Off the Pitch podcast: Gary Cole on Australian coaching

Gary Cole FCA

In episode three of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch podcast, Football Coaches Australia (FCA) President and former Socceroo and NSL star Gary Cole joins the show to delve into the health of Australia’s coaching scene.

As a player, Cole was renowned for his lethality in front of goal – winning the NSL Golden Boot in back-to-back years, playing for Heidelberg United in 1980 and 1981. For Australia, Cole recorded 21 goals from 40 games across all levels and even held the Australian record for most goals scored in an international match after kicking seven against Fiji in 1981.

After his professional playing career, Cole became a renowned coach. He first worked under the Australian Institue of Sport as youth development coach, before transitioning to the NSL as Heidelberg United boss, and then moved to the Victorian Premier League as coach of the Bentleigh Greens, Bulleen Inter Kings and the Altona Magic (two different stints). In the VPL Cole won two championships as head coach, first with the Altona Magic in 1996 and secondly with the Bulleen Inter Kings in 1998.

Following his work in the VPL, Cole moved into administration, enjoying stints as the Director of Football at Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC. Later, Cole would work for Football Victoria before finally joining the FCA.

For his impact as a player, coach and a continual supporter and driver of footballing standards in Australia, Cole has been awarded as a member of both the Australian and Victorian Football Hall of Fame.

On the Off the Pitch podcast, Cole relayed his experiences and explained the work the FCA was doing to support coaches across the country.

“Football Coaches Australia is a voice for coaches in Australia. It started very focused for professional coaches in Australia, and really during COVID, when there wasn’t a lot of football happening, we branched into ongoing coach development,” Cole said on the podcast.

“[For coaches] the [FCA] is representation, continuing professional development, trying to be their voice, trying to raise standards, and focused on their mental health.”

“They’re our primary things, as well as to raise the bar for coaches, coach behaviors – and to try and get some equity and some equality in the game.”

To discover more about how the FCA is assisting coaches in Australia and learn about the challenges the organisation is facing, listen to the full interview with FCA President Gary Cole on episode three of the Off the Pitch podcast by Soccerscene HERE

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How James Johnson Is Shaping Canada Soccer’s Billion-Dollar World Cup Commercial Future

Canada Soccer has confirmed a renewed long-term commercial agreement with Canadian Soccer Media and Entertainment, marking a significant reset in the federation’s revenue strategy as the country prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The updated partnership extends CSME’s control of Canada Soccer’s commercial rights, including sponsorship, broadcast and media licensing, while introducing revised financial terms designed to provide the federation with greater long-term revenue certainty and growth potential. The agreement replaces a previous deal that faced heavy scrutiny from players and stakeholders over concerns surrounding commercial valuation and distribution of revenues.

CSME, led by Group Chief Executive James Johnson, played a central role in renegotiating the structure, which aims to better align commercial returns with the sport’s accelerating domestic and international profile. The revised framework is expected to support increased investment across national team programs, commercial development and broader football growth initiatives.

The agreement arrives at a pivotal moment for Canadian football, with momentum building across both men’s and women’s programs and global attention increasing ahead of 2026. Securing a more sustainable commercial model is viewed as critical to ensuring the federation can maximise opportunities generated by hosting football’s largest tournament.

The renewed partnership also signals a shift toward long-term commercial planning, providing Canada Soccer with a more stable financial platform as it looks to strengthen its competitive standing and expand participation nationwide.

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