Do we have a coach yet?

October 8th, 2007 | by: Melissa | View Comments

This whole Dick Advocaat situation does not sit well with me right now. According to this article, he’s poised to take over as head coach for Australia in November, but, his Russian club thinks he’ll stay if their team automatically qualifies for next season’s UEFA cup run. On top of that, this little gem from that link above has me worried:

He’s expected to commence his tenure in January but spend as little as six months in Australia over the life of his two-and-half-year contract.

The reason why he’ll spend most of his time in Europe? As Advocaat put it two weeks ago, because ‘that’s where the best Australian players are’.

While I can’t argue with that last statement, what bothers me is this – for a country with its own league still in its infancy and with its national team finally gaining a good momentum, is this guy going to gut the current roster, ignore the A-League players (some of whom returned to Australia from European clubs), and in my opinion, possibly ruin any chances of developing a competitive soccer system at home? He may be the guy that gets results in competitions, but I don’t know if thats the direction I’d like to see the Federation take.

So whats the alternative? In all seriousness I don’t know. But if you were listening to the Sep 22 edition of Fighting Talk, you know Charlie Pickering extended the head coach offer to Jose Mourinho:

This is a bit of an exclusive for Fighting Talk. I have spoken to the Prime Minster of Australia, John Howard, and I can extend the welcome to come and coach the Australian team. Now I know as a nation we might not have as much money as Abramovich, but I can promise Jose half of our cigarrete tax money, we’ll give him an island off the Barrier Reef, a guest starring role on Neighbours or Home And Away – his choice, and a weekly dinner date with 2004 Miss Universe, Jennifer Hawkins.

I have no idea why anyone would turn that down.