’t
as big as people think it is.”
The obsession with big name marquees may
have run its course.
5 SEPTEMBER 2012
Sydney land Alessandro Del Piero as their
new marquee on a lucrative two-year
contract worth approximately AU$3.5 million
fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 67
 HEAD TO HEAD: SYDNEY’S COACHES ON TEST
The revolving door at Moore Park has slowed recently, but many have passed through it

GRAHAM ARNOLD FRANK FARINA IAN CROOK VITEZSLAV LAVICKA

Man management Man management Man management Man management

Backs his players who love playing for Banishing Nick Carle and Matt Good coach on the training Demanded discipline but as time
him. Players speak wonders of his Thompson pushed him towards the paddock, but couldn’t get the wore on, was sometimes too nice
work reforming the culture. exit, albeit long and tortuous for fans. best out of players. and impact wore off.

Tactical nous Tactical nous Tactical nous Tactical nous

Tactically sound. Has learnt many Shipped too many goals and failed Didn’t have enough time to make an Brilliant at first, but things got stale.
lessons from national team spell. to prevent the team’s over-reliance impact, resigning for health reasons. Had players well drilled with his
Employs structured game plan. on Del Piero. pragmatic style leading to the double.

Media persona Media persona Media persona Media persona

Sometimes a master of deflection, Farina was on the chopping block for Simply appeared hopelessly His broken English and calm nature
Arnold is sharp in the media and a long time before the final blow. out of his depth. endeared him to the media, but
always up for a battle. Couldn’t get the message across. couldn’t provide answers in the end.

Transfer success Transfer success Transfer success Transfer success

Excellent, highlighted by Marc Janko, Made much-needed changes with In charge when Del Piero joined, but Brought in Kisel but let veterans
while retaining Milos Dimitrijevic was some success. The signing of not a great record with Trent Colosimo, Bolton and Aloisi leave
astute and a great eye for youth. Dimitrijevic was his best work. McClenahan among his signings. without really replacing them.

JOHN KOSMINA BRANKO CULINA TERRY BUTCHER PIERRE LITTBARSKI

Man management Man management Man management Man management

Always one to speak the honest truth. Wasn’t the assertive force needed to Good sense of humour, but training Well-liked, despite training hard. His
He didn’t stroke players’ egos and revive standards. standards dropped under him. football status gave him respect.
rubbed a few up the wrong way. Managed Yorke well.

Tactical nous Tactical nous Tactical nous Tactical nous

Was okay, but not great tactical Showed his acumen in an impressive Butcher’s side lacked some craft and Good tactically, although Sydney’s
acumen. Often played players out AFC Champions League run, but polish but were defensively sound. football wasn’t always pretty, relying
of position. couldn’t replicate it in the A-League. on individuals at times.

Media persona Media persona Media persona Media persona

Always up for a debate, always ready The ex-NSL coach never seemed like Butcher copped it from the media, His exit was acrimonious, but had
to offer an honest assessment and the right fit given the club’s flirtation especially given his self-confessed enjoyed a good ride where his
gift a gem quote. A character. with star power. taste for Australian wine. Teutonic charm was well received.

Transfer success Transfer success Transfer success Transfer success

Signed Colosimo, Bridge and Aloisi, Tried to unearth some local gems but The purse strings tightened when he Had arguably the season’s best squad
but didn’t get the best out of them, none really worked. Patrick da Silva arrived which didn’t help. Benito at his disposal including a real
especially Juninho. failed to impress. Carbone didn’t work out due to injury. marquee star in Yorke.

28 NOVEMBER 2012 8 MAY 2014 20 JULY 2015

Frank Farina confirmed as new Graham Arnold hired as Filip Holosko signs
coach after a brief interim stint new coach as marquee
under Corica

68 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au

 TEN TOP
TALENTS
OUTSIDE THE
A-LEAGUE
With only 230 or so A-League contracts on offer every season in Australia, it’s the former
NSL clubs in the NPL which are often unearthing the fresh talent waiting for a chance to
shine at Australia’s elite level. Not everyone can make the leap…but who are the stars
waiting in the wings? CON STAMOCOSTAS tracked down ten top contenders…
Words CON STAMOCOSTAS
 TOP TEN TALENTS

DEJAN PANDUREVIC
Age: 18
Position: Striker, winger, attacking midfielder
Competition: New South Wales NPL
Clubs: Manly United, Central Coast Mariners

When 18 year old Manly United striker Dejan

Pandurevic beat 80 boys from around Australia
for a place at the Nike Academy in England, he
took a step closer to his dream of securing a
professional contract in Europe, following in
the footsteps of current Socceroos and Celtic
star Tom Rogic who also won Nike’s ‘The
Chance’ football talent search competition.
Paul Dee, Pandurevic’s coach at Manly
United, gave an insight into the attributes that
caught the eye of the Nike Academy scouts
when he was just 15: “He’s an exceptionally
good young talent.
“He’s probably a natural number 10, but he
can play as a number nine. He’s got terrific
feet, is a great ball player and athlete too, and
he can score goals with both feet.”
At the Nike Academy, Pandurevic spent six
months training alongside players from all
over the world and also toured Europe playing
some of football’s biggest sides.
“To be chosen from all those boys and to
represent Australia was an amazing feeling,”
he says. “We played against teams like
Manchester United at their training facility. We
went over to Italy and played Inter Milan. We
smashed them 4-0, and we played really well.
“Our main training facility was in St Georges
Park, the main training facility in England. We
had scouts from European clubs come to all
the games we played.”
After the first stage of the Nike Academy
training program ended, Pandurevic was
signed by Central Coast Mariners, but the joy of
getting his professional gig was short-lived
when head coach Phil Moss did not renew
Pandurevic’s contract for the next season.
“I came towards the end of the National
Youth League season and I only ended up
playing two or three games for the youth team
before the season finished,” says Pandurevic.
“I found I wasn’t going to get signed for the
following year so with about six weeks left of
my contract, I asked for a release, and went
back to Manly United.”
Going back down to the NSWNPL, and the “We went over to Italy
and played Inter Milan.
club he started his career with when he was
nine, paid off. Pandurevic got the game time
he was craving. After impressing with Manly
United, his form was rewarded with a call up to
the Young Socceroos recent training camp
We smashed them 4-0.”
where he scored against Melbourne City.
“I’m very happy with my decision to go back
to Manly, especially after getting game time,”
he says. “It was a pretty good feeling to be
chosen for the Young Socceroos, it was
amazing. It was good to be around the lads
who are my age and some of the best
footballers in the country in that age group.”

