STEVE McMAHON

The former Liverpool legend’s time at Perth Glory established an A-League truism that still holds true today, 14 years later: Play your own kids in your own team at your own peril.

McMahon had years of coaching experience under his belt when he arrived in Australia for the first year of the A-League, having previously managed Swindon Town and Blackpool for four year spells each.

He brought his son Steve McMahon Jr with him too as a new signing, a former Blackpool defender with 18 games for the Tangerines under his belt.

Perth Glory ended both their careers.

Within a few months of the A-League starting, they were run out of town by fans and a rumoured player revolt over recruitment, strategy and coaching style.

McMahon Jr, still only 35 now, never played as a pro again, and McMahon Snr never coached again. It’s probably for the best…

Despite that, the experience didn’t seem to inhibit later Glory coach Ali Edwards from signing his two sons to the club…and unrest over that ultimately helped bring about his downfall at Glory.

Current coach Tony Popovic also has his two sons now signed with Glory - who were allegedly played at the expense of former striker hero Andy Keogh in pre-season, pre-empting his move to the Middle East.

 

MIRON BLEIBERG

As the song says, you gotta know when to hold them, you gotta know when to fold them and you gotta know when to walk away.

And wildcard coach Miron Bleiberg knew the writing was on the wall for him when Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer appointed a 17 year old as club captain on his A-League debut…

It was the end of days for Gold Coast United – a project which had offered so much hope but never came close to realising it.

Built on bling, swagger and big-name signings, the club did everything right except engage any fans, which wasn’t helped when Palmer closed down half the stadium for home games.

When Palmer decided to go to war with the FFA over licence fees and rules, it all just got a bit…silly. Palmer wanted to put take off his club's sponsor logo and replace it with slogans about political free speech while threatening to sue everyone and anyone.

The final straw came when Palmer appointed 17 year old Mitch Cooper as skipper on his senior debut against Melbourne Heart.

Bleiberg tried to put a spin on it that it would be purely ceremonial and Kristian Rees would be performing the captain’s role but without the armband – and Palmer then suspended Miron for his comments, insisting Cooper would be the real captain.

The Sunday after the match, Bleiberg walked out on the club and the A-League, never to return. Ten days later, the FFA revoked Gold Coast United’s A-League licence, effectively sacking Palmer, and ending Gold Coast’s A-League era.