New Adelaide boss scouring Europe for talent

New Adelaide United coach Gertjan Verbeek says he’s sifting through a swag of offers from European contacts.

New Adelaide United coach Gertjan Verbeek at Hindmarsh Stadium

New Adelaide United coach Gertjan Verbeek says he’s sifting through a swag of offers from European contacts about players who want to join the A-League club.

The Dutchman, who arrived in Adelaide on Monday, says creative midfielders and adding defensive depth are at the top of his shopping list.

The 56-year-old says he has been fielding calls from the moment he was announced as the replacement for Marco Kurz as Adelaide’s coach.

“A lot of agents in Europe called me and said ‘what do you need, what players do you need’,” Verbeek said.

“And there are a lot of players playing in Europe who want to play in Australia but you have to pick up the right one.”

Verbeek, who has coached in the Dutch top-flight and in Germany, said Adelaide had the foundation to again be among the challengers for the A-League title. “We only need five, six players,” he said.

“Of course some important players are gone. But what stays is the basic to go on.

“All the money that there is we will spend to the players, to the squad. We want to have a strong team but also we have a limit.”

Verbeek said he wanted to follow the style blueprint of Dutch powerhouse Ajax and Spanish giant Barcelona.

“I can only say that the trainer is as good as his players and we will see what the quality of the players are,” he said ahead of United’s first training session this Friday.

“But the main thought of the football I like is to play offensive football and when you lose the ball, get it as soon as possible back.

“Maybe you have seen Ajax play this year or Barcelona. I don’t think that we have the qualities like Ajax or Barcelona but the way they play football, I’m a follower.”

Verbeek is no relation to former Australian coach Pim Verbeek who coached the Socceroos from 2007-10.

AAP