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?
7: Steve Darby
Steve who? To many A-League fans this name would be unfamiliar, but for those who know football, the former NSL and ASF (FFA) staff coach has been one of the few Aussies (put Scott O’Donnell and Darren Stewart in that category, too) to have survived and succeeded in the cut-throat leagues of south-east Asia.
Darby has won both the Malaysian and Singapore League and FA Cups and coached Vietnam women’s national side to a gold medal at the SEA Games. He’s also had success in the AFC Cup with clubs from the M- and S-Leagues.
Experienced with a UEFA ‘A’ licence and an AFC coaching instructor, the bi-lingual Darby has just finished up as assistant to Bryan Robson in the Thai national team and was unveiled as new coach of Indian club Mohun Bagan this week.
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