Matthew Hall
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Is Advocaat Really Our Top Banana?
Dutchman Dick Advocaat is sealed as Socceroo coach. Or is he?
According to almost everyone - except, notably, Football Federation Australia and the man himself - he's everything but delivered.
Unsurprisingly, there's been much hand-wringing over his possible appointment.
Fairly or not, before he's even stepped on Australian soil, Advocaat has been painted as Guus Hiddink Lite (and we're not talking physical weight here), dour, cranky, and generally uninspiring.
As John Duerden points out over here, Advocaat isn't keen on the media, something he'll have to work on in a developing market like Australia that demands shiny smiles and PR friendliness.
(But, then again, what would Duerden know? He was the guy who apparently got Graham Arnold's words mixed up in an interview before the Asian Cup. Except, contrary to Arnold's denial, Duerden's original story was 100 per cent correct).
One thing is for sure. Advocaat is not Hiddink and that's not a bad thing. Perhaps luckily for him, we wouldn't compare Hiddink and Advocaat the same way Koreans have. Would we?
But here's the question, outside of Advocaat, who else is a serious candidate for the job?
Gerard Houllier must be out of the question. His health would not permit the rigour of what's now realised will be a tough World Cup qualifying campaign.
Former FFA CEO John O'Neill believed he'd nailed the former Liverpool coach to succeed Hiddink during a trip to Lyon in early 2006 but, despite the flirtation, the overtures didn't blossom into anything serious.
Jorvan Vieira, the Moroccan-based Brazilian who sensationally led Iraq to the Asian Cup title, has interesting credentials.
Almost unheard of in Australia before the Asian Cup, I met Vieira in Marrakech in 2005 and he spoke knowingly of Australian football.
Studious, his success in uniting a team from broken homes and turning them into a winning machine (with no help from a dysfunctional federation) was no accident.
There's no doubt Vieira knows what it takes to win in Asia but does he have the heavyweight profile that the FFA seem obsessed with?
Other candidates do exist. Former Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello is sitting on an island off Italy possibly contemplating a future that may see his career take a radical change of direction away from Europe.
Graham Arnold's failure in Asia, for whatever reason, has probably set back the cause of local coaches for at least a decade.
Of the A-League coaches, Branko Culina and Aurelio Vidmar could be future candidates if they build all-winning dynasties over the next few years that include bagging the Asian Champions League.
Whoever is officially unveiled, the role is more complicated than what Hiddink's job description detailed.
Qualifying for 2010 is a priority and part of that mission is shuffling out some deadwood, on and off the pitch, and turning players that could-be into will-be Socceroo heroes.
Frank Lowy's next move is important. The honeymoon is over. The period of temporary solutions is gone. This is business.
COMMENTS
I'm not so sure if Dick Advocaat is the right man, but if hiring a national coach is based on credential in the C.V then he certainly met the requirements.
I do comment that post Hiddink era is very difficult to compare as he had done a tremendous job for the socceroos.
Pros:
- Professionally coaching experience on the world stage
- Did win trophies in European competitive league
- Had some experience in Asia
Cons:
- Not very impressing records on the national level
- Personality and cultural problem
- Money $$
- by gerson on August 18, 2007 at 02:22 PM
The FFA need to be 'obsessed' with engaging a credentialed coach, because inevitably, credentials equal experience, but they should stop farting around with pursuing the flavour of the month.
Sure Vieira was sucessful with Iraq that is the extent of his CV.
However, the FFA have done something right in not looking to fill the role with a local. I apologise if I sound a little little 'fozie-esque' (although I don't want a 'technical director') , but Australian football has not yet reached the levels of technical and professional prowess to produce a competant national coach. Furthermore, (and although we avoid this question by valorizing our national team players as typically australian) how can we expect world class players to respect coaches who coach like amatuers (Eg: Farina).
Whoever they bring in- attitude shifts are needed- both within the team and within the FFA- the latter need to realise that a winning coach does not necessarily equal a winning team.