72 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au


CHARLES LOKOLI-NGOY
Age: 18
Position: Striker, winger
Competition: New South Wales NPL
Clubs: Sutherland Sharks, Sydney FC Youth
Year 12 student Charles Lokoli-Ngoy is a tall
strapping striker and has been at the
Sutherland Sharks for two years under the
stewardship of former Socceroo hardman
defender, Steve O’Connor.
Lokoli-Ngoy is originally from the Democratic
Republic of Congo and came to Australia with
his parents and brothers when he was 13
years old, on November 4, 2008.
The family remembers the date. It’s the day
Australia offered a new beginning, away from
the hardships of life in a country that has been
ravaged by civil wars since 1997.
“My parents came to Australia for a better
life. For a better opportunity in life,” says the 18
year old. “There is better living in Australia
than there is in Congo. It’s pretty hard for
people that live there. Australia is a pretty
good country. It’s nice. It’s easy going. Life
here is beautiful.”
One thing growing up in Congo did give the
teenager was the street soccer where Lokoli-
Ngoy learnt to play football.
Five years later, representatives from the
Congo national team have recently been
asking his family about his availability to play
for their senior national team.
In his first season for the Sharks he was close
to being the leading scorer for the youth side.
His second season has seen the teenager
become a regular in the first team squad,
where he has also played out wide.
Last season Lokoli-Ngoy featured 14 times
for Sydney FC’s youth team where he was
coached by former Socceroo Steve Corica.
“He gives you a lot of good advice during the
shooting drills. He teaches you how to do it
properly. He still has the skills. He does it way
better than us!” says Lokoli-Ngoy.
At the beginning of this A-League pre-
season, the striker was called up by Graham
Arnold for the Sky Blue senior team. Coming on
as a substitute, the teenager scored in
consecutive friendly games against the
“My parents came to Australia for a better
life. For a better opportunity in life...”
TOP TEN TALENTS
Earlwood Wanderers and the Macarthur Rams.
Lokoli-Ngoy also represented his adopted
country as part of the under 20 Australian side
that flew to New Zealand to play against
Qatar, Panama and Ghana for their under 20
World Cup preparations.
“It was a good experience. The team played
four games, I played in three of them and I
started one of them against Panama,” says
Lokoli-Ngoy.
“International football is another level –
it’s pretty hard playing against older boys,
especially the teams that were playing in the
World Cup.
“It’s a good experience to know the next
level. So the next time you get a chance,
you play much better and get to cope with
the environment.”
Sharks coach O’Connor believes Lokoli-Ngoy
can make it in the A League, but admits that
the high school student still has a way to go.
“At this stage there are areas he needs to
improve,” he says. “He’s got lots of speed, and
he’s got lots of good attributes.
“He’s good at holding the ball up. Turns with
it quite well, and lays things off. He makes
good forward runs, and gets himself in the box,
and into reasonable positions.”
 TOP TEN TALENTS
NICHOLAS EPIFANO
Age: 21
Position: Winger, attacking midfielder
Competition: Victorian NPL
Clubs: Dandenong Thunder, South
Melbourne, Melbourne Heart Youth
Nick Epifano is a silky skilled winger with an
eye for goals. His talent is without question but
he is also a divisive figure, especially among
the South Melbourne faithful and hierarchy.
During a match earlier this year against
Bentleigh Greens, South Melbourne were down
2-0 and playing poorly. At halftime, one of
their supporters posted on the club’s Facebook
page: ‘Get Epa off’.
Inevitably, South came back to draw the
game, with Epifano scoring the equaliser to
make it 2-2. After the game Epifano responded
to that supporter on social media with the
comment: ‘Who scored the equaliser, you
dumb Greek XXXX?’
Soon after that incident, there was another
episode with fans involving Epifano. After the
match against Green Gully, Epifano came out
of the dressing rooms in his club polo and
tracksuit pants, crossed over to the outer side,
jumped the fence, apparently set to confront
some of the club’s own fans, only to be held
back by his mum.
Repeated infractions have seen Epifano face
a playing ban from his club. His coach at South
Melbourne, Chris Taylor has a father-like
relationship with Epifano.
“He’s not your typical player, dare I say it,
he’s probably a little bit quirky at times,”
admits Taylor. “[But] he’s not necessarily a
handful to manage, he’s a good kid.
“He goes about his football in a good way.
Epifano jumped the fence,
apparently to confront fans,
only to be held back by his mum.
He’s one that shies away from the spotlight,
he’s probably a bit on the shy side. But when
he turns it on, he certainly can play.
“He has had some issues with supporters
that get on his back. We are not all perfect. If
you manage him in the right way, you’ll
certainly get your rewards, because he can
certainly win games off his own bat.
“He’s certainly got the ability to do that. I
suppose that is part of his trait.”
Epifano played with Melbourne Heart’s youth
team for two seasons when he was only 16.
He recently trialled with SPL club Dundee
United but that trial was cut short.
“I still learnt a lot from that experience and
developed a great understanding of what it
takes to become a professional footballer,”
he says.
“Obviously I would love to play football
professional/full time and I think training more
than three times a week plus games would
better me as a player.
“My career goals in terms of football
obviously is to play at the highest level I can,
preferably overseas for a professional club.”
Epifano’s talent was recently on display in
South Melbourne’s FFA Cup round of 32
penalty shootout loss to Palm Beach Sharks. A
nutmeg through a defender’s legs was a small
indication of his skills.
The bad boy of the VIC NPL says that the
NPL is sometimes ignored when it comes
to player recruitment from the top tier of
Australian football
He adds: “Considering some of the players
that currently play in the A-league - there are
many in the lower tiers that could easily be
playing at that level.”
 TOP TEN TALENTS

