Dwight Yorke already has a trophy to his name, but what is the Macarthur FC boss like as the 2022-23 Isuzu UTE A-League gets underway? Andy Coles paints a picture, writes Sacha Pisani.
“Oh, well left by Yorke, fed by Cole, back to Andy Cole from Dwight Yorke. Fantastic goal from Manchester United. Eight minutes into the second half gone, Andy Cole the scorer. The combination between Cole and Yorke was out of his world.”
Those are the memorable words of British commentator Clive Tyldesley as Manchester United’s iconic duo famously sliced through Barcelona’s defence on that Champions League night at the Camp Nou in 1999. It captured the telepathic understanding between Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole and it remains one of the most fondly remembered Premier League partnerships.
Yorke and Cole provided Red Devils fans with some of the greatest moments en route to the club’s finest season in their history – a Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble. The infectious pair defined an era of dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.
Today, their relationship remains strong. Yorke and Cole are still close friends. They were in touch before and after Yorke guided Macarthur FC to Australia Cup glory last week – just his fifth match in charge.
“I’m delighted he has had the opportunity in Australia, where he is well respected,” Cole told KEEPUP.
“Given a role, won a trophy and fingers crossed he continues doing the things we all know he is more than capable of going.”
THE $7M GIFT THAT HELPED DWIGHT YORKE CHANGE AN ENTIRE FOOTBALL SQUAD WITH A FIRST IMPRESSION
Yorke’s coaching career is in its infancy. Macarthur represents his first senior coaching role, having dipped his toes in the water via May’s showdown between the A-Leagues All Stars and Barcelona.
The former Sydney FC marquee tried to lure his ex-United team-mate down the coaching path, post-retirement.
“Once Yorkey retired, he always used to talk to me about wanting to coach and doing his coaching badges,” Cole recalled. “All I said to him was it isn’t going to be easy.
“It’s not going to be easy to get a job and I think you know that. If you do it, you have to do it 100%. I support you wholeheartedly.
“He said to me, come on lets get it done. I said nah, it’s not for me, I’m not prepared to jump through hoops anymore. I’m not saying I did before, but I’m not prepared to jump through hoops to get a job if I did go down the coaching road. But I’m really pleased for him.”
The real Yorke
Cole knows Yorke better than most. They did spend three years together in Manchester, where they won three Premier League trophies, a Champions League, FA Cup and Intercontinental Cup, after all. Not to mention, they reunited at Blackburn Rovers in 2002.
Yorke has always been the fun and smiling star from Trinidad and Tobago, but what is he like as a team-mate?
“Very positive and infectious character,” Cole said. “He always has a smile on his face. I look at him as a genuine person. His heart is in the right place.”
And behind the scenes?
“Exactly the same, if not worse,” Cole said with a smile. “I don’t think Dwight has another face. What you see in front of camera is exactly what he is off camera. He is a very infectious character, always bubbly.
“You would never know if he was having a bad day because everyday seems to be very good. I remember when he first came to Manchester United and he was really good in the dressing room.
“His energy, he brought something different. For me personally, a different kind of character but a character I think I needed. He was really good for me.”
Energy and belief: What Dwight brings to the coaching world
Yorke has wasted no time overhauling Macarthur since replacing Ante Milicic.
Michael Ruhs, Aleksandar Jovanovic, Jordon Mutch, Tomi Juric, Antony Golec, Rory Jordan, Apostolos Giannou, Tommy Oar and Adrian Mariappa have gone, with Yorke bringing in the likes of Daniel Arzani, Anthony Carter, Matthew Millar and Kearyn Baccus.
For Yorke, he has set about changing the culture in new surrounds at Fairfield Showground, while implementing his brand of football after a season without finals football for the Bulls.
It’s already yielded silverware in the form of last week’s Australia Cup final at CommBank Stadium a – 2-0 win over NPLM NSW outfit Sydney United.
“What Yorkey is going to be bring is energy,” Cole said. “I spoke to him and he said he wanted to get the culture right at the club.
I think when you play for a club like Manchester United or under Sir Alex Ferguson, it’s about getting the culture right and the right kind of players and work ethic. Everyone singing from the same sheet.
“Speaking to him, that’s what he wanted to do. He addressed a few things. He wanted the players to believe in themselves and enjoy themselves as well.
“He’s had five games, in those five games to go on and win a cup, he must’ve done something. You can’t say that’s lucky, he only had five games. I know the All Star game went well too.
“Yorkey will always have the character to go in there and do it. He knows what he wants. He lays his system down and the way he wants his team to play and how he wants the club to be run. It’s a brilliant start. The way he sees the game, that’s what he will do in Australia.
The A-Leagues to open up doors?
“I want to be one of the best managers,” Yorke told KEEPUP before the start of the 2022-23 A-League Men campaign.
Yorke had spent 12 years in punditry and as an ambassador for United after retiring in 2009, but he always wanted to coach. He was interested in returning to his old stomping ground Aston Villa – he even applied for the managerial role on three occasions without response.
The lack of opportunity has led him to a place he knows all too well from his time with Sydney FC. It says a lot about the man, who has travelled to the opposite side of the world to pursue his dream.
“He is prepared to back himself and he’s always been like that,” Cole added.
He is prepared to say, ‘Okay, cool not a problem I’ll go to Australia and do the best I can do’. I’m hoping that he goes to Australia, does well, wins a few more cups or trophies and lets see what happens after that.