Roy Hodgson (new Fulham manager)

[NeilMcD]

im Verbeek named new Qantas Socceroos coach
Thursday, 6 December 2007

Pim Verbeek
Qantas Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek
Getty Images / Chung Sung-Jun © Getty Images

Football Federation Australia today named Pim Verbeek as the new Head Coach of the Qantas Socceroos through to the end of the 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign.

The former Korea Republic coach will start immediately with his first match in charge set to be the opening 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier on 6 February 2008.

“After very careful consideration and a rigorous recruitment process I am delighted that we have secured the services of a very experienced and respected national coach for the Qantas Socceroos,” said FFA Chairman Mr. Frank Lowy.

“Football fans can rest assured that the FFA has worked diligently to secure a coach with the qualities and enthusiasm that will give the Socceroos every chance of success.”

“Pim Verbeek has a vast range of experience he has gained over 25 years in coaching, including several stints in Asia, and we believe he is the right man for the job of leading the Socceroos to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.”

“I would like to pay tribute to Graham Arnold and Rob Baan who have done a very good job as interim coaches while our search has been conducted.”

Verbeek, 51, was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and spent most of his playing career with Sparta Rotterdam. He went on to coach that team in 1981 and since then has gone on to hold a variety of coaching positions.

“Finding the coach who we felt would be able to guide us through a very challenging FIFA World Cup qualifying path has been our number one priority and we are delighted that Pim Verbeek will be the man to lead the national team,” said FFA CEO Mr. Ben Buckley.

Verbeek’s career has seen him hold coaching appointments in some of Europe’s highest credentialed leagues and clubs including Dutch giants Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven and Germany’s Borussia Monchengladbach.

He has also been employed by the KNVB (Netherlands Football Federation) in a coach development role and with the national team in a scouting role.

“I am looking forward to the challenge ahead of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and I am committed to also helping to develop the game in Australia,” said Mr Verbeek.

“I intend to become as familiar as possible with football in Australia and I will be based in Australia and intend to relocate immediately.”

“I will be in Australia next week to observe players in the final rounds of the Hyundai A-League.”

“I am excited to be involved in what is an exciting time for football in Australia and I look forward to assisting the FFA in developing football in Australia and making myself available to support the national football development plan, in particular working with Australian coaches.”

Having worked extensively under former Qantas Socceroos Head Coach Guus Hiddink at both club and international level, Verbeek has solid understanding of the style and structure he likes to play. The two Dutchmen enjoyed enormous success with Korea Republic reaching the semi finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

With Australia’s 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying path through the Asian Football Confederation, Verbeek boasts excellent knowledge of the region having coached at club level in Japan as well as stints as Assistant Coach at both the United Arab Emirates and Korea Republic, firstly under Hiddink and then under Dick Advocaat at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Following the tournament he was promoted to Korea’s Head Coach position where he led the team to third place at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.

[Dodge]

Only yesterday Houllier was quoted in the press as saying he's happy working for the FFF, implying he's not interested. Now it's confirmed he's on a shortlist of 2 for the South Korean job.

where was it confirmed?

[Stuttgart88]

Here, yesterday

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/12/136_15017.html

[Dr. Ogba]

Qantas Socceroos

Bloody hell I thought we had it bad with our official title "Republic of Ireland sponsored by Eircom"...:D

[Drumcondra 69er]

Delighted to see he's out of the running for the Aussies job, fingers crossed.

[Dodge]

Here, yesterday

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/12/136_15017.html

Cheers. Had thought it was just speculation.

[eekers]

well both of them have turned the korean job down which is hardly surprising. dont know exactl what the korean fa were up to there

[irishfan86]

well both of them have turned the korean job down which is hardly surprising. dont know exactl what the korean fa were up to there

Being ambitious? What's wrong with that?

[osarusan]

Quote from the article -
“Football fans can rest assured that the FFA has worked diligently to secure a coach with the qualities and enthusiasm that will give the Socceroos every chance of success.”

