Michael Valkanis has once again linked up with Dutch coach John van’t Schip, leaving his post at Israeli side Hapoel Tel Aviv to become assistant manager with one of Europe’s biggest clubs, Ajax.
This represents another momentous step forward in the career of the Greek-Australian who started out as a junior and then senior player with South Melbourne Hellas, just like a certain Ange Postecoglou that is currently lighting up the Premier League with Tottenham.
The appointment means Valkanis’ relationship with Hapoel Tel Aviv is officially over, the coach having led them in five games before fleeing to Greece in the wake of the recent escalation in conflicts between Israel and Gaza.
The Greek-Australian has worked with van’t Schip on numerous occasions, serving as his assistant with Melbourne City, PEC Zwolle and most notably Greece.
He was part of van’t Schip’s effort to shift the culture behind the Greek national side, achieved chiefly through the brave decision to stop selecting star players like Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Kostas Manolas.
Valkanis was said to have developed a good rapport with Hapoel Tel Aviv in his short term with the club, thanking them all for the time he spent there ahead of this huge move in his career.
The Israeli team equally heaped praise on their now former coach, thanking him for his contribution and stating that “although he only stayed for a short time, his impact on the team was significant”.
Valkanis and van’t Schip will certainly have a major task on their hands with the Dutch giants, who currently sit bottom of the table with one win, two draws and five losses.
The club’s performance this campaign has been the polar opposite of what their reputation demands and, though they have been appointed on an interim basis till the end of the season, the new coaches will have to overturn this wretched form immediately or else they too will likely get the sack.
One fixture that will interest the pair will no doubt be the Europa League clash with AEK in December, which they will hope to go into off the back of some strong performances in the Eredivisie.