IVAN GRIGIC

Age: 18
Position: Defender
Competition: Victorian NPL
Clubs: Melbourne Knights

The production line of ball-playing defenders

of Croatian descent never seems to stop.
Melbourne Knights defender Ivan Grigic is
skilful on the ball, strong in the tackle and
rarely provides his opponents any space.
Grigic has been at Melbourne Knights since
he was nine when he used to play up front in
the juniors, but moved back to defence in the
U14s and has been there ever since.
Now he has set his sights on following in the
footsteps of former Knights heroes and going
on to play at the highest level.
“I definitely have aspirations, it would be
great to get a taste of professional football for
sure,” he says.
“I always looked up to Mark Viduka having
played for the Melbourne Knights as an 18
year old and going overseas in his career and
being a Socceroo. I remember going to watch
Ivan Franjic play when I was a kid, for St
Albans and the Melbourne Knights.
“He’s done really well for himself. He’s taken
his opportunity. It would be good to emulate
someone like Franjic also.”
Grigic’s coach at the Knights, former no
nonsense midfielder Andrew Marth, has no
doubts about his young defender’s ability.
“He’s got the composure on the ball, he’s got
the attributes,” says Marth. “If anything, he
needs to work on his sharpness in close areas.
I know he’s working on that every day.
“He’s got the right attitude for it.”

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 75


NICK OLSEN
Age: 19
Position: Striker, attacking midfielder, winger
Competition: New South Wales NPL
Clubs: Sutherland Sharks, Apia Leichhardt,
Western Sydney Wanderers
Nick Olsen is a 19 year old winger who has
already trialled with FC Copenhagen and
Blackburn, represented the Young Socceroos a
dozen times and signed his first professional
contract when he was 17…but has yet to
debut in the A-League.
Olsen was 16 when he took his senior bow
for Sutherland Sharks. After an impressive
season, he then signed a first grade contract
with Western Sydney Wanderers,
But Olsen never made a first team
appearance in his time with the new side, only
figuring for the youth side during his seven
month stint at the club.
76 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au
“Because it was such a successful team, I
think it was hard as a young player to get
through the ranks,” Olsen reveals.
“I didn’t get an opportunity to show what I
had, but there was no real reason why I left.”
Olsen’s time with the Young Socceroos
included tours of Spain playing alongside
Awer Mabil, Christopher Ikonomidis, and
Christopher Naumoff.
“Playing international football was amazing,
you can’t really explain the feeling because
you’re playing for your country,” says Olsen.
“It was pretty crazy playing with the best
players in your age group, for your country. It
is something I wish I could do again, hopefully
one day it will happen. It is one of the best
experiences of my life.”
His current coach at Apia Leichardt, Rob
Williams, believes Olsen deserves another
opportunity in the A-League.
He adds: “I think Nick Olsen if given an
opportunity could definitely make a career in
the A-League. He’s an exciting player and one
that likes to run with the ball and be creative.
“He’s very good off the ball as well. I don’t
think there is that kind of player around in that
league for that sort of age.”
IQI JAWADI
Age: 21
Position: Central midfielder
Competition: Victorian NPL
Clubs: Dandenong Thunder, South Melbourne
Like Charles Lokoli-Ngoy, Iqi Jawadi’s family
came to Australian in search of a better, safer
life…and brought their son’s latent talent for
football with them.
Born in Afghanistan, his family fled the war
torn country and moved to India before taking
Iqi to Australia as a seven year old.
Jawadi learnt how to play football in his
adopted home and now says the game had
a huge role in helping him settle into his new
surroundings and life Down Under.
“Football helped quite a bit. It kept my mind
fresh and allowed me to be a part of a whole
new community,” he says.
“I just found the ball at my feet and it felt
natural, so as I grew up, I then found out I was
good at it, so I kept going to where I am now. I
love the game and it is natural for me to play.”
While coach of Dandenong Thunder, Chris
Taylor spotted the naturally-talented
midfielder when he was playing football at
high school and brought him with him when
he moved to coach South Melbourne.
“He’s a father figure to me,” says Jawadi of
Taylor. “Winning the treble with him at
Dandenong was something great. Hopefully
we can do the same at South this year!”
Jawadi has had interest from A-League clubs
in the past, but the ultimate dream would be
to play in Australia’s top league with former
NSL giants, South Melbourne.
“I would love to play professionally one day.
Where that happens I don’t know,” he admits.
“Hopefully one day we can see a club like
South join the A-League and for me to be a
part of it, I love it here.
 TOP TEN TALENTS

“They are an amazing club with great people

around the place that make you feel so s
welcome. It’s my home at the moment and
with the support we get, I couldn’t see myself
anywhere else.”
The 21 year old midfielder was recently
called up to the Afghan national team m, where
he spent time in a training camp in Ge ermany.
“It was an honour, I am very proud d of my
heritage and for my family,” he reveals. “I
was excited to be a part of it all.
“I would love to play more and to be e
capped by Afghanistan. There’s nothing
that would make me prouder.”
Jawadi still has family in Afghanistaan
and they all follow the midfielder’s
exploits in Australia.
“They are all proud to see me doing so
well, I want to continue looking after my
family and in particular my amazing
mother,” he adds.
Jawadi was a class above during So outh
Melbourne’s loss on penalties in the FFA Cup.
The 21 year did not feel any added
expectation to perform – instead, the extra
attention that game received spurred d him on.
“When you play for South Melbourn ne, there
is always pressure, but I thrive on play
ying with
this,” he says.
“It makes the games more fun. And d it
means much more knowing there are e people
supporting and watching you each we eek.”
Like Epifano South Melbourne coach h Chris
Taylor also believes Jawadi is ready foor the
next level.
“For me Iqi Jawadi is certainly one that
t can
make it in the A-League,” he says. “He e’s one of
the better midfielders going around.
“He’s mobile, he’s got quick feet, and he
works very, very hard. He should make the
step up to A-League.”

