The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
‘Dino’ fancies his chances of becoming boss
St Johnstone cult hero Attila Sekerlioglu would love to be the next Perth manager.
A fans’ favourite in the Paul Sturrock late ’90s team that won promotion from the First Division and established itself in the top flight, the Austrian has coached in his home country and been a scout for Bayern Munich.
He would be a left-field appointment, and it isn’t realistic, but that hasn’t stopped the three times league winner with Austria Vienna throwing his hat into the ring.
Speaking on the Talkin Fitbaw podcast, the 55-year-old said: “My dream is to coach in Britain and St Johnstone is a team that is in my heart.
“I had a nice time there and the supporters liked me. I just wish I had come to Scotland when I was 25 instead of 30. Maybe I would have had a chance to go to England. But I was too late in my career.
“My last game for Saints was when Celtic beat us to stop Rangers winning 10 in a row. The noise that day was unbelievable. I’ll never forget it.
“It was so loud you couldn’t hear someone shouting five yards away.
“I wanted to stay on. But I was only offered a one-year contract, not two. So I went back home and played on there.”
Sekerlioglu added: “I was over in Perth for a visit two years ago for a game against Rangers with my son.
“I was on the pitch at half-time and people were really happy to see me. The fans were shouting ‘Dino.’ That was the nickname Paul Sturrock gave me.
“My old team-mates Roddy Grant and Danny Griffin were still there.
“I spoke to the manager and we had a nice talk about my time there. I still follow their results.
“I have coached in Austria and in Africa, in Nigeria and Ghana over the last 16 years. I have also coached female players.”
Saints chairman Steve Brown will be inundated with applications to replace Tommy Wright.
Former SFA performance director Mark Wotte, currently a technical director in the UAE, and Rangers reserve coach Peter Lovenkrands are among those keen to get the job.
But when the time comes for Brown to draw up a shortlist and start speaking to candidates – which won’t be soon – it is likely that John Robertson and Callum Davidson will still be the frontrunners.