Football Coaching Life Podcast Recap: Episode One with Ange Postecoglou

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Football Coaches Australia released the first episode of their new podcast “The Football Coaching Life” last week, with Ange Postecoglou as their opening guest on the show.

In a wide-ranging chat with former Socceroo Gary Cole, Postecoglou detailed his extensive coaching journey in the hour-long podcast.

Postecoglou touched on his current time in Japan, the coaches he was exposed to when he was younger including Ferenc Puskas and Frank Arok, the role his father played in influencing his coaching, how his coaching has changed over his career, what exactly coaching is and why he does it, as well as much more.

Key Quotes in Episode One

On his relationship and influence of his father

“Football was a connection to my dad. It was the only thing that allowed me to get close to my father.”

“I would try and put out teams that he would enjoy watching.”

On his analytical nature after watching South Melbourne games as a youngster

“I’d be sitting around and listening to these old men dissecting every part of the game, I didn’t want to go outside and have a kick…I would just sit there and listen…I was always thinking about every aspect of the game even when I was younger.”

On his opportunity to coach the South Melbourne senior side after Frank Arok was sacked with two games left in the season

“I was the assistant and they said look we want you to take over for the last two games… I took the phone call at the bank and I literally put the phone down and quit the bank job and said (to myself) this is not going to be for two games. I was determined that this was my chance…25 years later I’m not back at the bank mate.”

Advice for up-and-coming coaches

“For every young coach, your number one task should not be to be successful, your number one task should be to have a career. How can you stay in the game, how can you stay in the job for 20-25 years?”

“No one is perfect.”

When quizzed on what has changed in his coaching throughout his journey

“My beliefs haven’t changed.”

“Those beliefs I have, have stood both the test of time and the different circumstances I have been in.” (Points to his success at an NSL, A-League, J-League and international level)

Final piece of wisdom for coaches

“Find the core of why you want to coach, you’ve got to find out why you want to coach. What is it at the core of why you want to do this? Because as we’ve already said, it’s not going to be a happy carefree existence.”

 

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Ernie Merrick: ‘There are many clubs that would be fantastic additions to the A-League’

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Ernie Merrick will be forever recognised as a key figure through the A-League’s golden early years. Appointed Melbourne Victory’s foundation manager in 2004 he led the club to not just silverware, but legitimacy and respect in a serious sport city.

A Scottish migrant and PE teacher by trade, Merrick was the youngest of the NSL’s managerial crop when he started with Preston in 1987 in the era of Thomson, Arok & Matic; when he finished with Newcastle in 2020 he was the elder statesman in the A-League age of Postecoglou, Popovic and Arnold.

For the places the game took him and all he achieved – including time as national team manager of Hong Kong – Victory supporters can comfort themselves in the fact that for whatever they feel towards Merrick and his iconic group of players, that feeling is mutual.

‘Yes, definitely,’ Merrick told Soccerscene Unfiltered when asked if managing Victory was the highlight of his career.

‘I think success is [fans] having identification with players, especially. We had Victorian boys playing for Victory.

‘That second year I was determined to have a complete pre-season. Archie Thompson bought me a birthday cake with 200 candles and said “Ernie, we’ve had 200 training sessions. We should celebrate this” – so he was looking forward to a big year, and we won the Grand Final 6-0.’

Nearing 20 years on, Victory and the A-League in general haven’t managed to drive forward as would have been hoped. Unsurprisingly that comes as painful to Merrick, as does the change in landscape regarding his other great passion and contribution in player development. 

‘I’m disappointed, as would most people be, that it’s struggled so badly. To me, there’s something missing,’ said Merrick of the current state of the A-League.

‘Those players we produced at the AIS and VIS went on to be the golden generation. Unless the league is fixed, there’s going to be ongoing problems with the financial status of things.

‘You just cannot earn enough money from selling a youngster, who you might get a million for, who then becomes worth several million in a few years if he does well. Maybe there’s a bit too much of selling players early.’

As someone who gave enduring service across Australia’s two domestic leagues, his voice holds weight in the consideration as to whether it’s time to now blend the, in today’s hyper-corporate landscape.

‘South Melbourne and Preston are two clubs that are perfect for the A-League, I think, down the track. They’ve set up, they’ve endured, they’ve been resilient, they’re playing good football and they’ve got a home base with a home crowd, which is far better than starting a club up from scratch.

