Melbourne Victory attacker James Troisi said the A-League’s biggest club will be able to handle the loss of coach Ange Postecoglou, should he take the vacant Socceroos job.
Melbourne Victory attacker James Troisi said the A-League’s biggest club will be able to handle the loss of coach Ange Postecoglou, should he take the vacant Socceroos job.
Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy has confirmed Postecoglou and opposite numbers Tony Popovic (Western Sydney) and Graham Arnold (Central Coast) were the three candidates for the national coaching job.
Postecoglou has firmed with bookmakers and fans alike as the obvious choice to replace the sacked Holger Osieck, and to take Australia to Brazil 2014.
Unfortunately for the Victory, that would see them lose the two-time Championship-winning coach without him achieving the ultimate success in Melbourne.
But Troisi said should the former Brisbane Roar boss take his dream job, Victory would still thrive – given Postecoglou’s influence on the club’s culture.
“Obviously I think he’s the right man. Do we want him to go? Yes and no,” Troisi said on Wednesday.
“He hasn’t spoken about it to us, we hear it on the TV and on the news as well, we’ll have to wait and see I guess.
“The back-room staff, they all want to play the same way.
“Ange has cemented that in the mentality at Melbourne Victory.
“So obviously he’s a very, very good coach, and he’s going to be missed if he goes, but I’m sure someone will step in and do a good job as well.”
Regardless of whether Postecoglou is the new man to lead the Socceroos, Troisi said his ears pricked up at Osieck’s removal – as he believed it would lead to more opportunities for him to add to his nine international caps.
“Yeah I guess it does (open the door for selection), and in the back of my mind, it’s a reason why I came back here as well,” Troisi said, referring to his switch back to the A-League from Serie A club Atalanta.
“But first and foremost for me it’s always been about club football, so if I’m getting on the pitch, I’m playing regularly and doing my thing, then I’m sure (selection is) going to be a
