http://www.smh.com.au/news/asian-cup-news/advocaat-to-replace-arnie/2007/07/15/1184438150462.html
DUTCHMAN Dick Advocaat is poised to replace Graham Arnold as national coach next year.
Arnold, who along with his star player, Harry Kewell, yesterday denied there was a feud in his squad, has a contract until 2010; his role after the Asian Cup, however, will be to focus on qualifying the Olympic [under-23] team for the Beijing Games.
Football Federation Australia also wants Arnold, possibly in rotation with technical director Rob Baan, to continue coaching the Socceroos on a game-by-game basis until Advocaat is installed as the new Socceroos boss. Australia have a match against Argentina confirmed for September 11, while another home match against China has been pencilled in for October.
Advocaat's two-year deal with Russian club, Zenit St Petersburg, expires when the current season finishes on November 11. Zenit are two points behind leaders Spartak Moscow, with 14 games of the championship remaining.
Advocaat, 59, was initially interviewed by FFA in mid-2005, but countryman Guus Hiddink got the nod instead. But after a year-long search to find a permanent successor to Hiddink, it is believed FFA is close to finalising a deal for Advocaat to guide the Socceroos through the 2010 World Cup campaign. The first round of qualifiers kicks off in June next year.
Advocaat is a former national coach of the Netherlands, but significantly has experience with Asian football. He has coached both South Korea and United Arab Emirates during the past four years.
It is believed FFA chairman Frank Lowy, conspicuous by his absence from Australia's faltering Asian Cup campaign, will personally fund Advocaat's wages. The FFA's already tight financial predicament will be exacerbated if the Socceroos fail to win the Asian Cup, meaning they will miss out on a $1.5 million boost for qualifying for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa.
I'm not a fan of Advocaat, but in the current climate, anyone will do.
DUTCHMAN Dick Advocaat is poised to replace Graham Arnold as national coach next year.
Arnold, who along with his star player, Harry Kewell, yesterday denied there was a feud in his squad, has a contract until 2010; his role after the Asian Cup, however, will be to focus on qualifying the Olympic [under-23] team for the Beijing Games.
Football Federation Australia also wants Arnold, possibly in rotation with technical director Rob Baan, to continue coaching the Socceroos on a game-by-game basis until Advocaat is installed as the new Socceroos boss. Australia have a match against Argentina confirmed for September 11, while another home match against China has been pencilled in for October.
Advocaat's two-year deal with Russian club, Zenit St Petersburg, expires when the current season finishes on November 11. Zenit are two points behind leaders Spartak Moscow, with 14 games of the championship remaining.
Advocaat, 59, was initially interviewed by FFA in mid-2005, but countryman Guus Hiddink got the nod instead. But after a year-long search to find a permanent successor to Hiddink, it is believed FFA is close to finalising a deal for Advocaat to guide the Socceroos through the 2010 World Cup campaign. The first round of qualifiers kicks off in June next year.
Advocaat is a former national coach of the Netherlands, but significantly has experience with Asian football. He has coached both South Korea and United Arab Emirates during the past four years.
It is believed FFA chairman Frank Lowy, conspicuous by his absence from Australia's faltering Asian Cup campaign, will personally fund Advocaat's wages. The FFA's already tight financial predicament will be exacerbated if the Socceroos fail to win the Asian Cup, meaning they will miss out on a $1.5 million boost for qualifying for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa.
I'm not a fan of Advocaat, but in the current climate, anyone will do.