How would the FAI-written sentence read?

"Football fans can rest assured that the FAI has worked diligently to create a facade of a recruitment process behind which John Delaney can hire Terry Venables, a coach with the qualities and enthusiasm that will give the Irish team every chance of having a longer end-of-season break than players of other national teams."

[ruben_sosa]

Wexford Youths FC owner and manager Mick Wallace believes Ireland will be playing for second spot behind Italy in Group 8 when the World Cup qualifiers for South Africa 2010 begin next year.



Wallace, who has an apartment in Turin and season tickets for Juventus, Torino and AC Milan, has just returned from the AC Milan - Celtic game and is an avid follower of Italian football. He also has a number of Italian restaurants and wine bars in Dublin and Wexford.



The Wexford native has been bringing his Wexford U16 sides over to Italy for an annual tournament for the past ten years. Current Republic of Ireland striker and former Wexford youth player, Kevin Doyle, has spoken about this trip lately, and how the trip and tournament helped to develop many aspects of his game and how for a 16-year-old it was a fantastic experience.



Wallace also believes that a European coach needs to be appointed as the new Ireland manager to bring something different to the Irish set-up.



"Ireland were unlucky as they got the toughest top seed in the World Cup draw and we'll be playing for second spot, there's no doubt about that," Wallace said.



"But if we appoint a good manager and used our resources as well as McLeish and Smith did recently with Scotland, then there's no reason why we couldn't qualify. But we can forget finishing ahead of Italy.





"A lot of the World Cup winning squad still are there, but Nesta has retired, Del Pierro is past it and I'm not sure if Cannavaro will play a full part in the qualifiers as he is past it at 35 now."

"But Italy just have a conveyor belt of players coming through. Juventus have five young Italian players that they have brought into the team this season - Chiellini, Criscito, Molinaro, Nocerino and Palladino - and they are all only chaps of 22 or 23. They are all Italian and playing in the Juventus first team and Juve have a fine team this season. The fact that Juve were in Serie B last season gave them the chance to blood and bring through these young players.



"Italy have won four of the last six U21 European Championships, and people tend to forget that. The Italians have the best coaching system on the planet and there is no end to the talent coming through.



"Donadoni put his own stamp on Italy when he took over. He has brought in about 10 fellas of his own and retained some good experienced players.



Wallace feels that Lippi or Capello would be fantastic for Ireland, but we need to be realistic and target a good European coach. "There's probably no point in Ireland even approaching Capello or Lippi, as the Irish job would not be high profile enough for them. They're probably the two best coaches in the world though.



"I'd like to see a European coach brought in - it would be a breath of fresh air.

You can take for granted that they have good technical skills so you just need to combine this with good man management, which is half the battle.



"We've seen England struggling for years - they haven't won anything since 1966, so I don't see their logic in insisting on an English manager. Capello or Lippi would turn them round and make them hard to beat and add the steeliness they need to win competitions



"Italy, Brazil, France and Argentina are a cut above the rest at the moment, but this goes to the grass roots and how kids are trained from the ages of 6 and 7 and the whole mentality and approach adopted by these nations, so it should be time for us to add a European dimension to what we already have. Why not take the best from Europe in terms of technical skills and a different mentality and develop it with what we are good at already."

[eirebhoy]

Did you accidentally post that article in the wrong thread? :)

[geysir]

Ruben thinks Hodgson is that man.

[Torn-Ado]

Cool yer jets EB. There was method to his madness.

[Bondvillain]

Ruben thinks Hodgson is that man.

If so, that Wallace quote in it's entirety may not have been, on reflection, the most compelling argument.


"We've seen England struggling for years - they haven't won anything since 1966, so I don't see their logic in insisting on an English manager"

Would an Englishman be any better for us?

