If one man will be able to tap into the psyche of the Newcastle Jets and the Novocastrian ethos, it will be the Jets’ new manager Scott Miller.
In a story that sits well with the locals, Miller took the plunge almost 10 years ago, buying a one-way plane ticket to England. Dreaming of making it in management, he arrived armed with university degrees in sports science and psychology.
His desire and work ethic to prove himself in the world of football was unshakeable and he did not have to wait long for the offers to come rolling in. Landing the role of first team fitness coach at Fulham in 2007, Miller had no idea just what a ride he was about to embark on.
The Cottagers were entering arguably the most successful period in their long history. The man in charge at the time was none other than current England boss Roy Hodgson. Miller was taken by the Englishman, who took Fulham from a struggling, perennially relegation-threatened side, to a Europa League final in 2010.
The Whites went down that day after a Diego Forlan extra time winner, but the experience inspired Miller.
He still sees Hodgson as his mentor and it was that man who would play a role in Miller arriving in the A-League.
The story goes that Miller caught up with his former boss at a coaching course earlier this year. A 30-minute chat over coffee with Hodgson was enough to convince Miller that now was the time to take the plunge.
Another influential man impressed by Miller was Socceroos chief Ange Postecoglou. Postecoglou hired him for the national team on a short-term basis as a fitness coach in late 2013. Miller obviously left a lasting impression.
Postecoglou was charged with advising the FFA on who should take over at the Jets and as soon as Miller was mentioned by Ange, the job was his.
On 1 June this year, Fulham released the following statement: “Fulham Football Club confirms that Scott Miller has left the Club to pursue other opportunities. Since joining the Club Scott has been employed in a number of roles, having most recently been coach to the Club’s Under-21 team. We wish Scott well in his future career.”
Less than three weeks later, Miller was on the other side of the world, being unveiled as the new manager of the Jets. It will be interesting to see just what he has learned along the way now that he is responsible for moulding his own team. His own sides so far in the FFA Cup and preseason have shown characteristics of both Postecoglou and Hodgson. His team has played a quick and incisive short passing game that would appear to be straight out of the Postecoglou scrapbook. He has coupled this with a rigid and disciplined defence.
Scott Miller’s Newcastle Jets, already more exciting than Stubbins and Van Egmond era Jets. #FFACup #NEWvPER
— Jets Lads (not Zads) (@ZadsLads) August 11, 2015
It was no surprise this is something that Miller has been preaching in the lead up to the opening whistle in the A-League this season. It was his mentor Hodgson who used a strong and organised defence in 2010, taking Fulham past glamour clubs like Juventus and Shakhtar Donetsk on the way to that Europa League final that so inspired Miller.
How well Miller can mould these two styles together will decide how he himself goes in the cut-throat world of football management. One thing we do know is it will not be a lack of effort, belief or confidence in his abilities that will stop him.
That punt he took 10 years ago looks to be paying dividends.
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