FFA puts de Biasi on Socceroos’ possibles list
AN Italian who once briefly coached Vince Grella is among the names on a long list of candidates being assessed by Football Federation Australia to succeed Ange Postecoglou as Socceroos coach.
Gianni de Biasi, most recently the coach of Albania, has held preliminary talks with Australian officials about his interest in the role. But it’s being emphasised that De Biasi, who briefly coached Grella at Torino in Italy’s Serie A, is just one of a number of possible candidates sounded out to oversee the post-Postecoglou era.
With Postecoglou having announced his departure at the end of the 2018 World Cup campaign, it’s understood that FFA has canvassed a variety of names – and na- tionalities – to take on the role. The 61-year-old De Biasi, who lead Albania to qualification for the 2016 European Championships, the country’s first major tournament, has told Albanian media that he has held talks with Australian officials.
“A few days ago I met with the Australian national team and the decision will be taken after September,” he said.
However it’s understood that the net is being cast widely by FFA, with no bias towards an Australian or overseas candidate.
The most experienced Australian figure, Graham Arnold, held the job for a year from 2006-07, and is not thought to want to take it on again.
Australia is currently third in Group B of the final stage of qualifying, needing to earn a place in the top two to gain automatic passage to the World Cup next year. The Socceroos’ fate will be decided by games away to Japan and home to Thailand on August 31 and September 5 respectively.
Mathematically Australia is not certain of achieving at least third place, and thus facing a series of play-offs, but it would take catastrophic results in both remaining games to miss out on at least third place.