(Rhetorical. I'd take Roy H over TV in a heartbeat, but yaknowhorrimean. )

[macdermesser]

Interesting move on Betfair for Hodgson (and Houllier) and Venables on the slide to 4s. I don't know if it is based on info .. or whether there is still too little money on the market at the moment.

I like the parallel of Charlton and Hodgson .. both were overlooked for the English job .. I'm sure Hodgson would have the hunger to do well for us if appointed. Would rather the best manager England never had, rather than some failed England manager (if, as it seems, we are going down the ape the English route) Come on Razor .. be a hero again and pick the best man for the job for us.

[Condex]

I think the odds on betfair is a bit screwed.

With what Delaney has said about an experienced manager I think that
Liam Brady has a lot less chance of getting the post ahead of either Hodgson or Houllier...

[Sonic]

Just announced so that puts paid to any idea of him being the next Ireland boss!

[eekers]

just been appointed as the new fulham boss.
balls

[Sunny Jim]

That's a pity. Very few creditable candidates left now.

[gspain]

just been appointed as the new fulham boss.
balls


Shock horror how come Telboy didn't get the job??????? :mad:

We had our chance to get him weeks ago and didn't take it. :mad:

[eirebhoy]

Ah damn. If the FAI approached him than that's fair enough but I doubt it.

[eekers]

That's a pity. Very few creditable candidates left now.

Jol, O'leary, Sanchez, Allardyce? and of course Venables and Brady

[ruben_sosa]

None of the small premier league clubs who have sacked managers recently are touching El Tel with a bargepole - Wigan, Derby, Birmingham, Fulham, Bolton.

..i hope that's not because he's already got a job lined up.

[Sunny Jim]

Jol, O'leary, Sanchez, Allardyce? and of course Venables and Brady

Creditable? Maybe, no, no, no, definitely not and maybe.

[kingdomkerry]

If the FAI didnt approach him they have alot to answer for?

[osarusan]

If the FAI didnt approach him they have alot to answer for?

true, but nobody to answer to.

[sligoman]

Raging with this:(. Don't know who I want as boss now tbh, Venebles should not even be considered.

[Noelys Guitar]

The whole process has been a joke. No top manager is going to wait 5/6/7 weeks to find out whether they have become manager of a mid ranking international team (us). D

[Stuttgart88]

I'd love to know if there was any contact with him. Certainly puts paid to the notion he was heading for Inter. At least the FAI can't hide behind that one.

I'd say it's between Houllier or Venables now, with O'Leary maybe getting it as a compromise. I'd be amazed if Jol is even considered.

Brady is a wild-card. If anyone is to be a success I'd love it to be he, but I'd have doubts.

[Newryrep]

I'd love to know if there was any contact with him. Certainly puts paid to the notion he was heading for Inter. At least the FAI can't hide behind that one.

I'd say it's between Houllier or Venables now, with O'Leary maybe getting it as a compromise. I'd be amazed if Jol is even considered.

Brady is a wild-card. If anyone is to be a success I'd love it to be he, but I'd have doubts.

Really disappointed , it is a disgrace if he wasnt even spoken to and would show just how anglo centric our thinking is . Of who is left, in order

Houllier because he has international experience behind him and at least has won trophys recently
Brady - totally opposite to why I wanted Hodgson, has no experience to talk of and it would be a major gamble
O Leary - might cause more problems than he solves and would blame everybody but himself but would still want him before
Venables - enough has been said already

Selection process appears to be a sham/joke, after the WC draw our man should of been offered the job.

[mypost]

We had our chance to get him weeks ago and didn't take it. :mad:

There's no point in appointing managers who want club jobs, cause they won't last 5 seconds in ours, before they'll be off, as NI, and Scotland have recently found out. A man who isn't 100% committed to our cause is not worth interviewing, never mind considering. If that means we end up with a load of has beens selection, so be it. At least they'll care whether they get it or not.

