The Central Coast Mariners have appointed Andy Thomson as their new Head of Football Performance, and the Scotsman has already stated his intent.
Thomson joins Mike Mulvey’s coaching staff fresh from a three-year campaign with San Antonio FC who compete in the USL Championship (USA).
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After his first session with the squad, Thomson spoke with ccmariners.com.au about the opportunity to work with the Mariners and how far he intends on taking the club.
“This is a well-established club with a great track record of success,” Thomson said. “The opportunity to be a part of something special, contribute to getting this club back to where it once was and add that extra layer of success, is why we’re all here working hard.
“I’m very grateful to Mike Mulvey for this opportunity.
“I’ve been coaching football for 15 years so no matter what I do, football will be the starting point for everything.
“The brief from Mike was very simple – we’re here to win football games. If we can have a top fit team with fewer injuries and we keep our best players training and playing, we’re more of a chance.”
Thomson also spoke about how a chance conversation with a friend led to his awareness of the Central Coast region. That friend is Phil Coles: Socceroos’ High-Performance co-ordinator and Senior Physiotherapist and former Head of Physical Therapy with Liverpool FC.
“San Antonio FC, who I was the Assistant Coach and Director of High Performance for, are owned by the NBA Basketball team the San Antonio Spurs,” Thomson said.
“Their Director of High Performance was Phil Coles who now works with ‘Arnie’ at the Socceroos.
“About six months ago we were having a BBQ at Phil’s place – he starts to tell me about how beautiful the Central Coast is.
“Fast forward five months and I’m getting a call from Mike Mulvey. Now I’m thinking, is this the same Place Phil was talking about? I pick up the phone to Phil, everything aligns.
“But the addition to all that was, there was something in the universe telling me that this was the right place to be and here I am,” Thomson said.
