Postecoglou to remain at Roar until 2014

Just days after his dramatic 2011 A-League Championship victory with the Brisbane Roar, Football Federation Australia (FFA) today announced that Ange Postecoglou has signed a contract extension that will see him remain at the Roar until the conclusion of the 2013/14 Hyundai A-League season.

The announcement has officially ended days of speculation that Postecoglou was set to return to Victoria to take up the vacant manager position at the Melbourne Victory.

The new contract will see Postecoglou lead the Roar to their first ever AFC Asian Champions League campaign in 2012.

The FFA, the new owner of the Brisbane club, acted swiftly in the wake of the Roar’s penalty shoot-out Grand Final victory over the Central Coast Mariners in order to secure Postecoglou for a long term deal.

FFA CEO Ben Buckley believes that the contact extension will not only be a boost to the Brisbane Roar, but also to the development of football in Australia.

“In his first 18 months at Brisbane Roar, Ange has not only turned the fortunes of the club around but set new benchmarks around success and the quality of the football displayed on the pitch,” Mr Buckley said.

“Earlier this week I said we would make it a priority to clear up the uncertainty around the coaching position at the Roar and I am pleased that we have been able to achieve that.

“Brisbane Roar is an incredibly important part of the Hyundai A-League and ensuring Ange Postecoglou can continue what he has started in Brisbane is another significant step in the development of football in this country.”

Postecoglou himself declared himself delighted to be able continue his work at the Roar and maintain the high expectations for the Brisbane club.

“Ever since we started to build something in Brisbane I have said that I was very keen to stay and continue the work that we began,” Postecoglou said.

“It was always a long term vision and it is fantastic to have the opportunity to see it through and I am very pleased to be able to continue here in Brisbane and see how far we can go.”

Postecoglou’s tenure at the Roar has been nothing short of remarkable transforming his side from a second bottom finish in the 2009/10 season to A-League Minor Premiers and Champions in 2011.

The stellar season also included a record breaking 28-match undefeated streak and producing some of the most entertaining football seen in the A-League so far.

Postecoglou’s leadership also brought the best in some of his senior players with Captain Matt Mackay flourishing in his international duties with the Socceroos at the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar.

While Postecoglou contract extension will ensure Brisbane fans can continue to celebrate throughout the post season, the same cannot be said about the Victory who will now have to set their targets on a new manager to carry them through their Asian Champions League campaign.

The Melbourne club had made it their main priority to sign Postecoglou as head coach after long term coach Ernie Merrick was sacked earlier this week.

The addition of Postecoglou would have been a fantastic asset for the Victory as the club now enters perhaps its most difficult period in their history. Traditionally renowned for being one of the most stable clubs in the A-League, now is the time for change at the Victory.

Star forward Robbie Kruse is looking almost certain to move to Europe before the start of the next Hyundai A-Leauge season, youngster Mate Dugandzic has already switched to cross town rivals Melbourne Heart, club veteran Kevin Muscat will retire after their continental campaign and several key players are on the wrong side of 30.

Even experienced forward Archie Thompson admitted midweek that things were “stale” at the Victory.

It was only 18 months ago when Brisbane Roar were in a similar position. Postecoglou began to rebuild the club and controversially dismissed numerous first team players including Craig Moore, Liam Reddy and Charlie Miller.

Youngsters Michael Zullo, Adam Sarota and Tommy Oar also left to Europe securing contracts with FC Utrecht, whilst experienced marksmen Sergio van Dijk joined Adelaide United.

If last season was anything to go by Postecoglou has done a brilliant job to rebuild a once mediocre club into a fantastic football side with even more potential to improve and one can only imagine how much of an impact he could have had at a side such as Melbourne.

But Melbourne’s loss is Brisbane’s gain and with Postecoglou now confirmed to be at the helm for the next three seasons and the Asian Champions League beckoning, the sky is the limit for Brisbane.