Postecoglou stands down as Socceroos coach
Nov 22, 2017 - 4:08 AM In 49 games spanning four years, Ange Postecoglou never betrayed emotion like he did on Wednesday.Through all the highs and lows, all the criticism and praise that came with coaching the Socceroos, Postecoglou's surly, stubborn public demeanour was the constant.
It was appropriate that when everything finally got the better of him, it was on his terms.
Confirming what he'd refused to address for more than a month of intense speculation, the departing Postecoglou spoke of the toll the "all-encompassing" job had taken on him.
But it was revealing the sacrifices made by his family that brought the 52-year-old to the brink of tears.
"To my three boys James, Max, Alexi, you make me smile every day," Postecoglou said.
"And to my beautiful wife ... I left 24 hours after Max was born because we played Ecuador in London ... I'll never be able to repay the sacrifices she's made for me to follow my dream."
The weight of a decision he'd grappled with for up to eight months still did not end in relief, as Postecoglou conceded he'd carry with him "a sense of unfinished business" by not taking the team he painstakingly rebuilt to next year's World Cup in Russia.
A week after ensuring Australia qualified for a fourth-successive showpiece and less than 24 hours after a crunch meeting with FFA chief executive David Gallop and chairman Steven Lowy, the 52-year-old detailed with nostalgia "the biggest privilege" of his life, and with a hint of poignance that this wasn't the end he'd envisaged.
The reasons were numerous, foremost a desire to spend more time with family and realise his dream of coaching club football in Europe.
Amid talk of a strained relationship with FFA and frustration over heavy media scrutiny, it still didn't feel like the whole story.
But Postecoglou didn't have the whole story - only intuition.
"I just have an instinct, I think it's the right time for me, the right time for the organisation," he said.
"And that, as tough a decision as it is for me, it feels like the right time.
"I have loved this job but it's been all-encompassing, and it hasn't just been coaching the national team - the part I love is the coaching."
With it came the underlying fear that he'd fail to deliver World Cup qualification, letting down his players and leaving an indelible black mark on all future Australian coaches.
But he also emphasised how his pride stemmed from securing a ticket to Russia and an Asian Cup trophy.
"It was never measured just in results for me.
"We sat down four years ago to rebuild the national-teams unit and regenerate the Socceroos.
"It was a gutsy decision to take players like Mat Ryan and Mass Luongo to the last World Cup but, otherwise, I don't think we'd have qualified for this one.
"We changed the way we play; things like that have been our markers.
"I knew the next World Cup was the end date but it's been a hard four years - I've had to invest everything in it."
Postecoglou thanked Gallop and Lowy and acknowledged "a great deal of love" from the football community even during testing times.
Gallop admitted he was "disappointed and still a bit puzzled" over Postecoglou's decision.
"But I'm supportive of the notion that sometimes you reach a point where you just know you need to do something new," Gallop said.
"Ange's record speaks for itself."
Source: AAP
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