Golden Soft Sombrero Moment with Raul Blanco

NSL Clubs:                                         

Coaching:  West Adelaide Sharks, St George, Marconi, Parramatta Eagles

Green & Gold Honours:                      

Involved in the Socceroo and Youth team structure throughout the 90’s.

Caretaker Socceroo coach in 1998/99 and coached the Olyroos in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Kiwi Honours:                                    

Assistant to the All Whites FIFA World Cup 2010

Diegos Verdict:                                  

Affable man who was only really going to be given one chance to secure the Socceroos job as his own.

Unfortunately an embarrassing defeat to New Zealand in the Confederation Cup qualifiers in 1999 and the resultant loss of over one million dollars for the cash strapped Soccer Australia basically condemned this Aussie-Argentine to an eternity of putting out the cones and doing the warm ups as an assistant.

Got what all his hard work deserved in 2010 when the Kiwis pulled him from obscurity to help lead Ricki Herbert and his brave team to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.Well done Raul.

Even though you are now and forever more a ‘sheep romancing’ Kiwi the Diegos still love you…as long as the sheep aren’t involved. 

Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Raul Blanco

Blanco on the Socceroos’ Uruguayan World Cup welcome …

Diegos: "On arrival to Montevideo late this week, the Socceroos found out in none to poignant way that Alvaro Recoba's dribble was not the only dribble that they have to contend with but also that dribble that was spat out of some of the Uruguayan supporters mouths.

Anyone who has followed the game would no that this is uncharacteristic of South American fans but they were ugly, unsavory incidents nonetheless.

In your football travels to the region have you ever encountered such scenes?"

Blanco: 'Very uncharacteristic behaviour indeed.

The people of Uruguay are very warm people but you are going there to take their place in the World Cup and I think the locals let the Aussies know very quickly that they were in enemy territory.

In long run I believe it was a good thing because if the players were a bit jet lagged and not quite certain of the intensity required this would’ve left no doubt in anyone’s mind that there was a big battle ahead.’

Diegos: "Knowing all the boys quite intimately how do you think this current crop of Socceroos is going to react to the treatment?"

Blanco: “I think it will work in our favour.

I know the players very well and they will be incredibly focused. They know what needs to be done. These sorts of ugly situations tend to get people together and you want to prove the point more than ever. I think that this will be beneficial to the team in the long run.

The players know now that they have a big game on their hands and in many ways that is a real positive for the Australian team.”

Soft Sombrero Moment November 2001

Blanco on the Uruguayan tactics…

Diegos: "In Melbourne the Uruguayans indulged in their trademark time wasting and play acting. They have to chase a result now. What can the Socceroos expect on Monday morning? What must the Australians guard against this time around?"

Blanco: “There’s 90 minutes to go but let’s not forget that Australia is one-nil up.

Uruguay will have to come at the Aussies but I don’t think that they will change dramatically on what they did in Melbourne. They will probably try and pressurize us early and go forward more freely.

Here they adopted an very cautious style but they can’t go all out over there because if Australia score one more goal it will mean that the Uruguayans will have to score three.”

Soft Sombrero Moment November 2001

Blanco on Dario Silva…

Diegos: "How good is Dario Silva? Do you think he will play and if does play would you instruct Kevin Muscat to give him a good old Western suburbs hip and shoulder to test out his dodgy collarbone?"

Blanco: “Kevin has the reputation be we have other players too who can do a good job in that department.

Silva is a great striker and was Uruguay’s best in the elimination games.

He is very quick and aggressive and plays his football in Spain. Moore and Murphy are very good and very tough and I think they will look after him very well.”

Soft Sombrero Moment November 2001

Blanco on coaching the Diegos’ Monday night ‘C’ Grade Indoor soccer team…

Diegos: “Thanks Raul. We hope that you pick up the NSL job of your dreams very soon.

Just keep in mind that the Four Diegos Monday night C grade indoor soccer team is still looking for a coach if you’ve got some spare time…

Blanco: “I’m available. I just need a mortadella sandwich and a Coca Cola and that will do me.”

Soft Sombrero Moment November 2001

Blanco on the Olyroo 2000 preparation…

Diegos: “The time is getting near. The arguments about marching bands, ticketing and who the hell is carrying the torch are just about over.

Whether you like it or not, you are the man and your team is set to create history come September, opening the Olympics on the MCG in front of a worldwide audience of billions.

How are the preparations going? Are you a nervous wreck or are you pretty cool about things?"

Blanco: “I think I have the experience now to be far cooler than I used to be when I was a young man. Obviously the moment of truth is coming and we are all aware of it but for the time being I am remaining very cool.

The preparations are quite good given the difficult situation that we have to operate in. As you know we have a lot of players in Europe and a number of our players are playing in the NSL finals presently, so everyone is at varying levels of fitness.

Nevertheless I think we have structured a good preparation and all is looking well for September."

Soft Sombrero Moment August 2000

Blanco on the Olyroo overage players…

Diegos: “We know that you'd never tell the Diegos who the over-age players in the Olympic squad will be if we asked, so we've made up a list of who we think the players should be and we want your response.

…Mark Bosnich in goal, Paul Okon as the anchor in midfield and the V- Bomber, Mark Viduka partnering Harry Kewell up front.

What do you think?"

Blanco: " I think the beauty of our country is that everybody has the freedom of expressing an opinion and it's good to see that the Diegos are always ready to exercise that freedom.

Obviously the players you've mentioned are all unbelievable talents. I cannot say how close or how far you are off the mark but they are definitely all very, very talented players." 

Diegos: “Thanks Raul.  Remember Raul the Diegos will always love you. Adios amigo."

Blanco: “Thanks Diegos. Just stop e-mailing me. Adios amigos"

Soft Sombrero Moment August 2000

Blanco on his relationship with El Tel…

Diegos: “You and Terry Venables obviously developed a very close relationship with each other over his time as the Socceroo coach.

How often did you keep in contact, in terms of telephone calls, with him, who paid for the phone bill and did you ever realize that after 6.00 p.m. on a Sunday night its cheaper?”

Blanco: “We talked to each other three or four times a week primarily about the progress and development of both the Aussie based players and the European based group. Who pays for that is a good question, l don’t know, l just keep talking”.

Soft Sombrero Moment 1998

Blanco on the Socceroo coaching job interview…

Diegos: “Raul, l just want you to imagine for a moment that you are at the interview for the Socceroo’s coaching position.”

You’re in a smoke filled room located in the inner sanctum of Soccer Australia palace.

You’re sitting on a stool in the middle of the room with a bright light shining in your face.

There are three chubby men - David Hill, George Negus and Prime Minister John Howard, slouched in leather chairs imported from Iran, smoking Cuban cigars.

Mr. Hill asks you one question - Raul, why do you want to become the Socceroo coach - what is your reply?”

Blanco: “That is one of the best stories you’ve ever made up - absolutely marvelous!

Nevertheless, it is one of the most stupid questions I’ve been asked because the answer is obvious.

It’s everyone’s dream to be the Socceroo’s coach - it’s my dream.” 

Soft Sombrero Moment 1998