Mark Rudan right man to lift Western Sydney Wanderers out of A-League doldrums, says Slater

Socceroos legend Robbie Slater believes Mark Rudan is up to the huge task of restoring Western Sydney’s status as A-League giants.

Mark Rudan may be on the same ‘pathway’ as Tony Popovic (right). Picture: Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

Socceroos great Robbie Slater has urged Mark Rudan to make the most of the “big opportunity” he has been given at the “shameful” Western Sydney Wanderers.

Having been appointed Wanderers coach on Monday following the weekend sacking of Carl Robinson, Rudan’s first game in charge of Western Sydney is on Wednesday night against Perth Glory at CommBank Stadium.

The Wanderers, once the toast of Australian football after winning the 2014 AFC Champions League under Tony Popovic, are second last on the A-League ladder with just one win from seven matches.

They haven’t reached the A-League finals since 2017, with Rudan the club’s fifth coach in five years.

New Western Sydney coach Mark Rudan has a ‘big opportunity’ at the Wanderers. Picture: Matt King / Getty Images

“He has been given a big opportunity at a big club that has failed miserably for five years,” Slater said of Rudan, his former Northern Spirit teammate.

“To not have made the A-League finals for five years is shameful. The fans have left in their droves.

“Since Tony Popovic left (in 2017), it has been a shambles.”

“Everyone in power there, that’s including (owner and chairman) Paul Lederer, has to take some blame for the fall of a club that is potentially the biggest in the country.”

Slater said former Wellington Phoenix and Western United coach Rudan was the right man to lift the Wanderers out of the doldrums.

“It’s a very good move by the Wanderers. Mark is someone that could be on a similar pathway to Popovic,” Slater said.

“This is so crucial to rebuild the Wanderers. Make no mistake about the size of the task at hand, but Mark will understand how big this job is.

“To get the fans back and to get the belief back at that club is going to be a massive job.

“He’s got great resources, he’s at a massive club. Its youth set-up is first-class. There’s a base there in place.

“It’s got the best training facility – built by Paul Lederer – in the country. It just needs to fix its first team.”

Originally published as Mark Rudan right man to lift Western Sydney Wanderers out of A-League doldrums, says Slater