Australia NewsAnte: How I Got Heart |
EXCLUSIVE: New Melbourne Heart assistant coach Ante Milicic has described the exhaustive selection process the club undertook to head-hunt their latest club additions.
Heart unveiled Milicic and former Denmark and Manchester United star Jesper Olsen as their inaugural assistant coaches under new head coach and former Ajax Amsterdam assistant mentor John van't Schip.
It capped a roller-coaster 12 months for former Socceroo Milicic. Around a year ago he returned to Australia club-less after the contentious decision to ban foreign players from the Malaysian leagues.
Too late to find an A-League club and with his career up in the air, Milicic was soon offered a player-coach role at one of his former clubs Sydney United.
There the 35-year-old former Dutch Eredivisie, Croatian First Division and A-League player showed his qualities taking the side to the NSW premier league minor premiership.
He also won the 2009 New South Wales Premier League Coach of the Year award. That proved a springboard for a stint as assistant to Young Socceroos boss Jan Versleijen at the U20 World Cup in September.
The Sydney United coach moves to Melbourne in January with his family. We spoke with him moments after he arrived back in Sydney today en-route to United's home ground.
Ante, congratulations, what do you think got you over the line?
First and foremost, I played in Holland which helps. I work now with a Dutch coach Jan [Versleijen] in the Young Socceroos and I'm sure that played a part. I also prepared myself very, very thoroughly for the interview process which was quite a demanding one - I'm not sure how many other clubs would have gone to such lengths to do that for assistant coaches. And on top of that in the A-League, the amount of players I've played with or against or more recently coached, I think there are a few factors going in my favour. And he [van't Schip] wanted a young assistant coach and I'm at that stage right now, I know where I stand, I know I'm an assistant coach. So it's probably a combination of those factors.
You said it was exhaustive, can you tell us more about the process?
Initially there was just a meet and greet but then when it became serious I was given a couple of tasks to do...
What tasks?
Look, to be honest I don't think it's fair for me to say what they were but I guess the club will want to keep them in-house. All the candidates had to do a presentation and I know when I was given the task I had four days before my presentation and I put a great deal of time and effort into that. My interview took a long time to prepare and the interview went for a substantial amount of time. If you weren't prepared or didn't know what you were talking about, you'd probably come unstuck.
So I'd guess the task would've been along the lines of presenting your coaching game-plan for a certain type of game, hinging on a given result and playing against and with a given formation? Was that roughly it?
Yeah, they were all football related situations. What I'd do. How I'd go about it. It was more of a way that they wanted to see how you think, your ideas and philosophy. It was really putting your ideas forward and why.
So clearly, it's not a political process where the coach picks someone they know won't undermine them, it sounds more like how do we find the best and brightest....
Well, yeah. Look, that's the way they saw it. They've gone for two assistants and you can imagine how many candidates. They have had a process of identifying the two coaches. In saying that, the chance to work with Jesper and John who've done so much in their careers that's what made it very appealing for me. I'm honoured. I know that in my time with John and the club I will definitely improve as a coach.
Any nerves?
[Laughs] Mate, not really. If you believe in your ability and you're confident and you do your homework which I always do as a player and a person and are willing to learn... But the Dutch are renowned for not only coaching their players but he will coach us too. The main thing is we have similar ideas to him [van't Schip] and with Jesper playing at Ajax and even I've played against Ajax a couple of times, I know the Dutch way of thinking as well which probably a big factor was. It was a big decision and to be honest I wouldn't move my family for any job but this ... you don't even think about it.
You must be buzzing...
I am. There aren't many coaching opportunities like this in Australia. To be given one at Melbourne Heart is a great opportunity. I'm really just in the apprenticeship stage as a coach. For me it's something I have to do to learn. Just like my players.
How did Sydney United take the decision?
They've been great to me. And it's one of the reasons why they attract coaches and players, they understand what the next level is and they wish me all the best. It's also about building relationships in this game for these state league clubs having good players and coaches. The president I'm sure will find a very suitable replacement for what is a very talented squad.
Any regrets leaving Edensor Park?
I've even said to my players when they've left me during the season, like Karl Dodd, Sam Munro and Vedran [Janjetovic) who had a few chances. Players, and I really mean this, players should only leave Sydney United if it's for A-League or overseas. And as a coach I feel the same way.
2009, it's been a pretty good year for one A. Milicic...
It has and football's like that. You have a lot of ups and downs and you have that with your playing and coaching careers. It's not a smooth ride but I've been working hard and I'm very fortunate and honoured to be given this role. And now I plan on working even harder to make the most of it. And I also appreciate the support of au.fourfourtwo.com.
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