‘If not better, just as good’: A-League title would match World Cup goals for Aloisi

Former Socceroos striker John Aloisi produced one of Australian sport’s most iconic moments 16 years ago when he strode forward to take the crucial penalty against Uruguay in that memorable shootout in the World Cup play-off at Stadium Australia.

Now he is hoping to add to the legend by leading outsiders Western United to the A-League Men’s championship in his first season in charge. 

John Aloisi celebrates sending Australia to the 2006 World CupCredit:AP

Aloisi’s shot went in that night in November 2005 and the rest is history – the footage of his euphoric run around the pitch to his joyous teammates, waving his shirt above his head in celebration as they piled on top of him.

“That was a long time ago,” he smiles when reminded of that extraordinary evening in Sydney and also that he, and not just Tim Cahill, scored one of the crucial goals in Australia’s momentous 3-1 win over Japan on that sunny day in Kaiserslautern in June 2006, the win that ignited the Socceroos World Cup campaign in Germany.

“It’s different when you are a player. It is a team sport, but you mainly have to worry about yourself.

“As a coach there’s so much that goes into it, people only see game day, but it’s 24/7. It would probably be even more satisfying if we win on Saturday, the amount of effort and work that’s gone on behind the scenes.

Aloisi addresses his Western United players after they defeated Melbourne Victory in the semi-final.Credit:Getty Images

“I don’t know how I will feel if we do go all the way – it will probably be if not better, just as good.″⁣

Western take on defending champions Melbourne City at AAMI Park in the A-League Men’s title decider on Saturday night and for Aloisi, as much as his players, it is a chance to make a massive statement.

While he had a storied playing career – he is the only Australian to play in Italy’s Serie A, the English Premier League and Spain’s La Liga – his coaching career has been full of ups and downs.

The club has also drawn its share of criticism. Derided for having few fans and playing at multiple home grounds it has always been able to punch above its weight on the pitch, and is now just 90 minutes from a championship in just its third season.

Aleksandar Prijovic celebrates his goal for Western United in the semi final win over Melbourne Victory.Credit:Getty Images

Aloisi has transformed a club that lost its way in the second half of last season, losing its final eight games to drop to 10th spot in a 12 team league.

Aloisi took over before the new season started and Western have been among the pace setters all campaign, finishing a close third before seeing off Wellington in an elimination final and then Melbourne Victory in a two legged semi-final to reach the championship game.

Aloisi, 46, says he has been able to synthesise the lessons of that long playing career with the experiences of a coach’s life.

He was sacked by the then cash-strapped Melbourne Heart at his first try before they morphed into Saturday night’s opponents, City, having had a multi-million dollar makeover as part of the world’s richest soccer organisation, the UAE backed City Football Group (also owners of EPL champions Manchester City).

Having spent time on the sidelines he then came close to guiding Brisbane Roar to two grand finals, both times coming up short with semi-final defeats before he finally quit in frustration at the club’s lack of direction.

He spent three years in the wilderness, applying for A-League coaching jobs whenever they came up but missing out every time.

Working as an analyst on television kept him in the public eye, but he despaired of getting a third chance and had accepted that he may have to return to Spain to get another opportunity as part of a larger coaching team at one of his former clubs.

“Melbourne Heart was very difficult, and it hurt being sacked, but I definitely learned a lot – that it’s not just what you can do on the field and tactically with the players, it’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes.

“I didn’t realise the importance of being able to deal with the board, the importance of the budgets, the stability of the club. We had no training facility, we were going all over the place. That’s why here it is so great to be able to train at a facility like The Hangar [AFL club Essendon’s training centre].”

He recollects that former Adelaide, Olyroos and Western Sydney coach Josip Gombau told him to keep trying as “you are not a coach until you have been sacked”, while Ange Postecoglou was also in touch, telling him to stick to his career path.

Ange Postecoglou is showing the way for Australian football in Europe leading Celtic to the Scottish title.Credit:Getty

“Over the years I have leant on Ange and if there is every anything I need to know I can always ask him, he’s always available.″⁣

“Losing in two semi-finals was gut-wrenching [one a 5-4 defeat by the Wanderers when Roar had been 3-0 up] but I was really proud of what we were able to do in difficult circumstances. Our players had not been paid super for a year, the club was struggling for a training facility.

“I realised that if the club are not trying to head in the same direction that you are it’s not going to work. Looking back I should have walked before the fourth season there started. But I loved it so much that blurred what was going to happen. I didn’t want to leave the playing group, but I knew I had to.”

Having his elder brother Ross – a Socceroos midfielder who also played in Europe – as an assistant and voice to bounce ideas off has been useful.

“At Brisbane Ross could challenge me. We could have robust discussions about players, the way the team was playing, what we were trying to achieve, all behind closed doors. It’s hard to find a relationship like that, people don’t really want to challenge the head coach so much because they are worried about their own position.”

At Western he is supported by experienced football people including ex-Socceroos teammates Hayden Foxe and Steve Horvat, one of the men who put the Western organisation together.

Five time A-League champion Michael Theo works with the club’s goalkeepers.

“We wanted an ambitious coach, and he made it clear that coaching is what he wants to do for the rest of his life. What struck me when speaking to other people was his work ethic. I played with John, but I hadn’t seen him for years. But after speaking to him, we knew we weren’t just getting John Aloisi the highlight reel, we knew we would get someone who was happy to get stuck in,” says Horvat.

Theo, who was Aloisi’s goalkeeper at Brisbane Roar, echoes Horvat.

“His attention to detail is first-rate, his analysis and man management has gone to another level. He brings a game plan, everyone knows their role in the team. He has had buy-in from the group since day one, and we are reaping the rewards for it.”

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