Arthur Diles might be the only coach in Australia who will freely admit he’s got no connection to trailblazer Ange Postecoglou, even if he looks up to him.

But the latest Greek-Australian to coach in an A-League Men grand final has never done things conventionally.

Melbourne City’s technical area on Saturday at AAMI Park will be patrolled by former Socceroos captain Aurelio Vidmar, a former Socceroos captain with a decorated club career.

In Melbourne Victory’s corner will be Sydneysider Diles, who pulled the pin on his playing career early to move into coaching.

That included time at Sydney Olympic and at the NSW Institute of Sport – where he worked with a 12-year-old Daniel Arzani among other young talents.

Five years at Western Sydney included heading up youth teams, before Diles later worked as Arthur Papas’s assistant at Newcastle and with Tony Popovic at Xanthi and Victory.

“When I made a decision years ago that I wouldn’t keep pursuing a professional career and get into coaching, it’s something that I was definitely passionate about,” he tells AAP.

“It gives me a head start on others because I’ve actually been coaching longer than the others have.

“During that journey, you get to learn a lot, develop a lot, make a lot of mistakes you don’t get criticised for and crucified for.

“The journey’s been a long one, but it’s one that I wouldn’t change for anything because it’s allowed me to do the things that I’ve done and learn the way that I’ve learned and work with many great coaches.

“When you go into that space as a coach, maybe I didn’t play at the highest level in terms of A-League and Socceroos, but you have a fair understanding of what football’s about at that level. That also helps.”

Adored by his charges as a man who focuses on the person before the player, Diles has never been one for the spotlight.

That included chasing the glory of being a head coach.

“For a few years now, many people would ask, ‘don’t you want to be a head coach?'” Diles said.

“My answer was always the same: While I’m an assistant coach, I want to be the best assistant I can be. I’m not going to go looking for jobs as a head coach. I just want to do my work.

Eventually, when the time comes, someone will see the value in who I am and want to give me an opportunity as a head coach. If and when that time comes, I’ll be ready to take it. That was always my belief.

“When this opportunity came, I knew I was ready.”

Diles had to take the reins when Patrick Kisnorbo up and left for Yokohama F. Marinos just seven games into the season.

After a “rocky” six-game winless run early, he was able to steady the ship.

“The key is he’s been himself. He hasn’t swayed from who he is as a person,” defender Brendan Hamill told AAP.

“We found our stripes. In the back of my mind, it was like, OK, once we make finals, we’ve got such a talented group that no-one would want to play us in the final series.

“That’s a testament to the players we have, a testament to the tactics and the way that ‘Dila’ has gone about himself and managed the playing group and the way that he has been as a coach.

“The players adore him.”

Lifting that trophy would be the ultimate reward.

“When I started this coaching journey, many people would say, ‘where do you want to coach?’ I always said I want to coach in the A-League. I want to be a coach in Australia,” he said.

“I don’t look beyond that because this is the country I’m from and this is the league that I know best.

“To be able to win the league for Melbourne Victory would be incredible.”

But like always, process comes first.

“If the players are ready for this war come Saturday, then I know that I’ll win at the end of it as well,” Diles said.

“We all win or we all learn. I want to make sure that we win.”

Source: AAP