“He’s mobile, he’s got

quick feet, and he
works very, very
hard. He can step up.”
 TOP TEN TALENTS

KEANU MOORE
Age: 19
Position: Attacking midfielder
Competition: Northern New South Wales NPL
Clubs: Edgeworth FC

Keanu Moore was born in Tamworth with

Aboriginal heritage through his father – and is
usually described as a creative midfielder with
a knack of scoring goals.
Moore got his first name from Speed star
Keanu Reeves after his mother loved the name
(and the actor!)… and he doesn’t lack any
shortage of speed himself.
As a youngster, Moore was told he was too
small to play football, but now he calls his size
one of his strengths, along with his footwork
and dribbling which he has been working on
since he was aged eight.
His main motivating factor in playing football
is to “…prove people wrong and just chase my
dream to play for Barcelona. I want to go
straight to the top!”
The biggest moment in Moore’s career came
when his club Edgeworth FC were drawn
against Melbourne City in the FFA Cup round
of 32 – and he rose to the challenge of taking
on a side of A-League professionals.
“You’d think there would be pressure but I
wasn’t really feeling it, because I’m enjoying
my football,” he says.
“I love the way I’ve been playing, I’m just
going to keep playing how I’ve been playing.
Keep training how I’ve been training…”
His coach at the Eagles, Damien Zane –
cousin to former Socceroo Clayton – believes
the A-League environment would make Moore
a better player.
“He’s an excitement machine,” says Zane.
“He’s a really good dribbler, he’s got the
quickest feet I’ve seen and he just glides past
opposition defenders. He’s got a knack of
changing matches by scoring goals and
winning penalties.
“I think he should be given a chance
somewhere to showcase his talents. He’d have
to get a bit stronger, but if he was training in a
professional environment that would make
him stronger.”
 TOP TEN TALENTS

NIKOLA POPOVICH

Age: 19
Position: Striker, attacking midfielder
Competition: Australian Capital Territory NPL
Clubs: Woden Weston

For some, double hip surgery in one year might

spell the end of their professional football
dream. But while last year’s setback may have
temporarily stunted Nikola Popovich’s
progress, he’s fighting back to full fitness…and
impressing as an attacking midfielder for
ACTNPL side Woden Weston in Canberra.
The teenager is a graduate of Canberra’s
senior NTC program and was also part of the
Australian Schoolboys squad that toured
England and Ireland last year.
Former Socceroo Andy Bernal, who mentors
many of Canberra’s elite footballers, believes
Popovich just needs to focus on his
conditioning to get to the next level.
“If he does the required work on his fitness
and strength, he can certainly make it in the
A-League,” he says
Naturally, Popovich’s dream is also to make
that next step.
“Obviously I want to reach the highest level I
can go to,” he admits.“It’s just going to be a
matter of how fit I can get.
“Because of the injuries that I am coming

“He’s a really good dribbler back from, it all depends on what type of
fitness I am able to attain.”

with quick feet, and just Miro Trinnic, Popovich’s coach at Wooden-
Weston, reckons the skilful striker is a rare

glides past defenders.”

commodity in Canberra’s football system.
“He’s one of the few boys in the ACT NPL that
can probably make it in the A-League,” he said.
“He’s got the speed, he’s very unpredictable,
he has good technique and he’s got the
X-factor. Sometimes he can decide a game
by himself, not many players can do that in
our league.”

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 79


YUSUF AHMED
Age: 18
Position: Winger
Competition: Victorian NPL
Clubs: Heidelberg Stars, Dandenong Thunder
Quiet and shy, Yusuf Ahmed is Australian-born
with Somalian background – and in his football
career, he has followed the Robert Frost
method of taking the most untravelled road.
Ahmed was involved in the Victorian NTC
programs when he was 15 and left at 16 to
play for the division four State League side
Heidelberg Stars to get experience playing
against seniors.
At 17, he was signed by Dandenong Thunder
coach Stuart Munro, along with his brother
80 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au
CHRIS ZUVELA
Age: 18
Position: Defensive midfielder
Competition: New South Wales NPL
Clubs: Sydney United
Chris Zuvela started off playing for Sydney
United 58 in the U13s as a winger and a year
later he settled into his feature position in the
centre of midfield.
His versatility means he can play anywhere
in midfield, but it’s the Vinnie Grella position –
the defensive midfielder – that Zuvela is most
known for.
“I distribute the ball,” he says. “Make sure
nothing gets past me and go forward as much
as possible.”
Abdul. Playing in a wide right position for a
team that was struggling, Ahmed tore up the
first half of this Victorian NPL season.
Many of his 11 goals this year have been
from runs from the halfway line where he has
darted past players and finished one on one
with the goalkeeper
Munro, an ex-Rangers defender and former
assistant coach to Ian Ferguson at Perth Glory,
says Ahmed’s exploits on-field are “…the type
of thing that a lot of players can’t do in the
modern game.
“Most of modern football is built around
passing and possession.
“But he’s one of those players who likes to
run at people with the ball and he’s got the
skills and the quick feet that can create
opening and score goals.
“He’s got that special something to be a very
exciting player who can create things out of
nothing. He’s very good running and dribbling
with the ball, and in the first half of the season
he was a tremendous finisher.”
 TOP TEN TALENTS

His first grade debut was given to him by

Sydney United coach Mark Rudan when he
was just 15, but it wasn’t until this season, his
third in first grade, that he’s played in the
majority of games.
“I thought I was going to get smashed
off the ball, because I was so small but then
I got more confident,” Zuvela recalls of his
senior debut.
His breakout season has seen Zuvela called
up to the Young Socceroos squad training
camp held recently in Melbourne, where he
was impressed by coach Paul Okon.
“He’s very demanding. He knows what he
wants and you know he’s an excellent coach,”
says Zuvela.

