Golden Soft Sombrero Moment with Les Schienflug

NSL Clubs (Coaching):                       

Marconi Stallions

Coaching Achievements: NSL Coach of the Year 1979

Green & Gold Honors:                        

Player: Socceroo appearances - 11       Goals - 4

First Socceroo World Cup captain        

World Cup campaigns:     1965

Coaching:  Involved with the Australian coaching set up at Senior, Olympic, Youth Socceroo and Joey’s level between 1970 and 2001.    

Assistant coach to Rale Rasic in the 1974 World Cup

Hall of Fame Inductee 2000

World Cup campaigns:

1970 – 2001

Golden Sombrero Moment No.1:

Teaming up with Rale Rasic to take the Socceroos to the World Cup in 1974

Golden Sombrero Moment No.2:

Taking the Joey’s to the World Cup final against Brazil in 1999.

Diegos Verdict:                                  

Will go down as one of the internationally decorated coaches ever to do the ‘biz’ Downunder.

Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Les Schienflug

Schienflug on his Joey’s World Cup dream…

Diegos: “Congratulations on your team’s fine achievement.

The build up, the expectation, the tenseness of the penalty shootout and the ultimate disappointment was enough to send the Diegos to the nearest Oktoberfest Beer House to cry in our steins of lager.

You’ve had time to reflect. Are your memories bitter-sweet?”

Schienflug: “Well, it was a tremendous performance especially since most people would’ve thought we were a long shot to win. 

Thankfully we got permission from Soccer Australia to take this team to South America prior to the tournament where we had nearly four weeks together and played nine hard matches. 

The first round match against Brazil put the icing on the cake because our boys were disappointed to lose that one and that acted as a catalyst for the rest of the tournament.”

Diego: “Do you look at the silver medal and think, ‘this could've been gold’?’ 

Schienflug:  “I don’t muck around, mate, I painted it gold.”

Diego: “We all witnessed a rare event in the penalty shoot out where Joey’s impressive keeper, Jessie Van Stratten got his hand to five of Brazil’s eight penalty kicks only to see the team still go down by the odd goal.

Was Jessie getting his hand to so many of the spot kicks a good sign for you or a bad sign?”

Schienflug: “Yes, after Jessie saved a penalty, I felt (the Brazilians) would break because they had so much pressure on them. 

The South Americans are very emotional people.  I think it just wasn’t meant to be because I felt every time we scored, they’d be in trouble.”

Diegos: “The Copacabana Kids from Brazil are clearly a talented bunch.

There were however, surprising allegations of Brazilian intimidation and spitting going on in the players tunnel and at the hotel prior to the game.

Did these dubious strategies surprise you and how hard was it to stop your boys from employing a little bit of Aussie ‘biffo’ in retaliation?”

Scheinflug: “There was nothing in the first and second matches. 

They tried to upset our boys before the final match.  In the hotel, we got on extremely well with the officials and there were no problems because they all had to be disciplined.  It was mainly on the soccer field.

The Brazilians are streetwise, they’ve been there before and they know how to find every little loophole to upset the opponent and if the opponent can’t take it, then he shouldn’t be there.”

Diegos: “Everyone has been raving about the mature, assured and composed effort displayed by the Joey’s.

The performance was clearly world class with some excellent individual performances.

Who out of this crop of Joeys will become world class at senior level?”

Schienflug: “No one can say for sure. But let’s go through the team. 

Jessie Van Stratten is definitely a goalkeeper you will see in the future.  He will be one of the top goalkeepers in the world and in the same mould as Bosnich, Kalac and Schwarzer. 

There is also Mark Byrnes, the captain, who I regard as probably one of the most influential players in the whole team.  He is always steady.  The harder the opponent becomes, the stronger Byrnes becomes.  He is a tremendous leader both on and off the park. He guided the team tremendously and I’m convinced that he will go a long way.

Adrian Madeschi who is already in Italy, is a tremendous talent. 

The players for his great work throughout the whole tournament could easily call Jade North the ‘silver medal winner’. 

Louie Brain from South Australia, has tremendous talent. 

Dylan McCallister has a big future as well as Scott McDonald, from Melbourne, who I believe was the youngest of the lot but showed the maturity of a much older player.”

Diego:  “Is this one of the most cohesive Joey units that you’ve coached?  Do you feel that this group is, perhaps, a bit more special than previous Joey teams?

Schienflug:  “Yes, it was a special team because ever since we got together in the Oceania Group we’ve had to cope with pressure situations. 

Our preparation period was not good but they were always disciplined, determined and they wanted to be a good team. 

We grew as a team in Bahrain where they played in 40-degree heat and 87% humidity.  

The team bonded together and you could see they wanted to win so badly even though they had to confront difficult conditions.

At half time the players had to use large blue boxes that store gear filled with ice to try to cool off. 

This convinced me that I had a special team and the way they performed in South America only confirmed it.” 

Diego: “Of course one player who missed out on a chance of playing for Australia in a World Cup final was Aussie born, Jamie Mc Master, who elected to play for England instead, after being pressured by Leeds United.

Any message for any young Aussie players who may find themselves in the same predicament in the future?”

 Schienflug: “It’s funny, if he could’ve fielded the left side, it might have made it a bit stronger. 

Unfortunately, sometimes mums and dads get a lit bit carried away by names of clubs. 

I like Manchester United, I like Leeds, I like all these clubs but I don’t think a player should leave before he is the age of 17. For example, Harry Kewell: People forget that Harry Kewell left after he was old enough to drive a car, not before. 

I think the reason why they leave early is because the overseas clubs and agents bluff the parents into believing that they won’t get another chance.  If the player is good enough, he will find that he will go overseas.”

