EXCLUSIVE: Australia has produced talented managers who’ve made their mark at World Cups, Club World Cups, Asian Champions Leagues, A-Leagues, NSLs and Asian Cups – we rate them from ten to one. But this was no easy task as most if not all managers found success in different competitions over different times with differing sets of squads – and resources – at their disposal. It was tough to lock down the final ten with some well-known names just missing out. So here it is… but what do you think?
9: Les Scheinflug
A controversial pick for some, but he is a national coach who guided an Australian national side to a FIFA World Cup final. How many coaches can say that?
Sure, the Socceroos had made a Confederations Cup final in 1997 but this was the 1999 U-17 FIFA World Cup final against Brazil in New Zealand.
A loss yes but a terrific campaign that saw the Aussies take some big scalps along the way including Thomas Hitzelsperger’s Germany 2-1 and Landon Donovan’s USA in the semis.
Scheinflug had much success with the youth teams of Australia over many years even if some pointed to the quality of players as the main reason. But his record still stands.
He was a former a NSL coach of the year and enjoyed success at Marconi during the 1970s and 1980s.
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