“I thought I was
going to get smashed
off the ball, because I
was so small...”
 A U S T R A L I A ’ S S P O R T I N G M A G A Z I N E

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FAIR GO FOR THE
COMMON FAN
It’s the key ingredient which sets the A-League apart from rival codes in
Australia – the passionate intensity of fans in the stands is the lifeblood of
football. But do A-League fans get a fair deal from the FFA and police?
KATHY STONE investigates…

Victoria Police cleverly
combined Victory’s home
and away kits to blend in...
R
aucous, unrelenting and unapologetic,
active support has become the pulsating
soundtrack to the A-League.
Depending on who you speak to, it’s
the trumpet call of the apocalypse or the dawn
of an electrifying new era. Almost everyone
agrees there’s no turning back.
Last season, A-League club memberships
soared by 18 per cent to a record-breaking
114,000 across the competition.
Football Federation Australia are now upping
the ante and targeting 130,000 by the time
the dust settles on 2015/16.
And despite efforts to apparently batter the
emerging beast into something resembling
NRL, AFL or rugby crowds, football fans have
retained their singular identity and unmatched
passion and intensity.
In February, AFL journo Jon Ralf hailed the
“riot of colour and movement and activity and
energy” after his first taste of the Melbourne
derby between Victory and City.
Now other codes are playing catch up and
begging their cheer squads to dig deeper,
expanding their active areas.
Far from conforming to the mainstream,
football fan culture is leading the rest of Oz
sportdom into uncharted territory.
A-League boss Damien De Bohun says it’s
the sincerest form of flattery: “I think a lot of
people are actually cottoning onto the fact
that this is the future.
“A number of our supporter groups
actually march to grounds…now a number
of AFL clubs’ fan groups, are starting to do
the same thing.”
Just what happens next is crucial, says
UK-based crowd psychology expert Dr
Clifford Stott. There is, he says, at best, a two
to three-year window of opportunity to come
to grips with the explosion of football fan
culture Down Under.
“You have to recognise that soccer is going
to become absolutely massive in Australia,”
Stott says following a recent visit to Australia
to speak with police and universities.
“Soccer crowds are problematic, there’s no
getting away from that. It’s partly why people
enjoy them because they’re passionate places.
“They are environments where people feel
very empowered and act in ways which are
indicative of that passion and power.”
Shaheen Badat, who attended Stott’s lecture
at the University of Western Sydney, says once
you’ve experienced active support nothing else
comes close.
The 27-year-old registered nurse and former
Parramatta Eels member is now a part of the
Western Sydney Wanderers active fan group,
the Red and Black Bloc.
“The thought of sitting still, swearing at the
referee now and then, and calling that an
atmosphere? I just can’t do it now,” Badat
says. “It’s the fans that get me there. I love
singing, I love jumping, I love expressing my
support for my team.
“It’s not very common in Australian sporting
culture to sing for the whole game, be
coordinated, clap the whole game, have the
tifos. It is influenced from a lot of other parts
of the world.

“It’s quite surprising because Australia is one
of the most multicultural countries in the
world, yet this idea of active support is a very
foreign concept to a lot of people.”
It’s a concept that’s changing now though as
football fans continue to transform the
Australian sporting landscape.
“It’s important to recognise that we are
looking at a situation that is very, very different
to Europe,” Stott says.
“But that there are characteristics of what’s
happening now that speak to a danger of a
growing problem moving into the future.
“My advice would be very much for
everybody to learn the lessons from Europe
and apply them into the Australian context
now to avoid those unnecessary problems in
the future.”
To Stott, who was engaged by UEFA to help
police with crowd management in Euro 2004
and 2012, there is a danger in letting
perception get in the way of the evidence.
“At the first level it’s very simple,” he says.
“First and foremost the police [need to]
actively involve themselves in creating
platforms and channels of communication
with the fans and to work alongside them
with the club.
“That is things like making sure they have
direct lines of communication to active fan
organisations and that the club, police and the
fans sit down at meetings and discuss what
the issues are from the different perspectives.”
But that is often an easier proposition in
more established footballing nations where
dedicated football officers, police spotters,
fans ombudsmen and fan advocacy groups
are part of the mix.
To the uninitiated in Australia, a chanting
Above Police need to mob of football supporters, some wearing
work with fans balaclavas, marching through the streets can
Below Travelling look and feel intimidating.
fans are rarely an But Stott argues: “Part of the problem is how
issue in Australia football crowds are understood, the fears
around the culture of soccer fans and the
FFA is working closely with police and
government on restricting the sale of flares
FANS
historical context of the game in Australia.
“If this isn’t handled in the right way now we
could see a situation across the next few years
of escalation both from the point of view of
increased policing responses, which costs the
police more money, and also the likelihood of
people getting criminalised in the context of
their fandom.”
IN THE space of 15 minutes with FourFourTwo,
De Bohun uses the word “unique” 11 times
while talking about football fan culture.
He has no doubt the fan experience is driving
membership growth. But if he doesn’t want to
change the nature of the beast, he’s keen to
smooth a few of the rough edges.
Cue the anti-flare offensive. It remains the
key and most polarising issue between some
active supporters, clubs, FFA and police.
As we head into season 2015/16, De Bohun
says players will be co-opted into a campaign
highlighting the dangers of pyrotechnics in
Australian stadiums.
FFA is working closely with police and
government on restricting the sale of flares,
similar to restrictions on spray paint. Flare
amnesty bins at the entrance to stadiums
have also been considered but are unlikely.
De Bohun is hoping to catch up with Stott in
the UK before the season kicks-off… but any
attempt to introduce a controlled use of pyro
remains a no-go area.
fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 85
FANS

