Nomadic Kalezic tipped to set camp at Phoenix
The Wellington Phoenix will unveil their new coach this morning.
Co-coaches Chris Greenacre and Des Buckingham were reinterviewed for the position after the Phoenix missed the A-League football playoffs, but that appears to be an act of courtesy as they weren’t considered serious contenders after they failed to deliver a top six placing.
Persistent rumours out of Australia and Europe have pegged Switzerland-born Bosnian Darije Kalezic, who has coaching experience across Belgium, Holland and Switzerland, to the role.
The 47-year-old was most recently coach of Saudi club Al Taawoun — for just seven matches — but most of his background is in Europe.
Kalezic doesn’t have a particularly eye-catching CV, though he has a breadth of experience that would appeal to the Phoenix.
Kalezic’s coaching career began at Dutch club De Graafschap. After being assistant coach, he was promoted to the first team job near the end of the 2008-09 season. He couldn’t prevent relegation but managed the team’s successful return to the Eredivisie the following year by winning the Dutch second division.
He was then appointed manager of Belgian Pro League coach Zulte Waregem, but lasted 21 matches (3 wins, 9 draws, 9 losses) before being sacked as the club hovered above the relegation zone.
His next stop was Stockport County — then languishing in the fifth tier of English football — and he departed after 12 matches “by mutual consent”.
Kalezic then had two seasons in charge of PSV Eindhoven’s Under-23 side, Jong PSV, in the Dutch second division, before being hired by Roda JC, notable in New Zealand as Ivan Vicelich’s former club. He was dis- missed by Roda after one season in charge, due to a falling out with their technical director at the end of the 2015-2016 season.
Kalezic had seven matches in charge at Al Taawoun, before stepping down in October last year.
According to Australian sources, his assistant could be Rado Vido, who had a long coaching career at Brisbane Roar — mainly as an assistant — and has had similar roles at both Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC.