Verbeek wants Melbourne City man; Sixth visa spot close; SA man ideal for FFA CEO; Unsung commentator celebrates 25 years
Adelaide United’s bid to lure an Australian defensive midfielder on loan has been rejected but there may be a future in Gertjan Verbeek’s call for an extra visa player for A-League clubs.
Adelaide United boss Gertjan Verbeek calling for a sixth visa player after confirming the Reds fifth import would be a Chinese player is close to fruition, according to sources.
However, the Dutchman first wants to sign an Australian defensive midfielder and, according to sources, Melbourne City was approached for a swap deal so Verbeek could get his man.
Former Adelaide United defensive midfielder Rostyn Griffiths was targeted but City aren’t interested in releasing the 31 year-old.
However, talk is getting much stronger the A-League could introduce a sixth visa player for all 11 clubs by the time January’s FIFA transfer window comes calling.
On the back of that news some of Europe’s best agents have already looked towards the A-League in a bid to bring some of the vast talent that, for one reason or another, have been left stranded due to FIFA transfer windows closing in Europe.
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Former Italian international and ex-AC Milan, AS Roma and Atletico Madrid midfielder Alessio Cerci, 32, was seriously considering the A-League as a destination before signing for Salernitana in Italy’s Serie B.
A Uruguayan gun defensive midfielder a No. 6 is now also available on loan from a French Ligue 1 outfit.
The French club was prepared to pay for most of his season long wages in a bid to keep him on their books.
Another international striker based in Italy contracted to a Serie A club is another player available on loan.
FROM GALLOP TO GARY?
A former Blue Eagles defender and current head of FIFA’s competition management is the ideal candidate to replace outgoing Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop.
Gary Moretti started his new gig this month in Zurich.
He is extremely well connected to key important players of the global football market.
After Gallop announced last month that he would be standing down on New Year’s Eve after seven years in the gig sources claim the new chief would have a very steeped background in football.
Since 2003 the game has been run by those outside of football after former rugby boss John O’Neill, ex AFL chief operating officer Ben Buckley and Gallop — an ex rugby league boss — were in charge.
With FFA chairman Chris Nikou explaining Gallop’s intent “allowed for there to be a considered search to find a suitable candidate for what will be a reshaped role in 2020,” insiders claim FFA will be hunting for a person that has considerable football experience and no person fits the bill better than SA’s Moretti.
Moretti grew up playing football in Adelaide, worked in the media with SBS and became the media manager for Soccer Australia.
He then became Socceroos team manager for the golden generation helping the team to a successful 2006 FIFA World Cup campaign in Germany.
He spent more than five years in Doha, Qatar working as a senior manager — football events and education for the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (in essence the 2022 World Cup local organising committee).
Moretti is a very good candidate but FFA would need to headhunt the talented football mind.
ROB’S SILVER LINING
UNSUNG hero Robert Pepicelli says there will be no special celebration planned when this local soccer season is done even though it’s 25 years since he first started broadcasting on the airwaves.
Pepicelli, 58, began his first radio broadcast on 5EBI-FM in 1994.
The match that sticks out that year is Campbelltown City playing Blue Eagles in the SA first division grand final in front of more than 10,000 fans at Hindmarsh where Azzurri won in a shootout.
He also hosted a soccer show on the same radio channel recalling he had used his Holden ute to sit in and broadcast matches from suburban grounds where most clubs had just one phone line to broadcast from.
In the pre mobile phone days, most clubs had the same phone and fax line and when someone wanted to make a call during the broadcast Pepicelli would be off air.
After 5EBI, Pepicelli moved to 5RTI where he still owned the match day broadcasts and soccer show.
His highlight was broadcasting Adelaide City national soccer matches in the 1990s before ending a very long stint with Radio Italiana in unpleasant circumstances.
He is now broadcasting NPL matches via live streaming on FFSA TV for the past three years with Paul Pellizzari and Jim Manning through the Live Streaming Access company.
“Great memories,’’ Pepicelli said.
“The funniest moment, years ago a Croydon Kings player grabbed my beer during a broadcast, he had a swig before taking a throw in.
“Adelaide City also looked after me in the NSL days, I roomed with trainer Brian Bannan in the away matches.
“(Coach) Zoran Matic, (board member) Charlie Capogreco, (chairman) Bob D’Ottavi they were great people.
“Also broadcasting the Manchester United v the All Stars at Stadium Australia in 1999 that was massive.
“The low point … being banned from broadcasting Blue Eagles matches at Marden.
“We gave Blue Eagles stick for not having a scoreboard and their chairman Rep Giordano kicked us out before a match.
“They’ve got one of the better scoreboards in the NPL now.”
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Adelaide United’s Lachlan Brook after scoring the winner in the AFF U-18 final in a 1-0 win over Malaysia in Vietnam.