It is official, the wait is over – Brisbane Roar have finally announced their new coach and it is none other than John Aloisi.
After months of speculation ranging from mysterious European coaches to the highly regarded Auckland City FC coach Ramon Tribulietx, the Brisbane Roar decided to go for the 39-year-old former Socceroo.
But who exactly is this new coach?
John Aloisi’s playing career spanned over 20 years, making more than 450 appearances and scoring more than his fair share of important goals. He was the first Australian player to ply his trade in the three big leagues of Europe, England, Spain and Italy, with Portsmouth, Osasuna and Cremonese respectively. However it was with the Socceroos that he will always be fondly remembered. While he managed 27 goals in only 55 appearances for the Green and Gold, Aloisi was the scorer of the all-important penalty against Uruguay that sent Australia to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and instilled his name into Australian sporting folklore.
His coaching career has not been as impressive. After promising signs with the Melbourne Heart youth team, Aloisi was instilled as first tram coach on the three-year contract, starting in 2012. However he was sacked the following season after a horrendous run of results concluding with his dismissal following the club’s run of 17 games without a win. Since then he has worked with the Melbourne Victory youth and National Premier League sides while making regular appearances as a Fox Sports pundit.
While he may not hold a distinguished coaching record, Aloisi is shaping as an interesting coaching appointment. He will direct all football operations at the three-time A-League champion, giving him an astonishing amount of power across the club, and instilling a lot of faith in a coach that is still developing his credentials. Brisbane Roar chairman Chris Fong believes Aloisi is the perfect fit to launch a new era for the club, a process the club is in desperate need of, and one that the fans have been calling for.
His record at Melbourne City does not take away the breathe, leaving many people to view this announcement as somewhat of a risk. However there are a few key reasons why this may be the right move for the club as a whole.
Firstly, if nothing else, Aloisi will bring a newfound passion and aggression to a club that has been lacking heart since winning its last championship. He coaches in a similar fashion to his playing style, with his heart on the sleeve, something many players at the club could learn from. Furthermore, his overarching power at the club will allow a direction to be taken as his opinion now holds a very strong weight, a necessity at the directionless football club.
Secondly, his experience with youth setups comes across as a strong point, and fits the Brisbane Roar mould and mentality of trusting youth. This must continue as the up and coming players look to the new coach for a clean slate and a chance to impress, something Aloisi will surely grant every player at the club.
Finally, Aloisi is a quality media performer. He stays true to what he believes, has a rapport with the Fox Sports Football team, and presents well, always looking the part. This oozes confidence and will do wonders for a club that has been crying out for a strong-willed coach since the departure of media master Ange Postecoglou.
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Aloisi will join the squad in June and will prepare it to face Liverpool on July 17 in the highly anticipated game in front of a packed Suncorp Stadium, a baptism of fire for a coach that was itching for a second chance.
Yes, he may not have the best coaching record so far, but his passion for the game and eagerness for a second chance shows a man on a mission, someone who is out to prove his doubters wrong. And if anything can be learned from the current champions Melbourne Victory, if you believe in a coach then the possibilities are endless and Aloisi may still prove a few people wrong. But for now, the rebuilding begins, and Brisbane has done well to appoint a new coach so early in the off-season.
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