[zenokelly]

Really disappointed , it is a disgrace if he wasnt even spoken to and would show just how anglo centric our thinking is . Of who is left, in order

Houllier because he has international experience behind him and at least has won trophys recently
Brady - totally opposite to why I wanted Hodgson, has no experience to talk of and it would be a major gamble
O Leary - might cause more problems than he solves and would blame everybody but himself but would still want him before
Venables - enough has been said already

Selection process appears to be a sham/joke, after the WC draw our man should of been offered the job.


Ya can't see anyone other than those 4 and Sanchez in the picture now to be honest. Agree with your order of your preferences and would stick Sanchez in there between Brady and Houllier, just because his good record with NI, but didn't like the inconsistency he brought them, or jumping ship at the first chance!!!

Still, only the appointment of Houllier would not annoy me.

[JoeSemi]

Just saw the news. Would have been the ideal choice. No point dwelling on what might have been now. If this doesn't get their ar$es in gear I don't know what will. Of whats left it's hard look beyond Houllier at this point from the list of leading contenders. Big doubts over all of them but he'd tick most boxes.

Anyone for Loius Van Gaal? Dull as dishwater but has had great success at all his clubs. Some will say there is a major question mark hanging over his international pedigree after we dumped Holland out of qualifying for '02. No disgrace imo, with they way that Irish team played. AZ Alkmaar are on the slide and selling their best talent continously. I'm sure his wages aren't astronomical there; so could he or, should he be approached?

[dr_peepee]

true, but nobody to answer to.

Exactly... It's re-god-damn-diculous!!:mad:

Mick McCarthy's odds are falling rapid.... They were 50/1... I didn't believe it when I got the "tip" a few weeks back but it's getting more credence as the weeks go on.

Under no circumstances do I want Venables.

[geysir]

There's no point in appointing managers who want club jobs, cause they won't last 5 seconds in ours, before they'll be off, as NI, and Scotland have recently found out.
That's a fair enough estimation of Hodgson. It would have been a marraige of convenience until he had an EPL offer.


A man who isn't 100% committed to our cause is not worth interviewing, never mind considering. If that means we end up with a load of has beens selection, so be it. At least they'll care whether they get it or not.
An able manager,100% committed to doing a professional job is cause enough for me.

[DmanDmythDledge]

This just shows how much of a joke the process of selecting our next manager is. If Hodgson was approached he would have taken the job. It seems that wasn't even on the 16 man shortlist.:mad:


Jol, O'leary, Sanchez, Allardyce? and of course Venables and Brady
None of them are capable in my opinion. Houllier is the only candidate that could see us qualifying for the WC.

[eekers]

Houllier is the only candidate that could see us qualifying for the WC.

houillier couldn't qualify the french side for the wc in 94, that went on to win it 4 years after.

but he has a job and isn't going to jeopardise it by attending an interview for the irish job. and the selection panel isn't going to recommend a candidate they haven't interviewed

[Bondvillain]

Farcical, farcical, farcical.

The F.A.I. - Farcical

The selection process for a 'selection commitee' - Farcical

The Selection Comittees announcement that finding someone may take months. - Farcical.

The fact that England's search is over & contracts are signed before The Don brothers and Ray have had their first meeting to decide what order their names will go on the press release - Farcical, yet somehow expected.

The Fact that Korea, Scotland, Serbia, Finland and all other similar & higher ranking teams (not to mention the half dozen or so club vacancies that will no doubt arise before a decision is made...) will have their managers signed up before the Irish shambles begins in earnest, leaving us scuttering about amongst the has-beens and never weres, desperately seeking a commitment - Farcical, and somewhat inevitable.

The way this wounded drunken sloth of a selection process is going, Wallonia, Gibraltar, The Basque country and Catalunya will have full FIFA membership before this embarrassing F.A.I. sponsored car crash diplomacy has limped over the finish line, and, as they happily take, oh, I dont know, say, Brady, Jol, Sanchez & Venables respectively; that leaves the Horiffic image of perma-unemployable Dave O Leary Cackling like a lunatic outside the Burlington, jumping for joy, screaming "AAAHH HA HA! you HAVE to give it to me now....Im the only one left! HAA HAA HAA!"

