Walking into Melissa Cafe in Templestowe Doncaster to meet the owner, who also happens to be the coach of Heidelberg United George Katsakis, I had the opportunity to briefly see the other side of the man those in the football world call “Kats”. Husband, father, businessman, ‘Kats’ has other sides to the fierce competitor shown on match day in the coach’s dugout.
The customary focus, intensity and passion however quickly comes back onto his face as the conversation leans towards football and his beloved Heidelberg United. George has experienced success at Northcote and Kingston, achieving two promotions at both clubs. But it’s his recent years at the club he calls family at Heidelberg United that he has seen as the most important time in his coaching career.
“Even when I was at other clubs I always had the feeling for Heidelberg, I don’t know any other way. I have been here since the early 70s and was one of the first five juniors registered by the club back in the Fitzroy days. I am part of its rich history and history is everything. Heidelberg is always in the back of my mind and this is what I try and instil in my players, that they are part of something that’s being going around 50 years and the number they are carrying on their back was once worn by a great player, like a number 5 which was worn by Charlie Yankos for example, or Gray Cole, Jimmy Rooney and the list goes on and on,” he says. The team that wears yellow and black, founded in 1958 with the emblem of Alexander the Great, has a very proud history indeed and steadily made its climb from Provisional leagues to the State League in 1964. After some promotions and demotions in the late 60s it won the Victorian State League in 1975 under the name Fitzroy United Alexander Soccer Club with coach Manny Poulakakis. In 1977, Fitzroy United Alexander was a founding member of the Phillips National Soccer League and was a model of consistency through the period 1982-1985 when seven of the 16 national “Socceroos” players were from “Alexander the Great”.
Through the late 70s and early 80s the Club went through what many regard as its “Golden Era”. In 1980, the club won the “Top 4” play-off series, beating Sydney City by 4 goals to nil in Canberra. It was twice relegated in 1987 and 1989, but managed to be promoted the next year and played in the National Soccer League until 1995 when it was excluded (along with Brunswick Juventus and Parramatta Melita Eagles) through the political policies of Soccer Australia led by David Hill. Since 1996 the Club has been in the Victorian Premier League and has been crowned Victorian Champions four times in its history. When George was appointed head coach 4 years ago the first thing he wanted to achieve was to bring back the sense of history.
Former player Andy Bouzikas was brought in as youth coach and later club legend Jeff Olver was appointed as assistant coach. The history, stability and strong link to the past was what George believed was vital for the club moving forward. “Nothing is greater than history, I will be here today, gone tomorrow but the history always remains. It’s something you cant change. The foreign players we bring to the club are instilled with the achievements of the club and their responsibilities as custodians of our jumper,” Katsakis said.
After the break-up of the core side of 2008, which came very close to making the Grand Final, George has surprised many with his ability to rebuild his team through shrewd recruiting. “I don’t necessarily recruit star players but I always recruit strong and good characters. For me, I always look at how do I build a strong dressing room. I look at their character first and how they will fit into my dressing room. What can they offer the dressing room? Are they the right people for the dressing room?” he said. “Before I even contemplate their on field ability I do my off field homework first. I move out bad characters very quickly from my club.”
Brian Garvey is a mentor for George and he taught him two valuable philosophies. Firstly if you don’t concede goals you will always get a result, a draw or a win and secondly and more importantly, if there is a rotten apple in your team get rid of it before it rots the rest of the team.
“I build my teams with these two philosophies. I build my team from defence and make sure that we are a hard side to defeat. I am also committed to our brand of football and I think I have achieved this in the last few years, we always try and play football. We play out of defence. I have a fast, mobile, technically sound team and you need to have these attributes in modern football. We always try and liberate talented individuals to play football,” he said.
The board as a club are in talks with the council to create two synthetic pitches behind the grand stand and improve the lighting facilities, vital negotiations for the future of the club. The current facilities have been untouched for years and this has been disappointing for the club. George also acknowledges more work has to be put in to creating more junior participation at the club, its an area that needs to improve.
The club is however very proud of the successful woman’s team. Last word went to George’s lovely daughter Joanne, who reminded her football tragic father of a promise he gave to his family. “Dad, you promised when you coach Heidelberg to a championship you will take a year off from football.” A wry smile came onto the face of George as he contemplated the unthinkable, a year off football! One thing can be known for sure, George is working feverishly for the chance for his daughter to take him up on his promise.
There is no doubt he will leave no stone unturned in the quest for the holy grail.