he one thing we want complained about us standing. from the FFA and also the venue
to stay focused on is that our crowds continue “The security said: ‘No, that’s security and the football clubs
to be one of the real asse ets of our game – they the Den, they’re allowed to thhemselves who continually try
are unique and member hips particularly stand.’ We actually saw that as a to
o improve the safety around
continue to increase sig ficantly,” the win – a small win. They’ve at th
he event.”
A-League boss says. least learned some of the culture He says problems still exist
“At the end of the day if we’re to achieve our and so over time, things have around Wanderers, Melbourne
vision of football being AAustralia’s largest and actually improved. Vicctory and Sydney FC fixtures,
most popular sport, we n need to make sure that “We’re not really getting the although “the majority of the
football is a family friend
dly environment. issues of people complaining A-L League games are family
“If you reflect on the 2015 Grand Final at about us like we did in the past. frie
endly and go off without any
AAMI Park – that was just st an extraordinary Security knows us – it’s very easy signnificant incident”.
atmosphere for the whole game and obviously for us to get in our drums, megaphones, all Above Damien De While NSW police base their
a those sort of things.” Bohun praised fans approach on the UK football model – including
Price says the success of Roar, three-time Below Statistics a banning system – Clarke warns against
A-League champions, and the growth of the back football fans drawing too many parallels with overseas.
experienced when he w s a rugby league fan. supporter base has helped smooth the way. behaviour vs other “I think we’ve got to be careful comparing
“I never used to see ass many police, riot After 10 seasons, relations between police rival codes ourselves with overseas,” he says. “We don’t
o and security in Brisbane have improved. have anywhere like the scale of problem that
t “Obviously being Queensland, they’re all very exists in many of those countries that may
rugby league so it’s probably been a learning have to look at stronger strategies than us.
curve,” he says. “We have had flares and we continue to
have flares but they’re reasonably isolated.
in the community. NSW ASSISTANT Commissioner Alan Clarke We’re not seeing massive amounts of people
says while active supporters “engage a little trying to bring contraband into games.
had r bit more enthusiastically than the average “We’ve got to understand the scope of the
neverr done anything wrong and yet I’m fan”, there are very few problems across problem on an international scale. I think
searcched just to watch myy team. the A-League. most countries would be happy to scale down
“I “We had less flares last year and we did to where we are.”
the fans.” have a reduction of incidents overall – the De Bohun agrees, saying the perception of
majority of the season went quite well,” Australian football crowds as unruly doesn’t
brush
sh up agains
agai
g st the mmajjesty of an active says Clarke. stack up.
h “But we get a very high level of co-operation “We are on the record publicly, and I’m
m
Roar’s active supporter
t group, points to the
pre-season friendly again
nst iconic English

“Despite the fact that itt was in Brisbane, our

bay was still half full wit Liverpool fans” Price
s. “Some of them w ted to sit down and

86 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au

FANNING THE FLAMES
How bad are A-League fans really? Standing
up to barrage of negative headlines takes its
toll on even the most hardcore football fan.
But before you reel under the next onslaught
of hooligan hyperbole it’s worth considering –
just how anti-social are A-League supporters?
Season 10 comprised 140 matches with a
total crowd attendance of 1,829,111. During
that period 359 people were evicted by
security or police, equating to 2.56 a game.
So while some mainstream media outlets
squealed about the birth of A-League
“hooligan firms” and “secret files” on “violent
A-League antics”, only about 0.02% of fans
were turfed from matches.
Intoxication, flare ignition or possession
and disorderly conduct were cited as the
main reasons.
Away from the hysteria, The Advertiser
reported a spike in evictions for AFL Crows and
Power matches at Adelaide Oval this season.
After 10 home-and-away games, 128 of the
456,192 fans have been tossed out (0.028%) –
a jump on the 181 from 1,016,514 (0.018%)
booted from the oval last year over 23 games.
In the 2012 Rugby League Grand Final, police
“praised fans” for their good behaviour after
43 of the 83,000-strong crowd (0.052%) were
turfed from ANZ Stadium for intoxication and
anti-social behaviour.
And in the same year a 2012 Vic Health
report on sporting events in the State’s capital
between 2000 and 2009 saw the Melbourne
Cup boozing past the barrier in first place for
alcohol intoxication and assaults.
While in cricket, a 2009 One Day
International set something of a record when
140 sauced-up cricket fans, from a crowd of
40,000 (0.35%), were frog-marched from
Melbourne Cricket Ground – the troubles
fuelled by underage drinking.
Only the headlines were sober.
“Nice one, Bully. Now
how’s your Italian?”
fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 87
 Colour and passion – just a shame
about that keeper chant, eh?!
FANS

happy to be quoted again, as saying our fans

are fantastic, we love the way they come and
support their clubs and they’re a really, really
important part of our game,” he says.
“We understand that fans are crucial, we’re
rapt with how they go about it, they provide a
unique atmosphere and it is unique in the
Australian context. And knowing the
Australian sporting landscape well, it’s no
doubt that’s the case.”