Truly Horrible.

[HolylandsMan]

If Hodgson was approached he would have taken the job. It seems that wasn't even on the 16 man shortlist.

He may well have been on the shortlist. But say he was talked to last week and told by the lads "Sure we'll be back to you in a month or so when we've talked to 15 or so has-beens and never-weres", he then gets a phone call from Mr Al Fayed saying "We want you to take the job - can we have a decision by close of play". Nobody could blame Hodgson for taking the bird in the hand.

A 16 man shortlist is ridicukous anyway. There's no way these could all be candidates of equal ability. 3 or 4 should be the maximum number of people who merited an interview.

This should all have been sorted by Christmas.

If Jol's interested (which I would tend to doubt) I think he's the best candidate available.

[mypost]

Farcical, farcical, farcical.

The Selection Comittees announcement that finding someone may take months. - Farcical.

The fact that England's search is over & contracts are signed before The Don brothers and Ray have had their first meeting to decide what order their names will go on the press release - Farcical, yet somehow expected.

The Fact that Korea, Scotland, Serbia, Finland and all other similar & higher ranking teams (not to mention the half dozen or so club vacancies that will no doubt arise before a decision is made...) will have their managers signed up before the Irish shambles begins in earnest, leaving us scuttering about amongst the has-beens and never weres, desperately seeking a commitment - Farcical, and somewhat inevitable.

The way this wounded drunken sloth of a selection process is going, Wallonia, Gibraltar, The Basque country and Catalunya will have full FIFA membership before this embarrassing F.A.I. sponsored car crash diplomacy has limped over the finish line, and, as they happily take, oh, I dont know, say, Brady, Jol, Sanchez & Venables respectively; that leaves the Horiffic image of perma-unemployable Dave O Leary Cackling like a lunatic outside the Burlington, jumping for joy, screaming "AAAHH HA HA! you HAVE to give it to me now....Im the only one left! HAA HAA HAA!"

Truly Horrible.

We have 9 months before our first proper match. There's plenty of time to find a manager. England have gone for a quick fix, with a bloke who doesn't even speak the language.

There's no hurry to get a new boss. Better to take 6 months and get a suitable candidate, than one who jumps ship at the first opportunity.

[Superhoops]

We have 9 months before our first proper match. There's plenty of time to find a manager. England have gone for a quick fix, with a bloke who doesn't even speak the language.

There's no hurry to get a new boss. Better to take 6 months and get a suitable candidate, than one who jumps ship at the first opportunity.

Yea, plenty of time for Hodgson to fail at Fulham, Allardyce to fail at Newcastle, Southgate to fail at Middlesboro, then we will have plenty to choose from. :rolleyes:

[Newryrep]

Farcical, farcical, farcical.

The fact that England's search is over & contracts are signed before The Don brothers and Ray have had their first meeting to decide what order their names will go on the press release - Farcical, yet somehow expected.

Truly Horrible.

Agree with everything except the England bit as was said previously, they are much higher profile have more money and Capello from the start said he wanted the job - the EFA had a easier job. However

1. Money - the money the FAI are offering we should have more creditable candidates than the usual suspects
2. timescale - ideally before the fixtures meeting but since we are resticted to specific away dates because of Croke Park it might not be a major issue - but the longer this goes on the more money the FAI save

Are there no experienced/successfull continental coaches who fancy a challenge, would be taken to the nations heart if they get it right and the pay is pretty good given the amount of games ?

There is no way the selection committee is looking outside these islands - a real missed opportunity

[Rams-07]

Bottom of thr barrel again for us lads..we are the laughing stock of europe (if not the world)..thanks to Mr Delaney & co:mad::mad::mad:

[Metrostars]

I wonder if the delay is so that the FAI don't have to pay the new manager's wages all these months?

