Golden Soft Sombrero Moment with Rale Rasic

Four Diegos profile:               

Socceroo 1974 World Cup coach

NSL Clubs:                             

Marconi, APIA Leichardt, Parramatta Melita Eagles, South Melbourne, Canberra Cosmos

Achievement: Coach of the Year 1977, 1987

Green and Gold Honours:      

World Cup qualification Germany 1974

Four Diegos verdict:              

Prior to 2006, being the only coach ever to have led Australia into the World Cup finals, Rasic had virtually guaranteed himself speaking engagements on Australia’s chances of qualifying, every four years for the rest of his life. Wasn’t bad work while he could get can get it.

With back to back qualifications that income stream is now gone.

Rale you may be now destitute but well-done mate. You’re a Four Diegos legend amigo.

Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Rale Rasic

Australia’s 1974 World Cup coach, Rale Rasic on Farina’s appointment…

Diegos: “As coach of the 1974 World Cup team, you must be very proud today witnessing for the first time an Australian born coach taking over the mantle?”

Rasic: “I’m absolutely delighted for soccer in this country and for Frank himself. It’s great, absolutely fantastic to see it.”

Diegos: “Rale you’ve been there before and you know what the job takes.

What advice would you give Frank?”

Rasic: “He has already said things that are very important; that he is young enthusiastic and that it will be a steep learning curve for him and everybody else.

National team coaching and club coaching are hugely different. Any national coach that takes on the job for the first time irrespective of how old he is must learn something very new.

From my personal point of view you only get one term and if you fail you get fired. That’s always been my philosophy and that’s why the job is so tough.”

Diegos: “In 1974 your squad was well and truly home based.

Frank is in a different situation with most of his players now playing overseas.

How would you tackle the problems of getting the team together for valuable preparation?”

Rasic: “I think Frank has the personality to be able to communicate and solve many of the problems that this situation brings up.

In the past we’ve seen many hiccups in this respect but I think generally Aussies abroad are very proud of their country and I think Frank can tap into that. There will be as always problems getting releases from clubs but I think a smart and clever coach can overcome these problems.”

Diegos: “Each candidate was apparently very impressive at the interview for the Socceroo job.

Do you believe that this country is now not only producing a host of world class players but also world class coaches?”

Rasic: “No doubt about it. The three who missed out David Mitchell, Eddie Krncevic and the young and impressive Angie Postecoglou would clearly be upset at the outcome but I think they are all experienced enough to know that that’s football life.

I personally see a very bright future with these young people.”

Soft Sombrero Moment Press Conference Sydney August 1999