EFL 2019: East Ringwood coach Marcus Buzaglo to stand down

East Ringwood coach Marcus Buzaglo will stand down as coach of the EFL Division 1 club at the end of the season after leading the club through one of its most difficult periods.

East Ringwood coach Marcus Buzaglo will part ways with the club at the end of the year. Picture: Chris Eastman

Marcus Buzaglo’s coaching tenure at East Ringwood could yet extend into the EFL Division 1 finals series.

It has been announced that Buzaglo and the Roos will be parting ways at the end of the season.

East Ringwood has been starved of success this decade, but Buzaglo may yet guide the Roos into the top five after Saturday’s upset against Doncaster East.

Buzaglo is a respected figure at East Ringwood.

He took on the coaching position halfway through the 2014 season and led the club during a lean period in its history against the league’s powerhouse clubs in Premier Division before being relegated last year.

Buzaglo offered a simple explanation as to why it was the right time to step aside.

“I think it’s time. Simple as that,” he said.

“It’s a long time to coach a footy club, especially considering they’ve been five pretty tough years in terms of results.”

East Ringwood last played finals in 2008 and at one point this season was staring at the prospect of consecutive relegations.

But the Roos will remain in the second tier in 2020.

“Our junior club is so strong and we’re going to be really successful moving forward if we handle it in the right way,” Buzaglo said.

“I won’t possibly see the benefit of that but staying up is huge for us. It’s so important just because of the junior structure we’ve got.

“All those really good kids, I think they need to be playing at a good level and this is a good level of footy.”

Buzaglo said coaching had taken a toll and stepping aside was the right decision for himself, the club and his family.

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“It was never going to be easy and I knew that when I took it on,” he said.

“I was hoping going into this year — it was always in the back of my mind it might be my last year — and I was hoping going down a division that there might be a chance at a little bit of success and playing in a final.

“It looks like it’s going to be tough now. It’s still possible … but it certainly takes a toll because you’re competitive and you don’t like losing.

“We’ve been batting out of our weight division for a long time in Premier Division and we’ve come down now and probably haven’t had that belief because of what we’ve been through.

“I think the guys need to understand going forward that they’re a bloody good side at this level.”

East Ringwood is a game outside the top five but will need Upper Ferntree Gully to lose to relegation-bound Knox on Saturday if it is to climb into fifth.

Buzaglo said he was looking forward to a breather next year.

“I think my family is looking forward to me having a break,” he said.

“If the phone rings I’ll pick it up but I certainly won’t be active in chasing anything. I will definitely coach again in the future … the initial thinking at this stage is to take a year off.”

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