TGS 'legacy' warms elite coach's heart

Passionate Rale Rasic proud of his work at all levels of football.

ELITE COACHES: Former Socceroos coach Rale Rasic (left) and Newcastle Jets technical director Mike Cooper are part of the team conducting Toowoomba Grammar School's pre-season clinic this week. Grammar use the clinic as preparation for their GPS campaign. Picture: Nev Madsen

FOOTBALL: He has coached and built relationships with some of football's greatest talents and took the Socceroos to their first World Cup in 1974.

But it is a relationship and a legacy built right here in Toowoomba that Rale Rasic counts as one of his proudest achievements.

"I look at this and I am very proud,” Rasic says pointing to various points of the Toowoomba Grammar School grounds during a training camp.

"For nearly ten years I have been part of this. We have turned a great intellectual institute into a great sporting institute also.

"I think a lot of big clubs could learn something from here. Few similar institutes could match the professionalism here.

"And when I speak to the people here they are more than just people they are like family.

Speaking during a coaching clinic at Grammar Rasic's enthusiasm and energy belies his years.

"I am very passionate. There is nothing I don't enjoy more than Australia and I what I live for here,” he said.

"The opportunities, the education, the facilities - everything.

"And the players - such phenomenal physical talents.

"I think when you are working with a player you need to be a like a Michaelangelo or a Picaso as you work with the players - the good ones are like a piece of art.”

Alongside Newcastle Jets technical director Mike Cooper and Grammar coaches Rasic kicked off his annual coaching clinics yesterday.

Since their introduction Rasic's pre-season camps have become the focal point for Grammar's Great Public Schools football season preparations.

The school has won two of the last three GPS football titles and was runner-up in the other.

Originally published as TGS 'legacy' warms elite coach's heart