MICHAEL Valkanis is about to shuffle off the dance floor.

After a senior footballing career dating back to 1992, he’s announced that at the end of the current A-League season, he will retire from the game.

For Adelaide United he’s been a giant, quite literally. After watching him for years in a Reds’ shirt and coming to appreciate his often herculean efforts in battle, I was shocked when one day I saw him in ‘real life’ for the first time.

He seemed small. Much smaller than he appeared out on the pitch. Certain players have a ‘presence’ about them that enlarges their on-field persona. And no, I hadn’t been smoking anything.

Announcing his imminent departure at a press conference, Michael was quoted as saying, “... the club said if that was my decision they would keep me on at a full time level as a coach which I am really happy about. I can’t say too much about it now as it will be announced at the end of the season.”

Initially I was a little concerned. The Reds seem to have developed a habit of turning dancers into dance instructors within the confines of their own dance studio.

It all seemed a bit, well, Tasmanian.

Aurelio is head coach, brother Tony is an assistant. Carl Veart is regularly at training sessions moving cones and Richie Alagich, amongst other things, has been away on 007 missions to spy on evil ACL opponent clubs.

It wouldn’t surprise me if Ross Aloisi was in the club administration office, engaged in filing activities and doing regular coffee runs.

The question must be posed. Is this ‘jobs for the boys’ scenario a healthy one?
Perhaps by promoting from within the club is missing out on opportunities to pick up some new dance moves from parties outside?

Having grappled with this matter for a week or so (I know, I need to get a life), I feel that there is a bigger issue to consider. A more important one, especially in light of an embryonic A-League.

It’s the issue of club culture. In an era where club loyalty seems to be disappearing faster than the Jets’ chances of defending their title, any and every measure needs to be used to build strong bonds of tradition and culture within our clubs.

One way of doing that is to keep ex-players involved. Hopefully they might be able to convey, to a younger generation of dancers, what it really means to pull on, in this context, a Reds’ shirt.

The Reds are on the right track. A retirement plan is important. More so for the club as a whole than an ex-player.