Socceroos culture like Man United under Alex Ferguson: Muelensteen

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has created a Manchester United-style environment, his Dutch assistant coach says.

Sir Alex Ferguson, left, and Rene Muelensteen celebrate with the Premier League trophy in 2011 during Manchester United’s winners parade. Picture: Getty Images

It’s little surprise Rene Muelensteen’s main source of professional comparison is Manchester United. Six trophy-laden years serving under Alex Ferguson will do that to a man.

When Muelensteen talks of Old Trafford, he waxes lyrical about the ideal balance between a relaxed team culture and professionalism. And that rare mix of adaptability and stability — of moving with the times but also valuing longevity, free from the “emotional knee-jerk reactions” often accompanying the cut-throat European football scene.

It’s an all-conquering combination the Dutchman hasn’t observed much in his various short-lived jobs following 12 years in various roles at United. But the familiar feeling has returned in the months since joining the Socceroos as Graham Arnold’s assistant.

“To be fairly honest I see a lot of similarities, and I said that to Arnie after the first camp,” Muelensteen tells The Australian.

“This environment he’s created around the national team reminds me very much of the environment we had with Man United.

“A lot of credit to him because he assembled the staff and they’re highly professional. And I know from my time, one of the biggest things for a manager to be able to do is delegate, to trust.

“Arnie was very hands on in his last jobs. He is obviously still very hands on but he’s also now stepping back and trusting the staff and just letting it run its course, because he’s got really good people around him.”

Arnold and Muelensteen got to know each other more than a decade ago when the former visited Old Trafford as part of his Pro Licence. The pair clicked and kept in touch. Now, the head coach-assistant coach relationship runs on a formula of “mutual high respect”.

“I’m not one for ego, I know my position as an assistant,” Muelensteen says.

“I’ve been an assistant manager to Sir Alex Ferguson and I’ve been a head coach and manager myself.

“In many ways it is actually a big plus I’ve been in those positions because I know what Arnie goes through at times and can help him make certain decisions.

“Most importantly, I can be myself in and around Arnie and the other staff. It shows in the relaxed (nature) around the place and players respond to that.”

On the training pitch in pre-Asian Cup training camp in Dubai, Muelensteen is well utilised by Arnold. The 54-year-old is hands-on, always talking, directing, and running fast-paced training drills peppered with orders to “be active, not static” and encouragement of “yes, I like it”.

Ferguson, of course, was the master of deploying trusted long-term backroom staff, including Muelensteen, assistant manager Mike Phelan and goalkeeping coach Eric Steele.

He also developed innate man-management skills, sensing the right moments to dish out his infamous “hairdryer treatment’’ and when it was more appropriate to take a softer approach.

“The one thing I’ve always realised from my time at Manchester United was that Sir Alex Ferguson was always very big on creating this happy environment,” Muelensteen says.

“What we all know — and this is something he did really well — is if players are happy, if they are content, they are far better equipped to perform to their best. There’s no fear for those players.

“But at the same time it’s highly professional and highly competitive. That’s the main thing.

“Yes, we want to have a good time. But when we work, we work hard. And when we perform, we only aim for the best. Nothing else.

“We expect to win every game — Arnie couldn’t pick any better line than that. That’s our starting point. When you win games, that breeds confidence, and confidence breeds a certain identity about the team. That is the best way to embark on this tournament.

“It will not be a straight line all the way up to the final and the trophy. There will be some hurdles to overcome. But I’m very confident this team has got a lot in them to have a really good chance to retain the Cup.”