A-League in shock as Aloisi quits as Roar coach

The timing of John Aloisi’s decision to stand down as coach of Brisbane Roar has stunned A-League observers.

John Aloisi has stood down as Brisbane Roar coach. Picture: Michael Klein

John Aloisi’s decision to stand down as Brisbane Roar coach may not have surprised many who follow the game closely, but the timing has certainly left a few stunned.

According to the Roar, the under-pressure Aloisi fell on his sword yesterday, opting to step down from the role just 34 hours before the Queenslanders were due to play Sydney FC at Jubilee Stadium tonight.

It comes exactly five years to the day since he was sacked by Melbourne Heart (now Melbourne City).

Such was the suddenness of the decision that it caught Sydney FC coach Steve Corica totally unawares. An incredulous Corica was told the news halfway during his pre-match media conference yesterday.

“Wow. When did that happen?” Corica asked.

Roar assistant Darren Davies has been installed as interim coach while the club begins its search for a permanent replacement. Whether that will be a local candidate or someone from overseas remains to be seen.

Dutchman Frans Thijssen had control of the team as interim coach for the latter part of the 2014-15 season before Aloisi’s appointment the following season.

Former Melbourne City coach John van ‘t Schip could emerge as a possibility for a return to the A-League. He left City in 2017 and joined Dutch club PEC Zwolle, but was sacked last week.

Aloisi is the first coaching casualty of the A-League season, having paid the price for the club’s poor start in which they have managed just one win from nine games to be sitting above only the winless Central Coast Mariners who are on the bottom of the ladder.

The Roar have already slipped 14 points behind competition leaders Perth Glory and six points behind sixth-placed Adelaide United.

Roar have lost their past four games and you could sense the pressure was reaching boiling point after their 4-1 capitulation to Wellington Phoenix last week.

The signs were there that something was brewing when there was no media opportunity scheduled by the club yesterday. Inquiries from some journalists in the morning were met with the response that the team had decided to have a tactical session away from prying eyes.

Aloisi, 42, has been with the club since joining for the 2015-16 season.

He took them to third spot that season and the season after but the Roar struggled last season, finishing sixth before being eliminated 2-0 by Melbourne City in the first week of the finals.

Aloisi had to work under some tough conditions at times at the Roar, who are owned by Indonesian conglomerate, the Bakrie Group.

In his first 18 months he had to cope with continued concerns over the ownership of the club, non-payment of wages to players and staff and being kicked out of their training venue and offices.

The future of his brother, Ross, an assistant coach at the club, remains up in the air, though he is expected to follow John out the door.

In a statement issued by the club yesterday, Aloisi said the decision to step down was his own.

“Upon reflection of the current situation, I have made the difficult decision to stand down effective immediately as I believe this is in the best interest of the playing group and football club,” he said.

“Everybody knows the challenges of the past few years and I’m proud to have made the finals each season, qualified for Asia and have gone within a point of winning the Premiers Plate amid all of that.

“I cannot thank the players and football department enough for their support during all of the obstacles we have collectively faced and wish everybody connected to the club — the owners, the players, the fans and the staff — the absolute best for the balance of the season and beyond.”