United rolls out Reds carpet for new coach Gertjan Verbeek
Just 48 hours after touching down in Adelaide, Dutch coach Gertjan Verbeek has given a glowing endorsement of the Reds and given an insight into how he wants his team to play.
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Knowledgeable. Colourful. Passionate.
If Gertjan Verbeek’s first appearance as Adelaide United coach was anything to go by, Reds supporters were in for an entertaining two years ahead.
The Dutchman was unveiled as the successor to Marco Kurz at Hindmarsh Stadium on Wednesday, 48 hours after touching down in SA.
Verbeek was joined by countryman and former Melbourne City striker Gerald Sibon, who is set to be confirmed as one of two assistant coaches for the A-League campaign ahead.
The new boss offered a glowing endorsement of his initial impressions of the club having viewed its facilities and met with key staff.
He also made no secret of the brand of soccer he aimed to deliver while building on last season’s fourth-place finish and FFA Cup triumph.
“I’m glad I’m here,” Verbeek, 56, said.
“Everybody is freezing cold, but this is beautiful weather in Holland.
“I’ve seen the training pitches, seen the stadium, I met the members of the staff who are already there. I’m impressed.
“The trainer is as good as his players and we will see what the quality of the players are.
“But the main thought of the football I like is to play offensive football.
“When you lose the ball, get it as soon as possible back because it’s nice to have the ball.
“I don’t think we have the qualities like Ajax or Barcelona.
“But the way they play football (is the target).”
Gertjan Verbeek has arrived at Hindmarsh Stadium to begin his two-year contract as @AdelaideUnited coach. #ALeague pic.twitter.com/Zvyk4xkt1I
— Rob Greenwood (@robgreenwood1) June 26, 2019
Verbeek arrived with 17 years coaching experience in his native Holland and Germany, having most recently worked with Eredivisie side FC Twente.
He will waste no time adjusting in his new post, as the Reds players return to the club for physical testing on Thursday and hit the training pitch the following day.
The ex-Feyenoord, AZ Alkmaar and VfL Bochum manager was heartened by United’s late season displays, including its penalty shootout semi-final exit at the hands of Perth Glory.
He was undaunted by the prospect of replacing the six players which had departed the club since January and had a clear vision for the talent he hoped to recruit.
“You want to have creative players when you want to play offensive football,” said Verbeek, who had been inundated with agents offering European and Asian-based players to the Reds.
“All the money that there is, we will spend to the (signing of) players and to the squad.
“We want to have a strong team, but also we have a limit.
“I saw last year that the team has a lot of quality. A lot of players are still here.
“That’s a big compliment for the club that the players want to stay.
“We will need some new players to fill in and maybe we can then go for the championship.”
Verbeek will again link up with Sibon, who he worked with at SC Heerenveen before the 198cm hitman spent the 2010/11 campaign Down Under.
The Dutch Cup winner was driven by developing Adelaide’s best young talent, having thrived in Holland where he claimed the average age of most squads was 21.
Verbeek said achieving peak physical condition was the first priority for his squad, during what he considered an unusually long lead in to the A-League kick-off on October 11.
“If you see in my career, all my teams were very fit,” the ex-Heerenveen defender said.
“Every year I’ve shown them it helps to be a better player … and not have a lot of injuries.
“I’ve never had a pre-season (over) three months. Normally it’s five or six weeks.
“Of course we’ll try to get better players to perform better than last year.
“That’s very difficult because maybe you have a higher place in the league, then you have your little advantage in the playoffs and maybe then you can win in the playoffs.
“But you never know.”
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