EXCLUSIVE: Michael Michalakopoulos - the new man in the South Melbourne hotseat – says playing under legendary Ferenc Puskas will benefit South’s fight for a finals spot.
South is struggling at the wrong end of the Victorian Premier League after a stuttering start that saw coach John Anastasiadis – an NSL winner with the club as a player – depart Bob Jane Stadium two weeks ago following a 3-0 home loss to Green Gully.
Michalakopoulos, 38, was installed soon after but could not stop the slide as high-flying local rivals Melbourne Knights beat his outfit 2-0 last weekend at Somers St.
South Melbourne now sit third bottom on six points while the Knights sit atop the VPL with 18 points from eight rounds.
But Michalakopoulos, a former 1992 Olyroo, is still upbeat that his side can claw its way into the six. “I’m positive and excited by what I’ve seen so far,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.
“It’s still early. We’ve got 18 rounds to go. But what I’d like to bring in to the side is a more free-flowing style.
“I like having two wide men aside of the striker almost as a three-man strike force.
“There is certainly enough talent in this squad to turn it around.”
The new South coach will get a chance to turn things around when second bottom Fawkner visit Bob Jane this weekend for a cellar-dwellar dog fight.
And Michalakopoulos is hoping his time as a player under legendary South coach – and Hungarian football icon Ferenc Puskas – will stand him in good stead.
“I was part of that golden era when we won the old NSL at South under Ferenc. That was back in 1991. I learnt a lot from the great man.”
As for the other hot topic bubbling around South Melbourne FC – the club’s stated desire to put an A-League bid together in three years – Michalakopoulos said the club needs a measured approach.
“Look, this is a big club," he said. "And we have a great junior set up. But an A-League bid needs to be done right.
"There is a good committee at the club and they are on the right track. But this needs a lot of work.
“We need to evolve as a club, however, still have some links with the current set up.
“Melbourne needs a second team. For South, perhaps an image change would work. We should be prepared to do what it takes.”
Michalakopoulos, 38, was installed soon after but could not stop the slide as high-flying local rivals Melbourne Knights beat his outfit 2-0 last weekend at Somers St.
South Melbourne now sit third bottom on six points while the Knights sit atop the VPL with 18 points from eight rounds.
But Michalakopoulos, a former 1992 Olyroo, is still upbeat that his side can claw its way into the six. “I’m positive and excited by what I’ve seen so far,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.
“It’s still early. We’ve got 18 rounds to go. But what I’d like to bring in to the side is a more free-flowing style.
“I like having two wide men aside of the striker almost as a three-man strike force.
“There is certainly enough talent in this squad to turn it around.”
The new South coach will get a chance to turn things around when second bottom Fawkner visit Bob Jane this weekend for a cellar-dwellar dog fight.
And Michalakopoulos is hoping his time as a player under legendary South coach – and Hungarian football icon Ferenc Puskas – will stand him in good stead.
“I was part of that golden era when we won the old NSL at South under Ferenc. That was back in 1991. I learnt a lot from the great man.”
As for the other hot topic bubbling around South Melbourne FC – the club’s stated desire to put an A-League bid together in three years – Michalakopoulos said the club needs a measured approach.
“Look, this is a big club," he said. "And we have a great junior set up. But an A-League bid needs to be done right.
"There is a good committee at the club and they are on the right track. But this needs a lot of work.
“We need to evolve as a club, however, still have some links with the current set up.
“Melbourne needs a second team. For South, perhaps an image change would work. We should be prepared to do what it takes.”
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