We knew it was coming, didn't we? I did say a few times it could be his last game in charge. Back-to-back Championship winning coach Angelos "Ange" Postecoglou has officially left Brisbane Roar. The Greek import, in an interview with Fox Sports FC, gave his main reason for leaving. "A new challenge beckons me somewhere".
Much has been made of his supposed desire to move to Melbourne Victory, and it is claimed he has already agreed verbally to a 3 year deal worth $1.5m. Lucky git. Why don't I get paid that much? Anyway, he all but admitted Victory was his destination after much recent press speculation, saying "There’s no secret about where I’m likely to end up"
Why Victory, you ask? Why would you leave a club you have won back-to-back championships and nearly back-to-back Premierships with and taken to the Asian Champions League for the first time, to go to a club who are past their prime, and who finished 8th this season? If you asked that, you'd be at the same point I was when I first read about it. However, those Aussies that are in the know will tell you that Postecoglou was a hero for South Melbourne FC. He won 3 Premierships and 2 Championships in his time there as a player, from 1984-1993, and was their coach from 1996-2000, winning 2 more Championships and a Premiership to boot. He's treated like a god down there.
For the Victory board, the PR bonus is obvious. Home-town hero coming back to rescue an ailing squad? If he manages to swing things around down there, it'll just...It would be a fairytale. His record in the A-League is immense. 3 trophies in 2 seasons, as well as his NSL managerial record standing at 3 trophies in 4 seasons.
Brisbane have announced that Rado Vidosic will move up from Assistant Manager to become the Head Coach. No word yet on who will be his assistant. This has sparked hope amongst the Brisbane fans that former player and Adelaide star Dario Vidosic - Rado's son - will make a return to the club. I'll post again when more info comes through on Postecoglou's move.
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