Klinsmann top of Australia’s wanted list after Advocaat snub
Jurgen Klinsmann is set to be offered the chance to become Australia coach after Dick Advocaat’s shock decision to snub the Socceroos.
Advocaat pulled out of a deal to manage Australia just hours before he was due to be introduced to the team at Saturday’s 1-0 friendly win over Nigeria in London.
The Dutchman’s u-turn has left Football Federation Australia with only 81 days to find an alternative coach before the World Cup qualifing campaign begins in February and former Germany coach Klinsmann is top of their wanted list.
Klinsmann has impeccable credentials after leading Germany to the semi-finals of last year’s World Cup and the FFA will try to persuade him to swap his California home for a move to Australia.
With so few quality candidates available caretaker coach Rob Baan, who will stay in charge along with Under-23 coach Graham Arnold for the moment, is convinced Klinsmann must be approached.
“The list (of candidates) is not that great because all the quality coaches have signed already,” Baan said. “You have to look at Klinsmann. He is one of the only names who is available and on the quality level we are looking for.
“We want a quality coach because we have a quality team. If it takes time so be it but hopefully we can find someone who can start in January.
“In the meantime Graham and I have to prepare for February 6 when we start our first qualification match.”
Baan admitted Advocaat’s decision to accept an improved four million dollars a year contract to stay with Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg had left Australia in the lurch.
“It is a significant setback because we were so sure he would come,” he said. “If you sign a contract and suddenly you don’t accept the consequences it is very disappointing. There should be reasons but he hasn’t given any yet.
“I spoke many times with Dick in preparation for this game. When he won the Russian championship something has happened and then I couldn’t reach him.
“The first thing I thought was that he was having a big party. But the pressure was probably so high that he decided not to come. The decision is made now and we have to accept it.
“My main concern was how the players would react but they all accepted it and concentrated on the game. They are all keen to know who will take over but they have waited a few months so they can wait some more.”
Australia didn’t appear unduly affected by Advocaat’s bombshell as they defeated a Nigerian team 19th in FIFA’s world rankings thanks to Sheffield United midfielder David Carney’s 52nd minute winner.
Carney controlled a scuffed clearance 30 yards from goal and lashed an unstoppable drive past Aiyenuga for his first Socceroos goal.
Both teams were missing several established stars but Nigeria suffered more.
Yakubu, Nwankwo Kanu, John Utaka, Victor Anichebe, John Obi Mikel and Joseph Yobo were all absent, prompting suggestions that their clubs were taking advantage of Nigeria.
But with January’s African Nations Cup in mind, the Nigerians’ coach Berti Vogts played the consumate politician as he opted to defend the players and their employers.
“It happens all the time. Yakubu, Anichebe and Mikel were not 100 percent fit,” he said. “I cannot get players to take pain killers.”
Vogts admitted the scheduling of the African Nations Cup in the middle of a busy domestic season is bound to cause problems.
“Why we play it in January I don’t know,” he said. “All the boys who play in Europe have big contracts. A lot of clubs especially in England are thinking in the future they will not sign African players. That is not useful for the future.
“I hope they can move it maybe to the end of May and the first week in June.”
Source:Soccer News
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