Coach flips Perth theory 'everyone talks about' in fascinating first interview

Former Matildas and Mariners boss targets finals football and has a strong message for his players, writes Tom Smithies

Australian football’s man for a crisis is back – and promising to propel Perth Glory to the top of the A-League.

Days after quitting the Philippines national team, having delivered a first ever World Cup appearance and group-stage victory, Alen Stajcic was unveiled as Glory’s new Isuzu UTE A-League head coach, with a mandate to aim high.

Stajcic will relocate to WA in a couple of days, ready to hit the ground running in pre-season, and warned the Glory players that they have to want to be there or should leave.

The former Matildas boss has signed a three-year deal and will be joined by long-standing assistant Nahuel Arrarte and analyst Stevan Antonic at a club he admitted was in “a period of transition” while its appointed receivers seek new owners.

Stajcic said CEO Anthony Radich had been open with him about the budgets available while that ownership process concludes within the next couple of months and promised to deliver a front-foot style of football to engage the fans.

Alen Stajcic is BACK in the A-Leagues 🚨🟣The Aussie coach has signed a three year deal to take the reins at @PerthGloryFC ✍️📰 Details: https://t.co/ZsT2bjdnsm pic.twitter.com/xUxGpA5vSD

Stajcic arrives with a reputation for fire-fighting, having taken over the Matildas in the wake of a coach sacked after a player revolt, lifted the Mariners to third in the league after years of sitting at the bottom, and transformed the fortunes of the Philippines national team.

The 49-year-old joked he was “a glutton for punishment”, but promised his team would target a place in the finals as a minimum target – and would embrace the geographical divide from much of the rest of the competition.

“If you’re playing in the A-League, if you’re playing in any elite competition and you’re not aiming for finals, you probably shouldn’t be there,” he said.

“So it’s probably another non-negotiable.

“They’re all professional players, we’re a professional club and we want the community to be proud of our club. You want to be in finals contention, you want to play attractive football and entertain the fans.

“Certainly there’s a lot of advantages to being in Perth. I understand everyone talks about the travel being a disadvantage, but I actually see Perth being in the region that it’s in as a massive advantage.

“Having coached the Mariners and having had the travel to Perth, I know the apprehension that sometimes all the clubs have coming there.

“It’s a massive advantage to be where we are and one that we need to use. We’re potentially one of the strongest clubs in the A-League and that’s been proven before. It’s time to prove it again.”

Stajcic takes over at a club where 15 players have left since last season, amidst the ructions following 16 years under the ownership of Tony Sage ending in the club going into receivership. But while recruitment will begin immediately, Stajcic issued a very direct message to those remaining in the squad.

“There are essential qualities that I demand within the squad and within our club in terms of behaviors and culture and unity,” he said. “Anyone who doesn’t want to come along for the ride and be aligned with how we want to progress, they won’t be part of the team.

“Every player has their own choices in life. The biggest difficulty for them is uncertainty and the biggest difficulty for anyone in any facet of life is when you don’t know the situation you’re in.

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“So now that there is a little bit of certainty around the club, now that they do know who’s coming in, I’m sure that they will want to stay on board.

“For us to move forward, it needs to be a positive environment, it needs to be a united environment. Anyone who wants to leave, that’ll be their prerogative, but I want people who want to be there.

“I want people who want to fight for the shirt, who want to fight for the club, who want to fight for the city and show that they’re proud of where they’re at.

“That’s essential, that’s a non-negotiable for me. To be in that mindset of you’re not sure whether you want to be here – well, you probably won’t be welcome anyway.”

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Pressed on why he wanted to take on the challenge of restoring Glory to the success it had in the latter days of the NSL, Stajcic turned the question around – citing those days as the inspiration for accepting the offer.

“This really was the club that probably turned around the whole National (Soccer) League back in the 1990s through its innovation and connectivity to its fan group,” he said.

“It really was the biggest innovator in the old National League and almost in some respects led to the (NSL’s) downfall by showing how clubs should be run… (it) caused the formation of the A-League.

“So I see so much potential for the club. It belongs at the top of the A-League and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be there.

“It’s not too dissimilar to the situation I arrived in at the Mariners: they’re both one-team towns, they’re both teams that prided themselves on connecting to the community and being popular within their community.

“Sydney and Melbourne clubs are really important to the A-League, but I think the regional clubs are even more important to have them successful both on and off the pitch.”