New Adelaide United goalkeeper coach Eugene Galekovic targets Socceroos selection for Paul Izzo
Adelaide United legend Eugene Galekovic has wasted no time in his new role as the club’s goalkeeper coach, targeting Socceroos selection for Reds No.1 Paul Izzo.
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Newly-installed Adelaide United goalkeeper coach Eugene Galekovic is targeting Socceroos selection for his protege Paul Izzo.
And the club legend backed the Reds No.1 to follow his own path from promising youngster to the globe’s grandest soccer stages.
Galekovic’s return to United was confirmed on Wednesday, as he prepared to take the first steps in his coaching career.
The 2016 double-winning captain wasted no time in setting some lofty goals for SA-born Izzo, his understudy for three years of a glittering Adelaide stint.
“He (Izzo) had a good season,” four-time A-League goalkeeper of the year Galekovic said.
“Now my aim is to keep progressing him.
“The biggest thing for him was in the last 10 games (of the campaign), he really stood up and got Adelaide to where they were.
“I look at myself compared to Paul Izzo and I came to Adelaide at that same mid-20 age and I hadn’t made the Socceroos and wasn’t even a No. 1 (for his club).
“I want him to get to that next level and become the best keeper in the A-League and also at least get into camps for the Socceroos.
“I definitely regard him highly.”
Galekovic, 37, retired earlier this month, following two decades of top flight action and eight international caps.
The Victorian, who made a club record 281 appearances for Adelaide, ironically had his swan song against the Reds in Melbourne City’s elimination final loss at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Despite discussing playing on, Galekovic said the chance for a new direction with the club he led to three major trophies was too good to refuse.
He was also looking forward to filling a key role as part of incoming coach Gertjan Verbeek’s back room team.
“I’ve got some special memories in Adelaide, so it’s good to be back,” said Galekovic, who signed a three-year contract with the Reds.
“Over the last four or five years, I’ve had that itch to get into the coaching side of things.
“At Melbourne City, I tried to really focus in on what the coaches were actually trying to do and I’d get a notepad out after training and put down the drills I liked.
“In my last few years at Adelaide United as well, I learned a lot under (former coaches Josep) Gombau and Guillermo Amor.
“Player management is a big thing in coaching and I’ve learned that over my time as well.
“Hopefully I can get the best out of my goalkeepers and get them to the best level I can.”
The 188cm shot-stopper arrived at Adelaide in 2007 as a gifted, but unproven, injury replacement for Daniel Beltrame.
He blossomed under ex-United goalkeeper mentor Peter Blazincic, earning selection for two World Cups and Australia’s triumphant 2015 Asian Cup campaign.
Galekovic hoped to have a similar influence on Izzo, who played every minute for the Reds this past season, as well as young custodians Daniel Margush and Isaac Richards.
“All three of them have got huge potential,” said Galekovic, after this week completing his level two FFA goalkeeper coaching course in Canberra.
“The aim is to get a lot of the good young goalkeepers coming through, so if one does leave the next is ready to step up.
“When Blaz took me, I made a lot of national teams, I made a lot of big tournaments and I achieved a lot of individual trophies as well.
“That’s all credit to Pete and how’s he trained me.
“My goalkeeping (coaching) will be similar to his, but obviously with things I’ve liked from other goalkeeper coaches as well.”
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