After a period of unrest, which included Australia's tougher-than-expected course through to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, then subsequent 6-0 thrashing at the hands of both Brazil and France in friendlies, before the axing of coach Holger Osieck and some unflattering words from skipper Lucas Neill, Football Federation Australia (FFA) has made a positive and encouraging move in appointing Ange Postecoglou to a five year contract as head of coach of the Socceroos.
Ange Postecoglou Announced as Socceroos Coach - ABC News
Whether the spirit around the squad is down or there were problems with the German coach, it is a good time to go with an Australian coach. Postecoglou has had unrivalled success in the local leagues, leading South Melbourne to two NSL titles in the 1990's before taking the reins of the Australian Under 20's team for seven years. He then returned to lead Brisbane to two A-League titles. His grounding has been extensive and thorough, and he has always given the impression that he rarely gets flustered and is also hugely invested in the teams he has been in charge of. This is exactly what the national team needs now.
How he goes about inspiring and reinventing the team should be very interesting. He has a huge job ahead of him in getting a competitive and enthusiastic unit together for the World Cup, before turning his sights towards the Asia Cup, and the regenerating of the team over the next couple of years. From the outside, it would appear that in Ange we have just the man for the job.
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