VICTORIAN POLICE Commander Brett Guerin

raised the hackles of A-League
supporters earlier this year
when he took to the
airwaves with disparaging Fan groups claim
cops
comparisons between AFL are heavy-hande
d
and football fans.
Speaking after the
A-League Grand Final, Guerin
said the police presence at
A-League games “is
completely disproportionate
to any other sporting event”.
He praised fan behaviour
at the end-of-season
showpiece, describing the
match as a “fantastic
spectacle”, but said a
persistent minority continue to cause
problems for the game more generally…
ripping flares, wearing balaclavas, standing on
seats, flooding the aisles.
Speaking to FourFourTwo, o he says: “The
majority of fans go to watch the game and
have a great time. Do we really need to
replicate the negative features of eastern
European football?
“My comments really are limited to that very
small minority of the active support. I get a
sense that for many of them, the game is
incidental. I mean I’ve seen them during
games where their back is to the action,
they’re not actually watching the game.
They’re chanting which is fine, it’s a nice part
of the game, but they’re not even watching
the game – it’s almost as if, gee, by the way,
there’s a football match going on.”
It can be a learning experience for everyone.
Megan Atkins has become an avid supporter
of the Wanderers. The mother of three
teenagers admits she’s atypical of the kind of
fan non-football types conjure up when they
think of the RBB.
“When my son first started going, he
showed me a photo of the Poznan and they all
had their backs to the game – and I said to
him, hey, don’t ever turn your back on a
player,” she says.
“I’ve never allowed my children to boo at a
game. And he said, no, everyone does it. And
once I saw it then I understood. So it wasn’t
until I went to a game and saw it that I
understood it.”
These days the entire family attends
Wanderers games.
“One thing that the RBB has done is take me
back to live sport,” she says. “When people
learn that I attend in the RBB, they say: ‘Is it
okay?’ And I say I’m going for a lot of fun. It’s
a great night out.

88 October 2015 fourfourtwo.com.au

 FANS

“The first thing for me is it’s a night out with

the family,” Atkins says.
“It’s a really positive and uplifting experience
– to be part of the fan group, chanting and
supporting the team.
“Funnily enough, I was concerned about my
son being in the active bay before I went to a
game, then once I went to a game, I
understood why he wanted to be there.
“The Wanderers fans are more engaged as
supporters than any other sport I’ve been
involved with.”
But she says the heavy police presence (and
the recent indiscriminate use of pepper spray
in crowds), is disturbing.
“At no other sporting event I have been to in
Australia, in England – and I’ve been to soccer
‘He was wearing turquoise - games in England, rugby and cricket – I’ve
what did he expect?” “It’s AQUA” never seen a police presence like it,” she says.
“I suppose for me there’s a mismatch – I just
feel it can be better understood, there can be
better communication.
Noisy and intimidating
“I think the police can engage better with
– but ffans insist it’s saffe
the crowd. I think that occasionally they can
acknowledge that fans are human and smile
at them. We’re only jumping up and down
and having a good time.”

BUT IS THERE more to

stralian football fans than a
le reflection of what we see
erseas? A few years ago Dr
na Rodas completed her PHD
to the policing of Sydney FC
nd Liverpool football
upporters. A fan of the game
or 15 years, Rodas says she
as drawn to football by the
success of a local lad from
Hashtagged her neighbourhood called
Harry Kewell.
“#arrestselfie”
These days the El
Salvador-born researcher is
about the distinctiveness of
Australian football culture and the explosion
of fandom in Western Sydney.
“We currently don’t have a wealth of
information around (Australian) football fans
or the diverse nature of football supporter
groups,” Rodas says.
And that lack of knowledge, she says, is
tricky when it comes to managing crowds.
“We are actually using tactics that are very
general as if all sporting crowds are the same
and they’re actually not,” she says.
“There are complexities around football
fan culture. We couldn’t even say there is a
specific Australian football fan culture
because they are so diverse.
“As one football fan put it to me it’s like
fusion cooking – which I always felt was
really interesting – they draw on different
cultural practices across the world: from
European football supporters and from South
American football supporters.
“But once you bring it to Australia it is
inevitably going to become indigenised.
Australian fans might take up some of those
practices but they’re going to produce and
create a whole new culture that is unique to
this setting.”

fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 89

KANE KOMPANY RAMSEY NEVILLE BLIND
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PERFORMANCE

DID YOU
KNOW ?
In the second h
season, K alf of last
ane score
Premier d more
League g
oals (16)
than We
st Ham (1
Burnley 4),
(14), Hull
and Sun City (15)
derland
(15)

s]
[ Masterclas

ring striker to
Go from misfi e
ger with thes
headline-hog
Tottenham
tips from the
hotshot
and England

