Asian Cup 2015: Oman coach Paul Le Guen was almost given Socceroos job in 2010

ANALYSIS: Oman coach Paul Le Guen is well-known at Australian football headquarters. He could have been Socceroos coach twice in the last four years.

(FILES) This file photo taken on January 30, 2014 shows Oman's French coach Paul Le Guen speaking during a press conference in Muscat. Oman's French coach Le Guen said he was in shock over this week's Paris massacre as he paused to remember the victims ahead of the Asian Cup on January 9, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FILES / MOHAMMED MAHJOUB

OMAN coach Paul Le Guen is well-known at Australian football headquarters.

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Paul Le Guen has caused the Socceroos a few problems in the past.

Le Guen was internally anointed as Pim Verbeek’s successor in the lead up to the 2010 World Cup and FFA was on the verge of appointing him.

“Let me say this: Is the coach coming from the 31 countries that are here (in South Africa)?’’ FFA chairman Frank Lowy said during South Africa 2010.

“Yes.

“It would be good to find a coach with enough experience to bring the youngsters through, the players we need for the next World Cup.’’

He came with a strong recommendation from long-time FFA advisor and fellow Frenchman Gerard Houllier, who replaced Le Guen at Lyon in 2005.

But Cameroon’s poor South Africa 2010 campaign planted a seed of doubt in FFA’s mind, and the search recommenced.

With Australia’s 2022 World Cup bidding happening at the same time, FFA consulted with Franz Beckenbauer who recommended his 1990 World Cup West Germany assistant.

Holger Osieck was unveiled ahead of a Slovenia friendly in August 2010 and things got off to a positive start, with the Socceroos making the final of the 2011 Asian Cup and a shock friendly win away to Germany followed in March 2011.

A slow decline commenced thereafter and it was Le Guen who sent FFA into panic in March 2013, when his Oman took a 2-0 lead against the Socceroos in a key World Cup qualifier at ANZ Stadium.

Tim Cahill and Brett Holman rescued a point for the Socceroos, but the damage had been done as Osieck lost the players.

Chief executive David Gallop ordered Osieck into his office the next morning to explain his tactics and vision.

Osieck was taken aback, Gallop wanted him out but had only been in the chair four months and didn’t have the runs on the board to trigger a sacking and a consequent $1.5m payout.

Josh Kennedy’s header against Iraq a few month’s later saved Osieck’s bacon, but 6-0 losses against Brazil and France left FFA with no choice.

In the end it cost FFA just over $1m as Osieck was sacked in Paris just hours after the France defeat.

The Herald Sun understands that Le Guen made his interest in the Australian job known to FFA, with some board members still keen on an overseas appointment.

But Gallop wanted an Aussie and Ange Posetcoglou was installed within days.

The Socceroos team that hosts Oman on Tuesday night is unrecognisable to the Osieck’s line up 22 months ago.

SOCCEROOS REWIND

2014 World Cup qualifier

Australia 2 (Cahill 52, Holman 85)

Oman 2 (Aziz 7, Jedinak OG 49)

26 March, 2013

Socceroos XI: Mark Schwarzer, Luke Wilkshire, Robert Cornthwaite, Michael Thwaite, Matt McKay; Mile Jedinak, James Holland (Mark Bresciano 53 (Tommy Oar 77)); Robbie Kruse (Archie Thompson 68), Brett Holman, Alex Brosque; Tim Cahill.

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Oman coach Paul Le Guen was almost given Socceroos job in 2010