[DmanDmythDledge]

We have 9 months before our first proper match. There's plenty of time to find a manager. England have gone for a quick fix, with a bloke who doesn't even speak the language.

There's no hurry to get a new boss. Better to take 6 months and get a suitable candidate, than one who jumps ship at the first opportunity.
If a new manager is appointed asap he will get the chance to watch our players in action and try out players in friendlies/familiarise players with a new system.

The longer we wait to make an appointment makes it more likely that the leading candidates are snapped up by other teams.

[Drumcondra 69er]

Utterly sickened by this news, was away at a wedding yesterday and only found out when I stuck on the telly in the hotel this morning. What the fook is that ***** Delaney playing at? I've no doubt he would have taken the job had he been offered it, I doubt very much if there's been any contact whatsoever with him so you can't blame him for taking up a job offer in the PL.

We all knew it anyway but we are being taken for mugs by this egotistical arsehole out in Abbotstown and our loyalty is being taken for granted, I've never felt as much like canceling my block booking as I do now.

Never thought I'd say it but I'd actually take O'Leary now although I'm just waiting for cockney w@nker to be wheeled out....

[Bondvillain]

Agree with everything except the England bit as was said previously, they are much higher profile have more money and Capello from the start said he wanted the job - the EFA had a easier job.

I wasn't suggesting that we were playing at the same stakes table as England, just that for all their faults, the English F.A. seem to have taken on board that their last appointment wasn't of the standard required, (like ourselves to a certain extent) but Unlike us, they didn't bother arsing around for months organising shambolic "selection commit-tees " while all around them , managerless nations and clubs are signing contracts with available candidates left right and centre, leaving us to Choose between the remaining candidates ; David O Leary, who blames the players when he loses at subbuteo, Brendan Kilkenny, who thought the interviews were for the X factor, and a Yak.

[mypost]

we are the laughing stock of europe (if not the world)..thanks to Mr Delaney & co:mad::mad::mad:

I think the chances of Europe laughing at us are practically nil.


If a new manager is appointed asap he will get the chance to watch our players in action and try out players in friendlies/familiarise players with a new system.

The longer we wait to make an appointment makes it more likely that the leading candidates are snapped up by other teams.

What leading candidates?

We were told that O'Leary was "certain" to get it, then Jewell was "certain" to get it, then Brady was "certain" to get it, then Venables was "certain" to get it, and there's still no white smoke.

A competent boss won't need 9 months to prepare for a game. Chances are he'll be familiar with the players already, and after a game or two, will have decided what his best team is. As for systems, there is no choice. As always, it will be 4-4-2. Our players can't play any other system.

Eventually, we'll end up with a manager, unlike the trainee we got last time. There's a very long time between now and September to find one.

[kingdomkerry]

What date is the fixtures meeting? We would want to have someone in by then?

Id like Houllier with Brady as his no. 2 Brady should also be u21 manager!

[DmanDmythDledge]

What leading candidates?

We were told that O'Leary was "certain" to get it, then Jewell was "certain" to get it, then Brady was "certain" to get it, then Venables was "certain" to get it, and there's still no white smoke.
Hodgson has just been appointed Fulham manager, Houllier was offered the South Korea job, Haan has been appointed Albania manager. While we took over a month to appoint a selection committee and then interview a ridiculous amount of candidates the number of available managers in decreasing.


A competent boss won't need 9 months to prepare for a game. Chances are he'll be familiar with the players already, and after a game or two, will have decided what his best team is. As for systems, there is no choice. As always, it will be 4-4-2. Our players can't play any other system.
9 months? This isn't club management. The new manager will only get the games against Brazil and Serbia and a friendly in August to prepare. Hardly 9 months as you are trying to make out.

What makes you think the new manager will be familiar with around 30 players? Chances are that the new manager will never have worked with most of our players. As for your comment about the system, that's just bull****.