‘All those players coming through those squads and the number of supporters they’ve got would be a huge addition. In Sydney too, there’s Marconi – there are so many good clubs around that I think would make a great addition to the A-League.’ 

Merrick also spent thirteen years as head coach at the Victorian Institute of Sport. He feels modern player development is an equation we still haven’t got right, post the closure of the AIS’ football program in 2017.

While many argue the move to club-based academy structures has seen Australia fall more in line with global practice while still producing players of quality, Merrick still feels there is merit in a national high performance program, in addition to club academies.

He was in the process of setting up state academies through the Member Federations during his time as Football Australia’s chief football officer from 2022-25. While the Victoria project was short-lived, academies in Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia continue to run, but it appears the broader expansion of the concept has been abandoned.

‘I think both systems should work [together] equally well. When I started with the FA program clubs thought they would lose players to us, but I didn’t take any of their players. We offered the opportunity of a high-performance program to other youngsters.

‘We could develop players completely; we weren’t restricted to playing 4-3-3 to combine with the way the first team were playing. We provided more of a rounded education, and good players can play in any system.

‘We managed to affect the coaches involved so they were up to date with the latest information on methods of coaching, etc.’

Catch the full chat with Ernie Merrick on Soccerscene Unfiltered: from being two-footed by a 15-year old Kevin Muscat to his enthusiasm for the future of the Socceroos, his memories of Wellington and Newcastle, and plenty more…

Professional Footballers Australia and R U OK? enter mental health advocacy alliance

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Image Credit: The PFA

Professional Footballers Australia (the PFA) on Tuesday announced a three-year alliance with respected Australian mental health advocacy group R U OK?

The alliance seeks to strengthen support structures and education around mental health within the football community, giving players the confidence and ability to recognise when someone might be struggling, and the tools to start an R U OK? conversation.

The PFA’s most recent Player Development Program Report revealed demand for mental health services among its players continues to grow, with 992 confidential counselling services accessed by players in the past financial year – indicating both that professional football’s pressures remain, but also that player awareness on the means to seek support is trending in the right direction.

PFA Chief Executive Beau Busch welcomed the alliance.

‘Professional footballers face unique pressures throughout their careers, and it’s clear from our data that more players are reaching out for support than ever before,’ said Busch.

‘The growth in confidential counselling sessions shows both the scale of the challenge and the importance of ensuring players have access to trusted, independent support.

‘Working together with R U OK? allows us to build on that work by empowering players with the tools to look after each other, and to lead conversations that can have a genuine impact.’

R U OK? CEO Lach Searle told the PFA his organisation feels their partnership will build on values that those playing the game inherently understand. 

‘Football is built on connection, teamwork and looking out for each other. This alliance is about building on those strengths and making meaningful conversations part of the culture of the game.

‘We want players, clubs and communities to feel confident to notice when someone might be struggling, trust their gut and ask, ‘are you OK?’. Because a conversation can change a life.’

Former Australian professional footballer David Clarkson lived the ups and downs of the game through his twelve-year career in the local National Soccer League. He is one of fifteen former players who have become R U OK? Football Champions, who will work inside A-Leagues clubs towards enacting meaningful conversations on wellbeing.

‘I remember the day very well. It was while I was still playing. Being asked, ‘are you OK?’ made me feel noticed and cared for at a time when I was finding things difficult,” said Clarkson.

‘It gave me permission to be honest instead of simply saying I was fine. Having someone listen helped me feel less alone and reminded me that I didn’t have to manage everything by myself.

‘It also taught me the importance of checking in with others. Asking R U OK? may seem like a small gesture, but it can open the door to an important conversation and let someone know that their wellbeing matters.’

Other Football Champions include Lucas Pantelis, Kirsty Yallop, Rosie Sutton, Michael Thwaite, Maddy Whittall, Andrew McDermott, Doug Hodgson, Tash Rigby, Chris Harold, Julia De Angelis, Brendan Renaud, Tessel Middag and Emma Stanbury.

In addition to Football Champions, free evidence-based tools and resources from R U OK? Will be embedded into PFA programs, helping players build more connected and supported club environments across all levels of the game.

About R U OK?

R U OK? is a suicide prevention charity and registered public health promotion that aims to inspire and empower people to meaningfully connect with friends, family and colleagues who might be struggling with life. Throughout the year, R U OK? provides practical tools and resources to help Australians recognise when someone might be struggling, start a meaningful conversation and lend appropriate support.

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