1 Analyse and improve
Appraise your performances
“After a game I ask one of the analysts to send me
a recording of the match so that I can watch it at
home and see where I could have done better. There
are usually moments that stick out; when I think, ‘Oh,
I want to see that back’, to see if I could have made
a different run, selected a different pass or attempted
a different finish. With the tape at home, I am able to
flick through it and assess how I played. This helps me
to identify areas for further improvement.”
4 Put a shift in
Run your socks off for the team
“When you’re playing alongside another striker you
work off each other, but when you’re on your own
upfront you have to stay on the move in order to give
your team-mates options. You have to make different
Interview James Maw
runs across the pitch to help the team out. You’ve also
got to be able to hold the ball up. To do this, I get a feel
for where my marker is, make sure I take a good first
touch of the ball, hold my ground and push the
defender off to stop them nicking in front of me.”
PRO
TIP GEO
ORGE
B D
Burnley’s Mr
Interview Chris Flanagan
Indefatigable
tells you how
to deal with
a step up
in class
2 Power up your pins
Don’t neglect your legs at the gym
“My aim was to become more powerful and quicker
off the mark, so I worked hard in the gym. Before the
start of last season I spent a lot of time working on
my glutes and hamstrings. I did a lot of single-leg
glute work to really help strengthen the muscles,
and this ultimately contributed to my good form for
Tottenham last season and made me the player
I am today. Core work is also extremely important,
as that’s where your strength and stability come from.”
5 Be a fox in the box
Prowl around the danger zones
“Les Ferdinand once told me the majority of
opportunities fall for you inside the penalty box,
between the posts. If you wander too far out of that
area, you’re less likely to score. So, whenever you’re
inside the 18-yard box or making a run, always aim to
end up inside the width of the goal and a chance
should present itself. When you do get a clear sight of
goal, aim low and hard across the goalkeeper – these
are typically the most difficult shots to save.”
“The higher up you go, the more organised you have
to be. The biggest difference is in the final third.
Better players are ruthless, so you have to be
switched on all the time. In the Championship
you can occasionally make a mistake and
the opposition won’t score; in the Premier
League you get punished straightaway.
Get your tactics right from the off and make sure you
understand your role. It’s got to be drilled into you on
the training ground. Focus during sessions. Don’t be
PERFORMANCE
3 Get the need for speed
Work on your running technique
“Being able to out-pace your opponents gives you
a huge advantage in football. I did a lot of work in the
gym to improve my speed. Strengthening your glutes
and hamstrings will give you the power you need to
accelerate explosively, but you also need to ensure
that your running technique is right. I worked with
a sports scientist specificially on arm movement and
the mechanics of sprinting. It’s really helped me,
especially when I’m chasing a through ball.”
6 Stay headstrong
Reinforce your mental resolve
“When you’re playing well you can’t wait for the next
game to come around – you just want to be out there
on the pitch, scoring goals. It’s how you cope with
a goal drought that really marks you out as a good
striker. Try to work out what helps you get back to your
goalscoring ways. I like to watch my previous matches
back to see my goals and the things I’ve done well.
I listen to advice from other experienced professionals
and try to stay level-headed.”
afraid to ask questions, because just one error will
cost you dear. You have to keep practising until it
eventually becomes second nature. There can be
a lot of information to take on, so listen to the
experienced players and watch what they do.
Mentally it can be draining because you have to
concentrate for the entire 90 minutes. Don’t be
disheartened if it takes time for you to adjust.
Just make sure you learn from your mistakes, keep
working hard and always believe in yourself.”
fourfourtwo.com.au October 2015 97
 MY PERFECT XI

Nicola Berti
Before becoming a cult hero at Spurs, the Italian played in a World Cup
final and the golden age of Serie A. Ramon Vega might not get a look in...

GK WALTER ZENGA LB PAOLO MALDINI CM DIEGO MARADONA

He was a truly amazing goalkeeper; in
fact, he was voted the best in the world
three years in a row when we were at
Inter. He was a real character, too,
which I think a keeper always should be.
RB ANDREAS BREHME
A good defender, yes, but he could also
take incredible free-kicks, like a Brazilian.
He gets overlooked because of the other
two Germans we had at Inter [Jurgen
Klinsmann and Lothar Matthaus].
I faced him so many times in those great
derbies. He was a magnificent defender
– maybe the best ever – and a wonderful
ambassador for his club and city. Even
in the heat of battle, we always got on.
CM LOTHAR MATTHAUS
Wow. I don’t know what to say about
this guy. He could play anywhere in this
team. But in the midfield, in the engine
room, is where he was best. He’s still
a good friend of mine.
During his time at Napoli he was, no
question, the best I ever played against.
Every time he touched the ball you knew SUBSTITUTES
something was going to happen. He was
electric. You couldn’t get near him.
1
CF RONALDO ANGELO PERUZZI
O Fenomeno was the greatest forward A fine keeper. I’m not sure
of modern times. We played together at you could find a better
Inter for his first few months there. He backup to Walter!
was strong, quick, had a fantastic shot
and you couldn’t shake him off the ball.

CB ALESSANDRO NESTA CM NICOLA BERTI CF DENNIS BERGKAMP

I played against him when he started Is it OK if I pick myself? I want to be a It was a real shame that things didn’t
out at Lazio, and you knew straight part of it! I think I’d fit in, too. It would work out for him at Inter, as he was
away he’d be a top defender – he had be a dream to play alongside Lothar a remarkable player. We won the UEFA
such maturity and technique. Italy never
really found a replacement for him.
in the middle again. I love this team.
Me in the middle of the 4-3-3 – perfect!
Cup together. He’s a big Arsenal legend,
isn’t he? Sorry, Spurs fans! I still love you! 2
FRANCO BARESI
CB FABIO CANNAVARO CF ALDO SERENA A legend of Italian football.
He’s another defender I played against A great striker, he top-scored with 22 Maybe he could come on
when he was really young, at Napoli. goals in 1988-89 as our Inter team won later in the game.
I don’t think this type of Italian GK the title. He was big and powerful, and
defender exists any more – things have would be in my team to score headers...
changed tactically. Cannavaro and
Nesta were the last of their kind.
but also because he’s my friend.
3
WALTER PAUL INCE
ZENGA
RB CB CB LB I have to pick my old
friend Paul Ince, another
team-mate from my
time at Inter.
ANDREAS ALESSANDRO FABIO PAOLO
BREHME NESTA CANNAVARO MALDINI

CM CM
CM

LOTHAR DIEGO
MATTHAUS
NICOLA
MARADONA 4
BERTI DAVID GINOLA
We played together at
Tottenham. He was an
incredibly creative player.
Magnifique!
CF
COACH
CF CF GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI
I worked with Trap for
three years. I used to
change coaches all
DENNIS the time, so he was
BERGKAMP probably the one
RONALDO ALDO
Interview Matt Barker

I was with for the

SERENA longest. Players
responded to Trap –
he knew how to get
the best out of them.

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