Brad Maloney: From the class of 1991 to Joeys coach

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Brad Moloney
Image credit: Football Australia

Few supporters who witnessed the gallant deeds of the 1991 Australian World Youth Cup squad as they progressed to the semi finals of the tournament – only to be eliminated by the host nation Portugal via a Rui Costa piledriver – would question the squad’s claim to being our greatest ever youth side.

The names just rattle off the tongue with talent like Bosnich, Kalac, Popovic, Muscat, Okon, Seal, Stanton, Corica, Bingley, Sorras and Babic directed by the coaching supremo, Les Scheinflug.

Significantly, Brad Maloney, the current Joeys coach, shared that wonderful journey with his team-mates in the Class of ’91.

All those years may have past but Maloney still carries the tradition of the famous squad in his DNA and is looking forward with great confidence to the Joey’s first Asian Cup match against Saudi Arabia on June 16 in Thailand.

At stake in this series is a place in the World Cup later this year.

In this interview with Roger Sleeman, Brad Maloney discusses the squad’s preparation for the tournament and his expectations, the realities of Australian youth football and his commitment to the Australian game after his eight-year coaching stint in Malaysia.

ROGER SLEEMAN

Was it a hard decision to return to Australia after all those years in Malaysia and Asia?

BRAD MALONEY

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Asia working with some great people and for eight years I was fortunate to work with national teams at all levels from youth teams to the senior squads.

To come home was a pleasant surprise for me as it’s always good to work in your home country and I really enjoy the task with these young players we have here at the moment.

R.S.

Harking back to the 1991 World Youth team, what are the emotions which are evoked?

B.M.

Great memories I’ll never forget and the team, camaraderie and spirit were unbelievable.

The quality of the players in the squad was fantastic and our achievements from humble backgrounds – going to Portugal and reaching the semi finals in front of 120,000 home supporters against the likes of Luis Figo, Rui Costa and Joao Pinto who all had magnificent careers, was unforgettable.

It would be nice to replicate such success with the current youth teams.

R.S.

Is the 1991 success the benchmark which you would set for yourself in your current position?

B.M.

Had a similar conversation with somebody the other day about previously reaching the semi finals of the u/20 competition in 1991 and Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

We’ve done it in the past and I would like to recapture that glory and perhaps go one better.

R.S.

From the very outset when you were appointed to the role last August, what was your initial strategy to get things right?

B.M.

I cut my stay in Malaysia and came back to Australia as soon as I could, scouting players and identifying even more talent. We had a monitoring list which had been put together but I knew I had to build on that and widen the net for talent which has happened in the last ten months or so.

Therefore, the squad we’ve assembled for this Asian Cup is competitive and with good preparation in the next few weeks and good acclimatisation, I believe we can achieve something.

R.S

Realistically, can you really be happy with only 16 days preparation?

B.M.

A lot of other nations in Asia are already full-time at this age, even some from the age of 12 meaning by this tournament stage, they’ve been together full-time for 4-5 years.

We could do things differently but at the moment players are with their clubs.

R.S.

Talking about preparation, do you think the players have had adequate development in their formative stages and up to now?

B.M.

We’re relying on A-League and NPL academies to influence the player’s development and it would be great to have the best players playing together in a full-time environment against high-level opposition.

Unfortunately, at the moment a lot of these players aren’t playing at senior level or in first team football.

R.S.

Are you happy with the technical level of our players?

B.M.

Every country brings its own culture of playing styles and a number of the Asian countries are technically gifted, but I don’t think we’re too far off.

Physically we have a presence which we try to combine with technical aptitude.

R.S.

Are you happy with your current coaching staff?

B.M.

I am and they were in place when I took up the role – very knowledgeable, loyal and there is a great respect amongst us.

Moving forward we could add more expertise but at the moment we’re doing well.

R.S.

Who are the key players in the squad, those who could make the difference?

B.M.

Nestory Irankunda is a huge talent with all the headlines he’s made in the last few months and he was involved early in our qualification phase.

He’s now ready to be involved in a big way in these Asian Cup matches and the other key players are the Central Coast pair Miguel de Piccio and Anthony Pavlesic and Sydney F.C.’s Mitch Glassen.

Also, the core group we’ve had up to now know what to expect from me. Hopefully, the squad will jell in the lead up to the first game.

R.S.

If you were Carl Veart would you have started with Irankunda in the return leg of the semi-final against the Mariners?

B.M.

That’s the coach’s decision.

