Applications open for Adelaide

With the sudden news of Aurelio Vidmar’s departure from Adelaide United to take up a post on the national teams coaching staff, it leaves the question of who will replace the former Standard Liège midfielder in the city of churches hot-seat.

Let’s hope Adelaide can learn from the mistakes of Brisbane Roar and until recently Sydney FC, in appointing an adequately qualified continental European coach rather than a (below) average Australian or UK coach. Sydney FC is the best example, going through a number of coaches without sustained success before finally hiring an experienced continental European, who in due course led them to the domestic double. Coincidence? Not at all.

For the first time in A-League history, the competition saw a team with proper, drilled zonal defence, mixed with structured attack and an all-round consistency. It is these factors that quality coaches bring to sides, and it is these types of coaches that the A-League needs for the overall standard to rise.

Rumours at the moment are pointing towards Perth Glory’s Dave Mitchell to take the reins at Adelaide with Ian Ferguson to slip into Mitchell’s position in Perth. If the decision makers at Adelaide United have an ounce of sense about them then the rumours of appointing the former Olyroo’s assistant coach are just that, rumours.

Now as much as it would great to have top quality Australian coaches floating around, the unfortunate reality is that as a nation our coaches are not of the required quality. Not to say it won’t happen eventually, but when compared to coaching super powers Italy and the Netherlands (or any continental European nation) Australia is not on the same playing field. And until they are, no A-League club can even consider hiring an Australian as head coach.

Something that would be interesting would be the appointment of a North American coach. Now although association football is not known as a typical American sport, it is one that is taken very seriously, especially in coaching ranks. As a college sport it is held in the highest professionalism and coaches who come out of the USA soccer education program are some of the most tactically astute around. Of course, as in any case there are exceptions, but given the right candidate there is no reason why an American coach could not succeed in the A-League.

Well Wishes Wellington

While we’re here, a mention must go to departing Wellington Phoenix Chief Executive Tony Pignata, who is returning to Melbourne to spend time with his family after three fruitful years in The Shaky Isles.

Congratulations must go to the man who has overseen the Phoenix rise from an unseasoned franchise with an insecure future to becoming the first ever New Zealand side to reach the playoffs of an Australian Football competition, including a home win over Newcastle in front of 32,000 roaring kiwis.