Seven new head coaches take to the sidelines this year, so why not try and figure out who is the best? The most experienced? And who has a proven track record of success?
- Robbie Fowler, Brisbane Roar
In a word: inexperience. Fowler takes over the top job at Brisbane having only had a development role with Liverpool and an interim player-coach role at Thai side Muangthong United (2011-2012).
Other than that, there is not much we can judge him on. The Roar won just one match in this year’s FFA Cup and are winless through their first two games of the A-League.
For now, seventh seems about right.
- Ukaf Talay, Wellington Phoenix
Similar to Fowler, inexperience is why Talay finds himself near the foot of these rankings. He has only had one head coaching stint, leading the Australian U20 team between 2016 and 2018.
However, last year he served underneath Steve Corica as an assistant for the eventual champions Sydney FC. This should provide a strong grounding for his first A-League job, and is enough to keep him out of last place.
- Alen Stajcic, Central Coast Mariners
Stajcic got the nod of approval after a strong start filling in as caretaker for the final six games of last season picking up two wins.
His record with the Matildas is outstanding: twice finalists at the Asian Cup (2014, 2018), quarter-finalists at the World Cup (2015) and quarter-finalists at the Olympics (2016), all while managing to lift the women to fourth in the world rankings in 2017.
The only question remaining is whether his success with the women will translate over to the men.
- Mark Rudan, Western United
Last season Rudan worked a minor miracle in his first year in the league lifting Wellington to their first finals appearance since 2014-15.
It was also the first time since then that the Phoenix had managed double-digit wins during the regular season, going 11-7-9.
Rudan has now been entrusted to lead the league’s newest franchise, handed the reigns of Western United with a belief he can bring the required culture and standards to see the newbies be successful.
Will he be able to work wonders again?
- Marco Kurz, Melbourne Victory
Kurz had over a decade of coaching experience in Germany before plying his trade in Australia.
At Adelaide, he had his most successful coaching stint making two FFA Cup finals, with a win in 2018, while also making back-to-back finals appearances in the A-League.
However, a series of failed roles in Germany at 1899 Hoffenheim, FC Ingolstadt and Fortuna Düsseldorf where he only won 6 of 28 games sees the German sitting third in the rankings.
- Erick Mombaerts, Melbourne City
Coming in second place is the highly experienced Frenchman who has over 30 years of coaching experience.
Mombaerts is credited with playing a key role in developing part of the squad that went on to win the 2016 World Cup for France, having had spells with both the French U18 team (2007-08) and the U21 team (2008-2012).
He also had a stint with French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain (1987-88) and steered Toulouse FC to a Ligue 2 Championship (2003).
Before joining City Mombaerts headed up Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos, reaching the final of the 2017 Emperor’s Cup.
- Gertjan Verbeek, Adelaide United
Another highly seasoned coach, the Dutchman has notched up over 280 wins across Europe with notable roles at Dutch clubs SC Heerenveen, Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar.
During these stints his teams regularly finished towards the top of the Eredivisie table and qualified for the Europa League multiple times, reaching the quarter-finals in 2011-12.
He has also won multiple trophies. Verbeek steered AZ Alkmaar to a KNBV Cup (Dutch Cup) title in 2013 and upon arriving in Australia he’s had immediate success, claiming the FFA Cup trophy in his first season.
The 4-0 win over Mombaerts’ City in the final was enough to separate the veterans and push him to the top of the list.
Feature image credit: Western United
Enjoy this content? Support The Football Sack
Due in part to COVID and lack of current sponsorship we are at risk of not having the funds to continue running The Football Sack. If you enjoy our content and support our work in training talented young writers, please support us with a donation. If every reader contributed just $3, our funding would be covered for over ten years.
| DONATE |
