With the 2010-11 season well and truly under way, the Brisbane Roar seem to be going from strength to strength with some impressive results in recent weeks.

The man behind the success, Ange Postecoglou, sat down with me recently to talk Football, The Brisbane Roar and what it was like growing up as a Greek Australian footballer. “I started at South Melbourne when I was nine years old and didn’t leave there until 2000 when I finished up coaching, so I was there for a good 25 years.”

“I got the passion for the sport through my dad and he was the one who took me down there (South Melbourne) as soon as I was ready to play and I never looked back.” Postecoglou played for former National Soccer League (NSL) outfit South Melbourne from 1984 to 1993, where he won two championships and was eventually made captain. Having emigrated from Greece at the age of 5, Postecoglou remembers a time in Australian culture when playing Soccer or being Greek wasn’t the in thing to do.

“It was a different time you know, the Greek community and most migrant communities at that time used to stick together and it was the same when you went to school.” “These days I think there’s more pride in where you come from because now I see young Greek people listening to Greek music and they take a lot of pride in where they come from whereas we didn’t back then only because it wasn’t the in thing to do.”

Although there was a certain taboo to being an ethnic and playing the round ball sport in Australia at the time, a lot of Greek Australians went on to receive national honours. In an era of players like Jimmy Patikas and Charlie Yankos, Postecoglou can now appreciate the achievements of these players and the passion they each shared for the game.

“During the eighties, especially in the NSL, there was a real influx of young Greek Australian players like Peter Katholos, Jimmy Patikas and Charlie Yankos who all went on to play for the Socceroos.”

“It was that generation of guys who grew up in the seventies who really had a passion for the game which we got from our parents and I think the current generation has lost that little bit of passion for the game.”

After having to retire from the game at an early age, Postecoglou made the smooth transition to coaching, where he guided South Melbourne to two championships.

Having made a name for himself as coach of South Melbourne, The Australian Under 20s and the Brisbane Roar, Postecoglou says that, as a coach, it’s all about having a vision. “People often ask me what’s the difference between working on TV and being a coach and I can only answer that by saying that on TV you’re giving opinions but when you’re a coach, you have to make decisions.”

“If you don’t have a clear vision in your head of what something should look like and how you want it to look, then it’s pretty hard to make decisions and often times you’ll get it wrong.”

Postecoglou, who was born in Greece in 1965, had a brief spell as coach for the then third division Greek side Panachaiki back in 2008, before returning to Australia to coach the Brisbane Roar in 2009. His experience, although brief, was a memorable one as the 45 year old recounts memories of Greek people’s passion for football and the unwavering support for their local club.

“They’re just very passionate people and it was great to be in a city and in a country where that’s the case because here in Australia, as much as people love football, it just wasn’t the same feeling.”

“The Monday after the match day weekend it was all about how their team went ,and if it was a win everyone was flying high but if it was a loss it was a catastrophe, so it was just fantastic to be part of.”

Having coached Football at nearly every level, Postecoglou is content with where he’s at right now as coach of the Brisbane Roar.
Postecoglou though hasn’t ruled out anything when it comes to his future and when asked about whether or not he’d rule out a call up to the top job as Socceroo’s coach, the 45 year old seems content at being successful wherever he is.

“I’m with the Roar at the moment and it’s all about success here first and who knows maybe there’ll be a coaching job for me after this, I’d love to go back to Europe or try out Asia.”

“Again that’s just another test for coaching, but I certainly don’t have any clear plans in my future except to be a successful coach.”