Oz Football needs to give Holger a 'Fair go!'
August 18th 2010 07:13
After years of going Dutch, we are now asked to replace those clogs with lederhosens as FFA announces German Holger Osieck as our new Socceroo Coach.
Many are left scratching their heads as few know of Holger’s background and well I say frankly who cares. Many of appointments made due to their high profile have been failures. Subsequently many non profile people have made their appointments a success.
His background tell me he is just the coach we need right now. Australia is in a transitional phase from needed to see in the next generation of Socceroos stars and he was heavily involved with youth program for the German Football Federation. Prior to that he was assistant coach with the German team who won the 1990 World Cup – in short he will be the first coach we have ever had to have tasted the ultimate glory in Football.
He also has vast experience in Asia. He coached Urawa Red Diamonds twice – once in when the J League was first formed and again to take them to the Asian Champions League in 2007. Add to that he helped Canada who where the rank outsiders to win the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup and has been FIFA’s technical director since his stint ended with the Reds.
So he has experience in Asia – CHECK, Experience in Development of younger players – CHECK, Experience in being involved with country finding its feet on the world stage CHECK. However there are more intangible things that prove he deserves the Aussie tradition of being given a fair go.
One thing am impressed is his willingness to help with the development of our coaches for starters. He will in the next few weeks look to add another Aussie to his coaching arsenal as well as look to meet with coaches on a regular basis. FFA already started that with their smart decision to hire Adelaide United’s head coach Aurelio Vidmar as an assistant as well as the Olyroo coach.
He is willing to work with FFA and the A-league to make it a better league and hasn’t made the cardinal sin of pretending its worthless – well sorry Pim, the Kiwis showed its far from useless when the majority of their world cup stars were from Wellington Phoenix who didn’t lose a game and finished above Italy in their group. He will base himself in Australia and sees the importance of working with the local footballing community – this attitude is something that is desperately needed now more than ever.
Lastly and most pleasing for the fans who are more worried about good looks than results (yeah and I’d rather lose and look good then win **rolls eyes**) he wants to play an exciting and attacking style of Football. He hasn’t given us one type of formation as he believes it comes down to the players and need for flexibility – something Pim Verbeek was criticised fairly for. He does say it will depend on your opponent and the match circumstance. It's all well and good to play Football that is easy on the eye but in sport you can’t always do that and it’s nice to know we have a coach that can do both...win well or win ugly when required.
Knowing what a challenge this job is meant that the “big names” wouldn’t go for it as they were only willing to do less work for more money. My advice to the Aussie fans and critics - quit your whining and let’s give the man who’s ready, willing and able to take us to the next step a good old fashioned fair go. The future of the Socceroos and Football in this country is more important than a manager’s name up in lights.
Many are left scratching their heads as few know of Holger’s background and well I say frankly who cares. Many of appointments made due to their high profile have been failures. Subsequently many non profile people have made their appointments a success.
His background tell me he is just the coach we need right now. Australia is in a transitional phase from needed to see in the next generation of Socceroos stars and he was heavily involved with youth program for the German Football Federation. Prior to that he was assistant coach with the German team who won the 1990 World Cup – in short he will be the first coach we have ever had to have tasted the ultimate glory in Football.
He also has vast experience in Asia. He coached Urawa Red Diamonds twice – once in when the J League was first formed and again to take them to the Asian Champions League in 2007. Add to that he helped Canada who where the rank outsiders to win the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup and has been FIFA’s technical director since his stint ended with the Reds.
So he has experience in Asia – CHECK, Experience in Development of younger players – CHECK, Experience in being involved with country finding its feet on the world stage CHECK. However there are more intangible things that prove he deserves the Aussie tradition of being given a fair go.
One thing am impressed is his willingness to help with the development of our coaches for starters. He will in the next few weeks look to add another Aussie to his coaching arsenal as well as look to meet with coaches on a regular basis. FFA already started that with their smart decision to hire Adelaide United’s head coach Aurelio Vidmar as an assistant as well as the Olyroo coach.
He is willing to work with FFA and the A-league to make it a better league and hasn’t made the cardinal sin of pretending its worthless – well sorry Pim, the Kiwis showed its far from useless when the majority of their world cup stars were from Wellington Phoenix who didn’t lose a game and finished above Italy in their group. He will base himself in Australia and sees the importance of working with the local footballing community – this attitude is something that is desperately needed now more than ever.
Lastly and most pleasing for the fans who are more worried about good looks than results (yeah and I’d rather lose and look good then win **rolls eyes**) he wants to play an exciting and attacking style of Football. He hasn’t given us one type of formation as he believes it comes down to the players and need for flexibility – something Pim Verbeek was criticised fairly for. He does say it will depend on your opponent and the match circumstance. It's all well and good to play Football that is easy on the eye but in sport you can’t always do that and it’s nice to know we have a coach that can do both...win well or win ugly when required.
Knowing what a challenge this job is meant that the “big names” wouldn’t go for it as they were only willing to do less work for more money. My advice to the Aussie fans and critics - quit your whining and let’s give the man who’s ready, willing and able to take us to the next step a good old fashioned fair go. The future of the Socceroos and Football in this country is more important than a manager’s name up in lights.
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