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?
2: Ange Postecoglou
Postecoglou may not have taken the Socceroos to a World Cup, but his CV is hugely impressive for such a young manager. He was one of the youngest coaches to win an NSL grand final in 1998 (aged in his early 30s) as boss of powerhouse South Melbourne. He won it again in 1999 with the same side before taking them on an adventure of a lifetime at the Club World Championship in Rio at the turn of the new millennium.
South were far from disgraced against the likes of Manchester United and Vasco despite losing all their group games. He soon joined the national youth set-up, where he toiled to improve players in a system lacking resources and direction (Australia’s victory over Brazil in 2003 at the U-20 World Cup was one particular highlight).
After seven years in the role and following a stint as a Fox Sports pundit (and a brief spell in Greece) he was handed the reins at Brisbane Roar. After over-seeing an extremely tricky clear-out of some older names, Postecoglou rejuvenated the club in dramatic fashion to win a premier’s plate and grand final in his first full season at the club. And he did with a style of play that reshaped ideas on how Australian teams can play.
Quite simply, the Melbourne-born gaffer can in the coming years become the greatest ever manager we’ve produced.
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