FFA settle on Bert van Marwijk for Socceroos role after overlooking Klinsmann, Van Gaal and Bielsa
BERT Van Marwijk’s knowledge of the Socceroos as well as his track record and lower pay expectations gave him a decided advantage over more high-profiled rivals to fill the Socceroos coaching role, writes DAVID DAVUTOVIC.
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DUTCHMAN Bert van Marwijk was in the right place at the right time — at the right price— to secure the Socceroos job.
This is taking nothing away from van Marwijk, who is just one of less than 40 coaches to have led a team into a FIFA World Cup final, with his Dutch side losing 1-0 to all-conquering Spain in 2010.
Ultimately his affordable salary expectations, along with his intimate knowledge of the Socceroos by virtue of coaching against them in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, were his points of difference from higher profile candidates.
Football Federation Australia seriously flirted with the idea of appointing former Germany and USA coach Juergen Klinsmann, who had made a strong impression on FFA chairman Steven Lowy.
Louis van Gaal, who led the Dutch to the 2014 World Cup semi-finals, and former Argentina and Chile boss Marcelo Bielsa were seriously interested in the job, but at a slightly higher price.
Van Gaal’s strong personality and Bielsa’s limited grasp of English counted against them in FFA’s eyes.
Van Marwijk’s appointment lacks the Guus Hiddink “wow” factor that Bielsa or van Gaal may have created, but considering the status quo at FFA it was a safe, predictable but sound appointment.
Financial constraints at FFA is a reason that the process dragged on, with FFA understood to have budgeted just over $1 million for a five-month contract, with a minimum of $500,000 in bonuses if van Marwijk can weave some Russia 2018 magic and advance from a group that features France, Denmark and Peru.
Van Marwijk is less the swashbuckling, attack-minded, possession-based coach that, say, Bielsa is, more the pragmatist which drew the ire of sections of the – sometimes hard to please – Dutch football fraternity in 2010 despite leading “Oranje” to the World Cup final.
There they were noted for their physicality, with Nigel De Jong’s infamous kung fu kick on Xabi Alonso in the final a metaphor of the Dutch circa 2010.
There were remnants of that with the Saudi Arabian side van Marwijk led to Russia 2018 before quitting after failing to agree terms, mainly due to the amount of time they expected him to spend in Saudi Arabia after qualifying.
Despite setting foot in Australia next week, it’s understood he will primarily be based in Holland with the Socceroos’ March friendlies to be played in Europe.
Australia’s physical approach at Russia 2018 will resonate with Socceroos fans and armchair sports fans in general.
Potential conjecture over his approach will quickly be forgotten if he can join countryman Guus Hiddink in becoming the only coaches to qualify the Socceroos into the knockout phase of the world’s biggest tournament.
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