New Adelaide United coach Gertjan Verbeek outlines his vision for the Reds’ A-League challenge
New Adelaide United coach Gertjan Verbeek has outlined his bold vision for the Reds, speaking exclusively in his first interview since taking over the A-League club.
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Gertjan Verbeek is not coming to Adelaide United to grind out goalless draws.
And while challenging for trophies was high on the new Reds coach’s agenda, playing an eye-catching brand of “total football” and developing local talent were almost as important.
The Dutchman outlined his vision for the club to The Advertiser in his first Australian interview since being appointed Marco Kurz’s successor 10 days ago.
Verbeek gave an insight into his recruiting priorities, the make-up of his support staff and the philosophy he hoped to implement in Adelaide’s bid for success.
He also revealed his pre-season plans and the brief interruption he has happily factored into his schedule:
TARGETS
Verbeek has big shoes to fill as he aims to emulate last season’s FFA Cup triumph and the top-four finish which took United to within an accurate penalty of a grand final berth.
But the 56-year-old was confident of building on predecessor Kurz’s progress, backed by Reds chairman and long-time friend Piet van der Pol.
“The standard of Adelaide is high because they are used to playing in the first six (finals),” said Verbeek, via a video call from his home in the Netherlands.
“They were last year very successful and that is also a really big challenge to be the same way successful as the last coach (Kurz) who did a good job.
“But Piet van der Pol knows my qualities.
“He knows what he wants and he thinks I fit well into the position.
“You have to have the same goals and then you can be successful.
“You have to know what you role is in the club and then you can work together and be successful as a team.”
The former defender with Dutch top flight club Heerenveen brought a quarter of a century of coaching experience in Holland and Germany to Adelaide.
He was enticed Down Under by the challenge of implementing his ideas in a new environment and entertaining United’s passionate fan base.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the supporters and I hope I can bring them successful and attractive football,” said Verbeek, who watched the Reds’ two playoff clashes on TV.
“I’ve seen them supporting the club, also in away games, and it’s amazing.”
RECRUITING
The departure of inspirational captain Isaias to Qatar has left a gaping hole in United’s squad, while full back Scott Galloway (Melbourne City) will also be tough to replace.
Fortunately Verbeek’s phone had been running hot with agents trying to get their clients a gig at the Reds since he was unveiled as Adelaide manager.
The exit of import forwards Baba Diawara and Ken Ilso meant the club would have three vacant visa spots to work with.
But Verbeek, who praised the mentality of ex-Socceroo Brett Holman during one of his previous coaching posts at AZ Alkmaar, refused to rule out homegrown additions.
“We will be looking for the best players,” said the affable Verbeek, who had signed a two-year contract with United.
“When it’s possible we want to have Australian players, but the foreign players will make the difference.
“Players and agents now know that I’m going to Adelaide and there’s a lot of interest to go there and play football
“Every day someone is calling me and I have a lot of contacts.
“But the basis of the team is good because they got fourth place (in the league).
“You need two, three or four (new) players maybe.
“We will try to get better competition so they have to compete to get into the (starting) team.”
Verbeek said the club was in negotiations to bring in both the Dutch and Australian-based assistant coaches he had requested.
He confirmed the Reds would retain their physiotherapy, and strength and conditioning staff, following last week’s appointment of club legend Eugene Galekovic as goalkeeper coach.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Liverpool midfielder Giorgino Wijnaldum and ex-Real Madrid hitman Klass Jan Huntelaar are just two of the prodigious talents Verbeek has nurtured during his coaching career.
So it was no surprise developing Adelaide’s top young prospects and blooding them in the first team ranked high on the job description he was handed when he took over the Reds.
“That’s one of the goals I’ve got from the club,” said Verbeek, who worked with the star duo during his stints as Feyenoord and Heerenveen boss.
“To have more interest in the youth players — see them play and train with them and make them better.
“Piet thinks that it’s possible to be successful with young players from Adelaide.
“So you have also to develop the younger players to get in the first team.
“The (United) youth training staff is at a good level and we want to bring it all together so we learn from each other
“The experience I have and the knowledge I have, I can share with them and it’s the same with them, because they have knowledge and experience in Australian football.”
Verbeek was impressed by a visit to the former Australian Institute of Sport football program in 2012, which opened his eyes to national youth development and sports science practices.
A failure to regularly field local youngsters was believed to be among the reasons Adelaide opted not to renew Kurz’s contract beyond this past season.
PHILOSOPHY
Verbeek is a self-confessed student of the famed Holland side which reached the 1974 World Cup final playing its revolutionary total football.
Led by legendary playmaker Johan Cruyff, the philosophy was marked by players moving fluidly between positions on the pitch while incessantly pressing to win the ball.
Verbeek said a modern adaptation of the approach, similar to that exhibited by UEFA Champions League semi-finalist Ajax, was his blueprint for the Reds.
“They call it the Dutch football school.
“We want to have the ball.
“We want to press the opponent with the ball and without the ball.
“I like to play a lot on the half of the opponent.
“In that way, we want to decide when we press, when we have the ball and when we will want to attack.
“That’s the ideal way of playing football.
“You have to take the initiative and always want to have the ball and don’t be afraid.
“That’s the way I have played always with the teams that I have coached.
“But you need also the players for that.”
Verbeek hoped pairing the physicality and high tempo of Australian players with the Dutch tactical doctrine would deliver positive results.
PRE-SEASON
Adelaide’s squad will begin training under Verbeek on July 1, eight days after its new supremo touches down in SA for the first time.
Gruelling double daily training sessions became the norm under Kurz, as his players reached new heights of fitness ahead of the two campaigns under his leadership.
While Verbeek had a reputation for demanding intensity from his charges, he would lean heavily on existing backroom staff to negotiate the A-League’s three-month pre-season.
“It’s the first time I have had a long pre-season,” said Verbeek, who was planning a training camp on the eve of October’s season kick-off.
“Normally in Europe you have four weeks free and then you have five, maybe six weeks (pre-season) and then the competition starts.
“For me it’s an adventure.
“But I will talk with the staff members about how it was in the last years.
“They have experience in that and knowledge about periodisation (structuring training to peak at specified times) and planning.”
Verbeek would be joined by his partner, Sabina, and two-year-old daughter, Senne, in Adelaide in September.
But first the 2013 Dutch Cup winner would return to the Netherlands for five days in mid-July to attend his wedding.
“The first time I met with Piet van der Pol and he asked me to come, I said ‘I have a problem’.
“’Last winter I asked my girlfriend to marry me and she said yes.’
“It’s a little bit curious, but it’s necessary.
“I have to be in Holland to say ‘yes’ because you cannot do this on FaceTime.”
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