Diego: “What has been your greatest moment in soccer?”

Schienflug:  “Well, I had many great moments.  1974, as you know, I was assistant coach.  I became captain in 1960 and had six years as captain. 

I was appointed the first captain of the Socceroos in the World Cup qualifier against Korea.  I had many great moments.  I was captain of Prague, I coached every international  team in Australia, which is unheard of, and I have had 40 years in the game. 

Actually, my dream was always to win a gold medal before I retire and now it has become a silver, so I may have to do something about it, I guess.

Diego: “Paint it gold?”

Schienflug:  “Most probably Diegos.” 

Soft Sombrero Moment December 1999

Schienflug on the Young Socceroos quest for the World Youth Cup in 1997…

Diegos: “It’s another World Youth championship for you and another chance for Aussie soccer to display to the world the enormous talent that we are nurturing in this country.

Along with the excellent athleticism, strength and speed inherent in young Aussie players is also a tendency to be feisty, hot-blooded and not adverse to seek the company of the opposite sex.

How are the preparations going and have you succeeded in keeping the boys away from those disreputable Dutch houses of sin?"

Schienflug: “You can be sure the boys have only got one thing on their minds and it's not the nightlife here in Holland.

In our first two friendly games we won convincingly, 2-0 on both occasions. Winning alone is not everything though. The boys are learning from every game.

The plan is that we will be playing more difficult teams as our preparation goes on. We think the boys will be well primed for their task in Nigeria come April."

Diegos: “Your choice of country to prepare the team caused a lot of conjecture amongst the soccer pundits here in Australia.

Why did you feel that the team would be better off preparing in Holland and Spain when the tournament is going to be played in Nigeria?"

Schienflug: “Because I've been there and done it many times before. Those who are criticizing, I'm positive, have never had to prepare a youth team in these circumstances.

It is important that our boys get physically fit, mentally fit and play some strong international games. To be able to do that well we had to come to Europe, were the players are going to recover much quicker after tough games. If we were to go to Africa, playing in 100-degree heat and 97% humidity, after two or three games the boys would become flat.

This was our major problem in Malaysia in the last World Youth cup."

Diegos: “In the past your teams have often gone to these big tournaments with a heavy weight of expectation on their shoulders.

This time it seems that this team is going in as 'Underdog', with the experts not expecting too much.

Do you prefer adopting the 'Underdog' tag going in to such a tournament?"

Schienflug: “Australia has always been the underdog. I know for sure that the boys will be giving everything that they are capable of giving in this tournament.

I am convinced that we will knock over a few tall poppies. Our preparation has not been as good as Brazil, Argentina, Spain and a few other countries but I have faith that we will surprise a few of the more fancied teams."

Diegos: “It seems that the opposition is not the only obstacle that the Aussies have to confront at the tournament in Nigeria.

It has been reported that the country is plagued with exotic diseases, rife with muggings and rampant with anti government rebels kidnapping any foreigner in sight.

We just want to know whether you have packed the Aeroguard and brought along a suitcase full of ransom money just in case? What can you say to the boy's mothers to reassure them that everything will be fine?"

Schienflug: “Since we left Australia we have been in constant contact with the Australian Embassy and they have told us that everything is fine.

You can be sure that the World cup would not be in Nigeria if there was any doubt about the safety of the players."

Diegos:" The boys are up against the ‘Guinness drinking’ Irish, the ‘oil drilling’, Saudi Arabians, and the ‘taco munching’ Mexicans.

Do you know anything at all about the opposition and as a coach who has been in this situation many times before, what underhanded, scurrilous methods that you have learnt over the years, are you going to employ to put them off their game?"

Schienflug: “I have received two videos on Saudi Arabia. They look to be a good side.

They finished third in Asia but they recently drew 0-0 against Korea. The Irish finished first in Europe so they can't be too bad.

Mexico is the CONCACAF winner so they are also going to be a tough nut to crack. It certainly is not an easy draw but I'm quietly confident that we can do quite well."

Diegos:" You have been quite vocal about Leeds United and the pressure they put on young Aussie players to turn their back on their country.

UEFA has recently ruled that Central Coast teenager, Jamie McMaster is an England player and can never play for Australia again.

How does that make you feel and can you tell the Diegos in confidence, what you will do to the first Leeds United scout that you run into in Nigeria?"

Schienflug: “You seem to be very humorous today but you're lucky because I'm in the right mood to shoot Leeds down.

I think they have to learn to produce their own players. They got Harry Kewell for nothing. We have not received a cent for Harry even though he is worth millions of dollars on the world transfer market.

If they really wanted to help Australian soccer they'd put something financial back into the game here. We are more than happy to send youngsters overseas but only after they play for Australia."

Diegos: “Australia has traditionally performed well on the world stage at this level but unfortunately they've never been able to bring home the bacon, the big banana, the ripe pineapple - the World Cup. On any given day do you believe that this team can finally do it?"

Schienflug: " We always go into a World cup tournament aiming to win it. But unfortunately sometimes we have not had enough preparation compared to other countries.

We are going to play against players who are full time pros and million dollar players. Many of our players are still playing youth league soccer.

We are not in a favorable position to say 'yes we are ready to win it', but having said that, to win it still is a very firm aim of ours. You never know what is going to happen."

Diegos: “Thanks Les. Remember, use the Aeroguard and stock up on those ‘mozzie’ coils over there in Nigeria. Good luck and bring home the bacon. Adios amigo!"

Schienflug: “Thanks Diegos. Next time you speak to me I hope I'll be drinking tequila straight out of the World cup. Adios amigos!"

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999