Roos job attracts global interest
ANGE Postecoglou’s replacement may not be appointed until January, with Football Federation Australia chiefs inundated with foreign expressions of interest in the job.
Coaches from the Netherlands, Germany, England, France and Italy are among the dozens who want to lead the Socceroos to Russia 2018, but FFA refused to discuss domestic or overseas names.
It is understood former Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic would consider a dual club-Socceroos role for the 2018 World Cup, although FFA chief executive David Gallop said such a role was unlikely.
Popovic could play a part in Australia’s World Cup fortunes regardless, given it is believed he is considering signing a handful of Socceroos in the January transfer window for his Turkish club Karabukspor.
Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold remains a frontrunner for the position but highly rated Socceroos assistant Ante Milicic will firm as a contender if FFA decides to continue down the Postecoglou path.
Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak refused to anoint Postecoglou’s successor but hoped a thorough process would be conducted by FFA.
“It’s not for me to say exactly who and what,” Jedinak said.
“I’m sure everybody at FFA are doing their utmost to try and get the criteria in place.
“The people above, in the decision-making positions, are probably collating all of the in- formation and having meetings about what they want to do and how they want to do things going forward.
“You just hope that whatever decision is made, it’s done thoroughly and whenever there is an appointment, we move on.”
Gallop said the FFA was considering local and foreign options.
“We’ve had a number of agencies contact us already, representing a range of people. We’ll work through a process which gives those people an opportunity to put their hat in the ring,” Gallop said.
“There are big advantages to an Australian coach, but it doesn’t guarantee the position will go to a (local).
“There’s likely to be a panel process, but it’s too early to say who might be on that panel.
“Ultimately, the appointment will be made by the FFA.
“We’ll put together a criteria and a process in coming weeks, but it would be highly unlikely we’d be looking at anyone that wants to carry out a club role as well as a Socceroos role.
“Everyone needs to cool their heels a bit and wait for the process to unfold.” STAR Matildas forward Sam Kerr could play in any team in any league in the world, but teammate Elise KellondKnight isn’t about to tell her where to go.
Kerr is on top of the football world at the moment for both club and country.
The West Australian scored twice in Australia’s 3-0 defeat of China on Wednesday night, extending a five-game streak in which she scored nine goals.
If she scores today in the second game of the two-match international series in Geelong, Kerr will eclipse Sarah Walsh’s run of scoring in five straight internationals. At club level, she’s just as dominant. Kerr (pictured) was named the most valuable player in the US this season, becoming the competition’s all-time leading scorer at just 24.
The striker will spend her summer in action for her home W-League side Perth Glory but then must decide whether to return to New Jersey-based Sky Blue FC or head to Europe and play in the world’s best women’s competition, the Champions League.
“She’s world-class and could potentially play at any club that she wants,” Kellond-Knight said.
“For her, it’s about where she feels comfortable and where she’s satisfying what she wants on and off the field. “Her options are unlimited.” The Matildas will also be chasing a slice of history today. A win would be the seventh straight for Alen Stajcic’s side, equalling the all-time record for the Matildas, set in 2007.
Furthermore, it would cement a place in the top five of the FIFA rankings when they are updated next month – another all-time best.
Stajcic said the team would look back with satisfaction on the calendar year.
“To get good results, to capture the public’s imagination, get the media support, beat America, beat Brazil three times in a row ... we’ve achieved a lot of the objectives we wanted to this year, on and off the field,” he said.
“We’ve laid a good platform to catapult this team and be contenders at the Asian Cup, World Cup and qualify for the Olympics.” AUSTRALIA CHINA SIMONDS STADIUM, 3.30PM LIVE ON SBS