A-League newcomers Western United target Mark Rudan as inaugural coach
Melbourne expansion club Western United have set their sights on the team’s inaugural coach. And rather than Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola, it will instead be a rising star of the A-League.
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Emerging A-League coaching sensation Mark Rudan’s path to join Western United has been cleared, after the expansion club ceased talks with overseas options.
Chelsea assistant coach Gianfranco Zola had been targeted by Western United’s soccer chiefs, who had earmarked a big-name foreigner for their inaugural season.
The A-League’s 11th club wanted to make a statement signing, and had sounded out the management of ex Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, although talks did not advance.
But the hit and miss record of foreign coaches and Rudan’s stunning debut A-League campaign at unfancied Wellington Phoenix convinced Western United chiefs to focus their pursuit on the man across the Tasman.
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The Herald-Sun understands that no deal has yet been signed, but Western United chiefs have tabled Rudan, 43, a competitive offer and are confident of securing his signature.
Zola, 52, is the current assistant to Chelsea’s Italian manager Maurizio Sarri and would have attracted global headlines.
The Napoli, Parma and Chelsea great cut his coaching teeth at West Ham — where he managed Lucas Neill — before moving onto Watford, Cagliari, Birmingham City and Qataris Al-Arabi.
A coach of Zola’s calibre and profile would come with a hefty pricetag.
Western United soccer chief Lou Sticca initially wanted to replicate his A-League season one success at Sydney FC, when he lured Germany’s 1990 World Cup winner Pierre Littbarski, who led them to the title.
But they’ve opted to go local, with former Brisbane Roar assistant Ross Aloisi was also considered for the role.
Western Sydney’s German coach Markus Babbel, who arrived with a strong CV which included German Bundesliga clubs Stuttgart, Hertha Berlin, Hoffenheim and Swiss club FC Luzern, has struggled in his inaugural season.
Adelaide United’s Marco Kurz, who was considered for the role, is the best performing foreign coach this season with his team sitting fourth, two points ahead of Melbourne City, coached by Englishman Warren Joyce.
Babbel’s Wanderers are languishing in eighth, securing just 16 points from 19 games, leaking 41 goals in the process.
Western United have already signed their assistant coaches, legendary Bentleigh Greens coach John Anastasiadis and USA-based ex Central Coast assistant John Hutchinson.
Rudan, a former Fox Sports pundit, served a four-year apprenticeship at his ex club Sydney United, where he won two NSW minor premierships, two Waratah Cups and two NPL Australia titles.
He qualified for the FFA Cup every year, twice guiding the ex National Soccer League club to the Round of 16.