- by Josh on August 18, 2007 at 02:50 PM
"As John Duerden points out over here, Advocaat isn't keen on the media, something he'll have to work on in a developing market like Australia that demands shiny smiles and PR friendliness."
Sorry mate but i disagree with this point you made. Why on earth should he have to bend over to the media here?
Especially our media who push their own agenda of what sports they like and constantly push other bs in our faces??
He has no obligation whatsoever to the media, infact i prefer coaches who are like this. Arnold was way too friendly with the media, i mean for goodness sake he was commentating on the A-league and on the EPL on total football WTF?
- by Banaaa on August 18, 2007 at 04:20 PM
I feel we could have done better however who is a good question.
Do we dare experiement given as you say the honeymoon is over.
W need to get a tade serious, his record is not as bad as some would make out. Moreover if he is the man give him a chance. Death riding a coach for failing with the Dutch, when have the Dutch ever been happy with a coach.
Also Korea, well apart from Guss who else has been good with them.
I would like someone of higher quality but go back 3 years do you ever think we would get as good a coach.
Band there to help, he appears willing to live hear.
Give him a go and like all other national coaches sack him when we loose.
- by Midfielder on August 18, 2007 at 10:44 PM
Please please please dont appoint this lifeless football has been. Just because he is dutch doesnt mean he wants to play a technical attacking style of football which australia lacks.
Seriously go for a coach based on credentials not nationality or name.
PLEASE
- by Dontdoit on August 19, 2007 at 11:19 AM
I am of similar age of Dick A. and have seen the man in action in his club ADO in The Hague. Let me tell you, his hates to loose and is a real ankle biter. Apart from his experience I believe these are attributes, seeing recent performances of the Ozzie national team, that they could do a lot with. Very committed and no favours from anyone
- by Frans on August 19, 2007 at 09:20 PM
Why would he care what the "media" write - at the end of the day it's the results he can get the team to produce - they matter! He thinks and acts a little like his fellow compatriot "De Generaal" (Rinus Michels) who did some wonderful things with Oranje in the 70s - he didn't give a stuff abt the media either
- by Debinq on August 20, 2007 at 12:28 AM
If Australia get Dick Advocaat we are ruined. He has the same method as Terry butcher he belives in a fit and strong team. We have Players in England Italy and Spain, He did take the netherlands very far in 1994 but if you saw what team they had back then. It was a team of brilliance. I belive who ever coach them back then would of succeded even Graham Arnold. He coachs Rangers Which once you enter into the scotish league its like a Retirement role very rarley you will see a coach go back up to the top league as in italy or england, spain., He went on and got a one year job in the arab emirates national team. But later sacked. Also from korea, His methods and and his style is diffrent to our overseas players. He might be good for what he knows. But we have players that are multicultral italians english croations in our team we need a coach thats has coached in all diffrent leagues. Gabrill Batistuta sitting in perth how about we give him a call up. Zola, Ravenelli,Baggio, There is alot of coaches that we must approach. The players would respect these coaches and want to play good and show the coaches who were once I big icon of the game. Dick advocate is a big mistake. I would rather choose Branco cullina as he knows the style that his players must adapt anything but dick advocate
- by Chris on August 25, 2007 at 01:47 PM
No, do not hire Dick Advocaat, he showed what he could do when he led the same South Korean side to World Cup ignominy after the glory days of Guus 4 years earlier. Do we want to go down the same wasteless past and send outrgame back to where it was and is now going! Please no, and please listen, he is not inspirational!
- by jafka on August 26, 2007 at 05:58 AM
What about Arsene Wenger? His contract ends after this season and he has said he wants to coach a national team. He is great developing young players and we are in a rebuilding phase at the moment.
Apart from Wenger, I think Lippi, Capello, Louis Van Ghaal, Rkjiard or even Sven would be good candidates.
Advocaat is a step backwards.
- by Brad on September 02, 2007 at 12:01 AM
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No please FFA DO NOT appoint Dick Advocaat, he is not right for the job.