Coach sets the bar high in Russia
“AUSSIE” Bert van Marwijk has declared the Socceroos are going to Russia to win after being appointed Ange Postecoglou’s long-awaited successor.
Van Marwijk, 65, will be officially unveiled in Australia next week after Football Federation Australia confirmed his appointment yesterday following a meeting in the Netherlands.
The Dutchman looks set to adopt the same physical game style infamously deployed by the Dutch team he led to the 2010 World Cup final.
He will spend the next six weeks scouting before picking his first squad for the March friendlies against Norway and Colombia in Europe, his only games before picking an extended squad for June’s World Cup.
FFA 10 days ago announced it had a shortlist, believed to be seven deep, but it was effectively a two-horse race with former Germany and US boss Juergen Klinsmann. Van Marwijk’s “local knowledge” and lesser wage demands were decisive. He had been the frontrunner throughout the process.
Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold is almost certain to be confirmed within weeks as van Marwijk’s successor after Russia 2018.
Socceroos assistant Ante Milicic is likely to stay on for the World Cup while van Marwijk will bring over several assistants and support staff.
Arnold will most likely go to Russia as an observer, before taking over in August before the Socceroos’ defence of the Asian Cup in January 2019 in the UAE.
The Socceroos remain $4 outsiders with TAB to advance from a Group B with France ($1.05), Denmark ($1.55) and Peru ($3.30) but van Marwijk aims to advance to the knockout phase.
“I want to thank [FFA] for the confidence they have shown in me,” he said. “My response to them has been that we are not going to Russia just to be competitive. I want to win our matches.”
“I know a lot about the players and how the team has been playing after coaching against them for the two World Cup qualifiers.”
FFA chairman Steven Lowy said: “This is a great result for Australian football. Bert van Marwijk is world class.
“In Bert van Marwijk we have a manager who can achieve great things with this team. And we will ensure they have the resources necessary.”
Negotiations between van Marwijk and Saudi Arabia broke down after he got them to the World Cup. He accepted less than half of what he was earning with Saudi Arabia.