Macarthur FC’s decision to appoint Dwight Yorke made headlines around the world.
Despite no previous senior experience, Macarthur turned to the Manchester United great to replace Ante Milicic on a two-year deal, starting in the 2022-23 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Former Sydney FC marquee and A-League Men champion Yorke is already Down Under, preparing to coach the A-Leagues All Stars against LaLiga powerhouse Barcelona in Sydney on May 25.
While the appointment has generated worldwide interest, the fact Yorke will begin his coaching career with Macarthur in the ALM has raised eyebrows on Aussie shores.
The special guest on this week’s episode of The Official A-Leagues Podcast, Bulls chief executive Sam Krslovic lifted the lid on the club’s move to bring the Trinidad and Tobago star to Campbelltown Stadium, dismissing the sceptics.
Listen to the show below, or via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platforms.
Asked if Yorke was appointed to make headlines and generate interest, Krslovic told the Official A-Leagues Podcast: “That’s not the pure reason.
“When we signed Ante Milicic, he was a high-profile appointment. He went to two World Cups, assistant Socceroo, Matildas.
“Just because Dwight was a good player, people shouldn’t prejudge him and what sort of result he is going to have as a coach.
“In my experiences, it does help if you’re a high-level player and played at a decent level to be a coach. If we look at the A-League, 80% of coaches today were very, very good players in the A-League, NSL or overseas, lets be brutally honest.
“So is the likelihood that someone who was a good player, although it’s not a guaranteed success, is going to be a decent coach? I think it sure helps.”
Milicic was Macarthur’s inaugural coach but after two seasons and failing to make the finals, the former Socceroo opted to step down in favour of a move to Europe with his family.
Macarthur finished seventh this season, six points adrift of the finals places under Milicic.
“I knew for quite some time Ante wasn’t continuing,” said Krslovic, who insists the Bulls won’t be straying from their plan and philosophy with Yorke at the helm. “While it became public towards the end of the season, we had plans in place of how to go about getting a replacement.
“I interviewed a number of Australian coaches, some unemployed at the moment, some are assistants at A-League clubs. I interviewed a number of foreigners from different countries.
“One of them was obviously Dwight that came to mind. I spent quite a lot of time in the interview process, coaches had to give me presentations, how they’d change things, what they’d need to change, what they thought the issues were from a football perspective.
“At the end, the decision was made for where we are today and where the evolution of the club is and where we want to go from a football perspective that Dwight at this stage was the best fit. As simple as that. Purely a footballing decision.”
Much has been made about Yorke’s limited coaching experience.
The 50-year-old and three-time Premier League champion has watched many of his team-mates enter the coaching ranks, all over the globe.
But Yorke has patiently pursued his coaching badges with United, while searching for an opportunity to make his first steps into management.
Yorke’s first steps will be Macarthur and it comes amid question marks over his credentials.
“I’m not at all [concerned],” Krslovic said of Yorke’s limited coaching experience. “In 2008, I gave Ante Milicic his first role with Sydney United and look where he went. In 2013, Mark Rudan came to Sydney United. I’ve been involved in the development of a lot of coaches.
“For me it’s all about the person, man management, processes, discipline and all that stuff related to football.
“I’m not worried about any of that. The reality was, whoever we took, more than likely it was going to be a rookie coach. We aren’t going to take someone who has been there and done that.
“We actively wanted to go get someone from the outside who hasn’t done it before.”
With Yorke in the dugout, could we see big names follow?
The recruitment of marquees has dominated headlines after Australian Professional Leagues (APL) managing director Danny Townsend revealed a list of 35 “world class” players will be targeted in the off-season, across both A-League Men and A-League Men.
Italy and Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero was referenced.
READ MORE: A-LEAGUES TO TARGET MARQUEE ‘SUGAR HITS’
“I do think we need marquees,” Krslovic said. “Especially the big clubs. Without disrespect to my friends up the road [Sydney FC], the bling has lost the bling and we need the bling to have the bling.
“On top of that, we need the Wanderers to be strong. We need Perth to be strong and we need Brisbane to be very strong.
“If we can get that right, I think marquees will help if it’s done in the right way and the right demographic, I think the league will get lifted again. Just by announcing Dwight, more engagement with people in Australia about football and even overseas.
“Get people talking again, interested. A lot of people lost interest, not in the game itself but I think society has been impacted severely by COVID.
“People have lost interest in what they used to do, viewing habits have changed, everything has changed because of COVID. We have to really re-engage all that. Marquees will play a big part.
“In relation to us, I’ve spoken to Danny Townsend about it. He is aware that we’d be interested in some sort of marquee. For me, the marquee must be representative of the demographic of where the club is located. The MLS is an example of how it’s done correctly.”