Obviously, Carl knows his capabilities and how to manage his abilities because he works with him every day and when he has come on the pitch he’s made a massive impact.

R.S.

What do you know about your opponents in the Asian Cup and how good are they based on your advanced information?

B.M.

The Saudis have played about a dozen friendly matches leading into the tournament and we expect them to be good quality and very tough.

We met China in the qualifiers, and though we got a result that day, we do expect improvement from them and another challenging match.

Tajikistan were actually in the finals last time when they met Japan and will also be hard to beat. Luckily, two viewings of their matches before playing us will be a big help for our chances.

The top two teams qualify for the quarter finals and our crossover group is Japan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and India. The winner of the quarter final will qualify for the World Cup.

R.S.

Beyond this, what are your short term to medium term plans in coaching?

B.M.

I love working in national team setups as I’m now familiar with the landscape, particularly in Australian space. My fervent aim is to achieve with this current group.

R.S.

Would you return overseas?

B.M.

I’d never say never and I’m still in contact with the people I worked with in South East Asia, but at the moment my focus is to achieve success with Australia.

R.S

Looking back to 91, so few of those players are involved in the game. How can we change that?

B.M.

There’s not a lot of opportunity, illustrated by only Popovic,  Muscat, Okon, Corica and I working full-time in the game.

However, I’m definitely all for fast tracking Socceroos but you have to have the right people for the right job in the right environment.

R.S.

Your opinion of the A-League?

B.M.

I’ve seen many matches since I’ve been back in the country, including the Sydney derbies and the final series.

I believe the overall standard of football is high.

R.S.

Your former team-mate Steve Corica has a wealth of young talent at Sydney F.C.

Isn’t it time he cleared the deck of older players and gave these youngsters their chance, just as he was given a break to play senior football at Marconi all those years ago?

B.M.

Steve is a very experienced coach and I’m sure he’ll make the right calls.

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New ‘Unfiltered’ Episode with Paul Klisaris and Oscar Yildiz

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Image Credit: One-Nil Media

The ‘Unfiltered’ podcast by Soccerscene promises honest, thought-provoking conversations about football culture, identity and the stories fans don’t usually hear in mainstream coverage.

In the latest episode, Mihaila Kilibarda sits down with passionate councillors Paul Klisaris and Oscar Yildiz to debate the role of policy in shaping infrastructure, career opportunities and on-field success in the Australian football landscape.

From exposing flaws in policy making, to critiquing the A-League, Paul and Oscar discuss the future trajectory of football in Australia. With strong views on the disconnect between decision-makers and grassroots communities, this is an unfiltered look at the issues holding the sport back—and the urgent need for change.

“Bring back Preston, bring back South Melbourne, bring back that culture into the game. There was nothing wrong with that. Bring it back. Regulate it better, police it better, like they have in Europe. There is rivalry and that’s healthy!” says Paul Klisaris in this episode.

Oscar Yildiz agreed that “We might need to throw a bomb. There is no incentive for clubs to aspire to. You know, you can finish last and still stay in the league. They need to have people from state, from federal, people, again, who know the game, who genuinely know the game. And, it means understanding the politics around the game.”

Listeners can expect Unfiltered to go beyond match reports and transfers. Each episode will dive into the ideas, people and cultural forces that make football one of the world’s most compelling sports. Episode 2 is available now, hoping to challenge, entertain and inspire.

Listen now on Spotify: 

With Unfiltered, Soccerscene is giving fans a space to think, feel and debate about the game they love. Further, it is encouraging conversations that are as engaging as the football itself.

Stay tuned for future episodes, featuring more voices shaping the beautiful game.

Beyond the Pitch: Miyuki Kobayashi on the Real Challenges Facing Japan’s Women’s Game

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Image credit: JEFUNITED

Last week, Soccerscene spoke to pioneer of women’s football in Japan, Miyuki Kobayashi, about the game’s development in Japan and the intersection between sporting and social change in the country.

 

Talent, quality and recent silverware

After Japan’s recent AFC Women’s Asian Cup victory in the final against Australia, the women’s national team solidified its standing as the No.1 team in Asia.

Throughout the last 15 years, Japan’s women’s national team has grown into a formidable opponent, boasting a World Cup trophy, an Olympic silver medal, as well as three AFC Women’s Asian Cups.

The talent is undeniable. The quality is unwavering. And the team shows no signs of slowing down.

But these victories and trophies on the world stage wouldn’t be possible without the leaders behind the scenes – none more so than Miyuki Kobayashi, former WE League Board Member and current JEF United Ladies Scout and Academy Chief.

