Some are already making their first steps in European football. While some coaches are well established in Australia and Asia. 

Make no mistake, Australian coaches are in demand. With few opportunities in Australia, the exodus has started. 

And we start with a man who is destined for the very top of European football. 

Ange Postecoglou

Head coach of J-League champions Yokohama Marinos

Pep Guardiola was impressed when City met Ange's Japanese outfit last year in a friendly. 

It’s hardly surprising given the Greek-born Australian has charted an extraordinary course since taking up coaching in the mid-1990s. 

The former Socceroos player and coach has won it all, and he’s won it in style playing his way: relentless attack, control of possession, and courage to stay true to the guns blazing gameplan. 

No backward steps under Ange, whose philosophy and incredible ability to inspire has brought him success wherever he’s gone. 

From the J-League last season to multiple A-Leagues and NSLs in Australia, he’s even won the 2015 Asian Cup, a thrilling achievement just half a year after he took a young and ambitious Australia to World Cup 2014 (seven months after taking over a fractured national set up). 

 

Ange is bound for European football's biggest clubs one day

“I would hazard to guess how many times a team coached by Pep has been out-possessed,” Postecoglou told Optus Sport after their friendly last July. 

"But it takes a bit of courage and conviction to take on a team like City or coached by someone like Pep – because there is the fear that if it goes really badly you can be very exposed. 

"That sort of fear and trepidation, it stops many teams from challenging them and you almost play into their hands – they start most games of football knowing they’ll have the ascendancy.”

The very top of European football beckons for Ange Postecoglou, a phenomenal coach who is now at the peak of his powers. 

Joe Montemurro

Head coach of English WSL club Arsenal

From Melbourne City to Arsenal, Montemurro has effortlessly and spectacularly made the leap into the elite of European football. 
 
Montemurro winning the title last season was a huge story for an unknown Australian in one of the fastest-growing women’s leagues in European football. 
 
Montemurro's move into European football has been spectacular with Arsenal
 
He had Arsenal well placed for another title before the virus restrictions hit, third on the WSL ladder, four points behind leaders Manchester City and three behind Chelsea but with a game in hand and the easiest run home of the three sides, with their remaining six matches all against beatable teams lower on the ladder.
 
The question is, how far can the Melbourne-born 50-year-old coach go once the league resumes and his career continues to attract attention across even bigger clubs in European football? 

Michael Valkanis

Assistant coach of the Greek national team

Valkanis spent six years playing in Greece.

Now, the Australian is relishing the chance to help reignite the Ethniki Omada in one of European football's most exciting challenges. 

The former Adelaide United defender has done his trade in Australia.

After retiring as a player with the Reds, he began his coaching career with Spanish coach Josip Gombau at Hindmarsh. 

Valkanis joined Melbourne City under John van’ t Schip’s coaching team before briefly taking over the first team as an interim head coach of the A-League club. 

He’s now reunited with the Dutchman at the Greek FA. 

Working in tandem with van' t Schip - whom he partnered at Melbourne City and PEC Zwolle in the Eredivisie - the pair continue to reinvent the Greeks with a more proactive game plan designed to bring 2022 World Cup qualification success.

A fantastic platform for Valkanis to build his career in European football. 

 

 

Kevin Muscat

Head coach of Belgian club Sint-Truiden

Muscat, a former Socceroo defender, has done a long coaching apprenticeship in Australia. 

After his playing career ended he’d already begun his coaching journey at Melbourne Victory. 

Under Postecoglou as an assistant, his philosophy was solidified before taking over when his mentor left for the national team job in 2103. 

Muscat has begun his European football journey in Belgium

Muscat has since won multiple trophies with Victory before leaving the club last year after almost 15 years as player and coach. 

The former Millwall, Wolves, and Rangers hardman is now the head coach at the Belgian club and like Valkanis, is ideally placed to launch a strong coaching career in European football.

Steve Corica

Head coach of Sydney FC

The ex-Wolves, Leicester City, and Walsall midfielder won the A-League title in his first season as head coach in 2019.
 
It was an overnight success 10 years in the making.
 
Corica, a club legend, began building his coaching career in the club’s youth team before moving up as an assistant coach under current national team coach Graham Arnold. 
 
Corica has done a 10-year apprenticeship and could step up to European football
 
Taking over a successful coach is never easy, but Corica managed it beautifully, winning the grand final in Perth last year. 

And he’s continued that success this season, with his Sydney side on top of the A-League before the COVID-19 interruption.

The 47-year-old who played for his nation at all levels could easily move up into a coaching role in European football. 

Tony Popovic

Head coach of Perth Glory

The former Crystal Palace captain has already been crowned Asian Coach of the Year after famously winning the Asian Champions League in 2014 (just two years after his club at the time, Western Sydney Wanderers, had been formed). 

Popovic has a knack of getting the best out of players, can inspire his group, and is incredibly well prepared.

Popovic would be at home with a top European football club

He has won the league on multiple occasions in Australia (though he has missed out on winning a grand final).

His one European football experience to date (in Turkey) ended prematurely. 

That said, his experience in English football and on the international stage coupled with his success in coaching has "Popa" ideally placed for a big European football club one day. 

And keep an eye on the next wave of coaches...

Nick Montgomery

Central Coast Academy

Leeds-born Aussie citizen was set to finish his UEFA Pro license in Switzerland before the COVID-19 measure hit. The former EPL player with Sheffield United and Scotland youth international has gathered great experience from almost 20 years in pro football. The tough midfielder has already begun his coaching career in Australia with interest in his services said to be coming from European football and the US. 

Aaron D’Antino

Assistant coach, Arsenal

The rising star D’Antino first started coaching age 27 with NPL clubs before getting a gig with A-League club Melbourne Victory, where he was Head of Performance Analysis for four years. He played a role in two A-League titles before joining Montemurro in London. 

Heather Garriock

Head coach, Canberra United

A star in the national team, Garriock, now 37, has built a respected career in the W-League, coaching with Canberra United. She remains one of the brightest and smartest talents in Australia and could move up into the US or European football ranks one day. 

Patrick Kisnorbo

Assistant coach, Melbourne City

The former Leicester City defender and a national team player is working at Melbourne City having experienced coaching youth, senior, and women’s sides at the Bundoora-based club. He's gaining his UEFA Pro Licence and with such a professional set up at City (under French mentor Erick Mombaerts) Kisnorbo's future is bright. 

Scott Miller

Former A-League head coach

The UEFA qualified Miller spent almost a decade working at Fulham across various assistant coaching jobs before returning to Australia. Postecoglou employed him briefly with the Socceroos and Miller also was a head coach at Newcastle Jets in 2015, FFA appointing the youngest head coach in league history (33). 

Ben Cahn

Head coach, Olympic FC

The former Fulham academy junior has reinvented himself as a coach in Australia’s semi-pro ranks (he’s also coached at youth level in the A-League). Another one to watch. 

Adam Waterson

Head of strength and conditioning, LA Galaxy

A strength and conditioning head building a fantastic reputation in the MLS. Another Australian who would not be out of place at the top of European football.