Now that Bert Van Marwijk has been revealed as the person to steer our Socceroos to the 2018 World Cup, it’s time to examine what’s underneath the hood and see if we’ve acquired a winner right here.
“This is an amazing outcome for Australian soccer,” FFA chairman Steven Lowy stated Thursday.
“Bert Van Marwijk is world class. He took the Netherlands to the World Cup Ultimate in 2010, he led the Saudi Arabian workforce to qualify immediately for this yr’s Finals and most significantly, he is aware of lots about our staff and the way they play as a result of he studied them intently as an opposition supervisor in the identical group.
“These experiences make him a compelling selection.”
WHAT ARE HIS COACHING CREDENTIALS?
Van Marwijk is in all probability greatest recognized for being the coach who got here oh-so-near steering The Netherlands to World Cup glory in 2010, solely to be crushed late by Andres Iniesta and Spain.
The Dutchman has been teaching since 1982 however made the leap into the large-time in 2000 when he took the reins of Feyenoord, ending second within the Eredivisie. In 2001, he went even additional, main the Rotterdam-based mostly membership to the UEFA Cup remaining, profitable three-2 over Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund favored what they noticed and introduced him throughout to the Bundesliga for 3 largely uneventful seasons.
After a brief-lived return to Feyenoord, the Dutch nationwide staff got here calling, the place he spent 4 years.
A brief spell, 143 days to be actual, at Hamburg led to the place van Marwijk got here into contact with the Socceroos because the nationwide coach of Saudi Arabia. The Dutch coach helped the Saudis qualify for the 2018 World Cup – their first since 2006.
Days later, van Marwijk was gone. In response to Voetbal Worldwide, Van Marwijk baulked at a clause in his contract renewal that required him to reside in Saudi Arabia for 23 days a month and search permission to go away the nation.
WHAT DOES HE KNOW ABOUT US?
A good bit, truly, because the coach of Saudi Arabia, we’re hardly an unknown amount to him.
“I do know lots concerning the gamers and the way the group has been enjoying after teaching towards them for the 2 World Cup qualifiers, in 2016 and in June final yr,” the brand new Socceroos coach stated in a press release saying his appointment.
“I’ve additionally been impressed by the nationwide workforce set-up that the FFA has developed over the previous few years.”
HAS HE PLAYED THE GAME?
462 video games within the Dutch first division for seventy two objectives is no joke.
The previous midfielder has one worldwide cap to his identify as nicely.
WHEN WILL HE START?
Instantly.
At time of writing, the World Cup is one hundred forty days away.
Gamers strolling round with identify tags is a nasty look.
WHO WILL HIS ASSISTANT BE?
Van Marwijk will almost certainly need his personal assistant however the present Socceroos assistant, Ante Milicic, has a contract till 2020.
He’ll doubtless keep on, particularly with the brand new coach having lower than a month to call a squad for the upcoming friendlies with Norway and Colombia.
WHAT ABOUT GRAHAM ARNOLD?
In a assertion launched by Sydney FC, Arnold introduced that he’ll stay with the reigning A-League champions till at the least the top of the 2017/18 season.
Will he bounce on board after our new nationwide coach’s FIFO contract ends? Who is aware of.
WHO ELSE WAS CONSIDERED?
Arnold was extensively tipped to be the subsequent Socceroos coach following Ange Postecoglou’s choice to face down after guiding Australia to World Cup qualification.
Nevertheless, additional reviews recommended the FFA most popular a overseas coach to information Australia to Russia on a brief-time period contract – with Dutch managers Bert Van Marwijk and Louis Van Gaal heading the shortlist.
Different coaches linked with the publish embrace Argentinian supervisor Marcelo Bielsa, in addition to house grown managers Tony Popovic and Kevin Muscat.
HOW MUCH WILL HE COST?
In line with a number of sources, the FA have put aside simply over $1 million for a 5-month contract, after which a $500,000 sweetener if we progress previous the group stage.
WILL THE SOCCEROOS WIN THE WORLD CUP?
“We aren’t going to Russia simply to be aggressive. I need to win our matches,” van Marwijk stated.
So, no.
However advancing previous the primary hurdle isn’t completely out of attain.
WILL WE END UP CALLING HIM AUSSIE BERT IF HE SUCCEEDS?
Sure, in fact.
