In the A-League off season this winter there have been several past South Melbourne players taking senior positions in A-League clubs.
At Melbourne Victory last month we had two major appointments in the space of a week with South Melbourne Hall of Fame great Mehmet Durakovic finally announced as the head coach of Melbourne Victory and former striker Francis Awaritefe positioned as Director of Football. This comes alongside former South defender Kevin Muscat already established as an assistant coach.
Victory exercised an exhausting campaign to appoint their head coach having tabled over fifty applicants for the position, finally rewardeding Durakovic with the position after his impressive work in the Asian Champions League as caretaker coach.
The appointment of these three to Victory bring close to 400 collective NSL games from the famous ‘Blue & White” to the A-League powerhouse in a calculated attempt to change club culture and image.
The Victory board were aware the club required a change of direction and they are hoping these three bring with them the strong culture and winning experience learned in their football careers.
At last season’s all conquering Brisbane Roar masterminded by South Hall of Fame legend Ange Postecoglou, comes the announcement of fellow South Hall of Fame legend and 430 game striker Paul Trimboli as general manager. Paul leaves his role as Fox Sports commentator to take on this position.
Trimboli brings a natural intelligence along with his accounting background, Puma management and marketing experience to the general manager role and the strong friendship with Ange Postecoglou will be paramount to keeping the momentum from last year.
The Roar board will be hoping the 98/99 South premiership duo can repeat history this year, achieving what no other A League club has managed before. We also see former South defender Mick Valkanis at Adelaide United and South mid-fielder Con Boutsianis at Gold Coast United, taking on assistant coaching roles this year.
There is no coincidence these former players have been chosen in their respective positions and A-League clubs.
Their decorated careers bring premierships and a winning mentality to their new employers and it is no doubt strong cultures and environments bring success in football clubs.
Miron Blieberg, head coach of Gold Coast United, is a huge admirer of the South Melbourne era and knows when he comes across a South Melbourne person he invariably will find a football person with a strong winning mentality, excellent character, strong football values and a respect in the football community.
This trend occurs in other codes. If we observe the AFL many coaches were spawned from the great Richmond era of the 70s and Hawthorn era of the 80s.
Names such as Kevin Sheedy and Mick Malthouse of Richmond Tigers, and Leigh Matthews and Rodney Eade of the Hawthorn Hawks, are some examples of players coming from great football clubs and cultures.
Many at South Melbourne are frustrated the club cannot perform in the highest league in the nation at this moment, but all are proud to see famous sons of the club achieving success in the A-League and keeping the torch alive for the future.
Long may it continue!!