 

Laying the foundations

Kobayashi has led the charge for women’s football in Japan, promoting not only a sport which values success, but one which empowers female footballers across the nation.

“At university, not many girls were playing and we didn’t have an official team. I went to the US and the environment was so different,” Kobayashi explained.

“That opened my eyes – women can play. That’s how I started the women’s soccer league when I came back: to make an environment for girls to play.”

Thus, accessibility and opportunity became driving factors behind Kobayashi’s work, not only for those on the pitch, but for those in the dugout.

“I got involved at the JFA (Japanese Football Association) to promote women’s football. We wanted to create the opportunity for women to be coaches.”

“They are coached by men all the time, so even when the top players leave the football world, they never think to be involved.”

Furthermore, as a former coach of JEF United Ladies Youth and General Manager, Kobayashi was intent on employing as many female coaches as possible. It was not merely a personnel change, but a challenge to widespread social attitudes.

“When I started to employ female coaches, the girls’ parents asked why the coach wasn’t a man. But gradually, we started to make it equal – they didn’t talk about the gender, but about the quality of the coach.”

 

The mission to empower

In 2011, the same year Japan’s women won the World Cup, the domestic league was yet to become professional. Known as the Nadeshiko League, players would work during the day and train in the evenings.

The transition from an amateur to the current professional league required time, resilience and a change in perspective.

“The sports world in Japan is more traditional – it is dominated by men,” said Kobayashi.

“If you want to make the environment even, or (want) more women to come into the (football) world, you can change the mind of the players.”

Since 2021, the WE League has embodied a sense of growth and positive change for the women’s game. In name and nature, it looks to empower players, coaches and all involved in the industry.

“I was in charge of mission achievement for women’s empowerment. We wanted to educate the players, to inspire girls and women who watch the game.”

However, the drive to empower women in football was not without backlash and challenges.

“Some people don’t like that word: ’empowerment’. It’s too strong for them. Some women really appreciate it, but it’s not easy to change the mind of society through football,” Kobayashi admitted.

 

Growing and attracting talent

Although WE League clubs are accelerating youth development and expanding pathways across U15, U18 and first team football, Kobayashi acknowledged that the overall product must improve to bring foreign players to Japan and entice homegrown talent to stay.

“Most of the national team players go to Europe or North America. I don’t say it’s a problem, but from a young age, girls who can play in the WE League want to go abroad,” Kobayashi outlined.

Indeed, when looking at the starting XI in last month’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup final, only one player – Hana Takahashi – plays in the WE League.

But the key to attracting domestic and international players to the WE League, is aligning financial investment and industry attitudes.

“The reason why women’s football has developed in European countries is the social thinking – you have to be equal and have the same opportunities as men in football. The Japanese way of thinking, especially in the football world, is not that at all,” Kobayashi continued.

“When I speak to people at Spanish clubs, women’s football is not a charity, but an investment.”

“We have assets. We have good, young players, but we’re exporting them, so we need to import too.”

Indeed, Spain is a perfect example of what can happen when investment becomes intentional, not optional. Back-to-back UEFA Women’s Nations League titles, 90% television viewership increase since 2016, and record-breaking crowd numbers reflect what can happen when the industry aligns in vision and commitment.

Japan has the players to compete against any nation in the world. Purposeful investment, combined with its overall quality of players and style, could transform the WE League into a true, global powerhouse.

 

The vision for the future

Moving forward, Kobayashi hopes that girls progressing through JEF United’s academies develop confidence and resilience, whether as players or people.

“We want to make the girls – even if they aren’t in JEF United – continue playing football and continue to be leaders,” Kobayashi said.

“Some of them have a dream to be a coach or a leader off the field too, so that’s one of the attributes we want to develop.”

This resilience, reflected by the club’s ‘never give up’ philosophy, is testament to the vision of empowerment championed by Kobayashi across the women’s game.

Even in the face of social obstacles and a lack of financial investment, perseverance and hard work is at the bedrock of women’s football in Japan. It is not just that these values exist, but that they are consistently manifested on and off the pitch, which can show future generations that football is a sport for all – men and women alike.

 

Final thoughts

There is no limit to what the WE League and the national team can achieve if given the resources it deserves. All the ingredients are there: individual quality, a distinct playing style, football philosophy and ambitions to grow.

By following the example of industry leaders like Kobayashi, women’s football in Japan can hopefully continue to make waves of impact – in the sporting landscape and society as a whole.

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