The Socceroos hope to set their 2014 World Cup preparations back on track with the signing of Ange Postecoglou as Australia’s latest coach.
The Postecoglou signing is expected to be made official on Wednesday, enabling the Melbourne Victory coach to take his new job ahead of the next Socceroos friendly against Costa Rica on November 15.
Football Federation Australia opted to fire German coach Holger Osieck two weeks ago after the Socceroos lost a second straight international friendly by a 6-0 margin. A number of high profile options were pegged as possible Osieck replacements before FFA backed away from rumours that linked the likes of Guus Hiddink and Sir Alex Ferguson with the Australian national team.
Postecoglou represents a much more affordable option for FFA, which recently blew $40 million on a failed bid to land the 2022 World Cup. The Greek-born 48-year-old represented Australia four times as a player before beginning a coaching career in 1996 that has seen him run Greek team Panachaiki, Australia’s Under-20 side and A-League clubs Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory.
Osieck is expected to receive in the vicinity of $1 million in severance pay while details of Postecoglou’s Socceroos contract have yet to surface. He was reportedly earning roughly $600,000 a season to lead the Victory and the club allegedly asking FFA for $1 million to allow Postecoglou to walk from his job with two-years remaining on his contract.
Brisbane captain Matt Smith gave Postecoglou a shining endorsement on Tuesday.
“Ange is the boss. He’s the gaffer. The way that he coaches – it’s his way. He’s very strong with that,” Smith told Goal.com.
“He’s proven in the past particularly when he first came into Brisbane, he wanted a culture. I don’t think he’s afraid of making any decision. He backs himself. He’s always backed himself.
“He’s a very, very good coach. The way that he does coach is he’ll put what he thinks is the best team (on the field) for his football style.”
Postecoglou beat out A-League contenders Graham Arnold and Tony Popovic for the job.
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Photo: Getty Images.
