Is Valkanis the man to get Brisbane roaring again?

Perth Now

07-05-2025

Michael Valkanis has woken to air-raid sirens that ended his historic coaching stint in Israel, earnt the ire of the nation when overhauling the Greek national team, helmed Dutch giants Ajax and experienced life as a financially hamstrung manager in Turkey.
Unveiled as Brisbane Roar coach on Wednesday, it's clear why the 50-year-old has faith the fallen A-League powerhouses can fill Suncorp Stadium again.
"There's a high turnover in Europe, it's normal," Valkanis said of the club's coaching merry-go-round, wiping sweat from his brow after a morning run along the Brisbane River.
"There's no stability at all, very competitive, very difficult."
The three-time champions have become almost irrelevant since their glory days when dubbed "Roarcelona" under another Greek-Australian in Ange Postecoglou.
They need about 10 times their average crowd figure of 5463 to achieve the coach's goal, supporters enduring five wins from 26 games this season under the departed Ruben Zadcovich.
Ross Aloisi took Brisbane to the Australia Cup final in 2023, but the Roar last appeared genuine threats for ALM silverware when his brother John was at the helm between 2015 and 2018.
"A lot believe the grass is greener on the other side and everything's perfect in Europe ... but they have problems there as well," Valkanis said.
"And it's instilled me with the grit to deal with certain challenges and really believe in controlling effort and attitude.
"I'm so excited ... the opportunities we've got here to make something special.
"We'll make it happen. We need the people back. I'd like to fill Suncorp Stadium. The rest will take care of itself.
"(Getting) people excited and the football to go with it, we've reached the main target."
Roar boss Kaz Patafta spoke with Harry Kewell but opted for the experience of a man who's also coached in Belgium and in the A-League more than a decade ago, after being one of Adelaide United's inaugural players.
"(This season) was not acceptable," Patafta said.
"We needed to reset the foundations ... we've just got to take a moment now we can rebuild the squad. This sets the tone."
He said the owners, Indonesia's Bakrie Group, had pledged to up their investment for long-term success, which included an immediate focus on the men's roster.
"We want to set the bar high and need to be playing finals," the chief executive said.
"This club has to be vying for titles, this is what Brisbane Roar's about … there will be more investment."
Valkanis has brought Spanish assistant Borja Lema and Greek analyst Nektarios Grija with him, and promised to bring a defensive stoutness he thinks has gone missing in the Australian game.
"I drink my coffee on a Saturday morning (in Europe) watching the A-League live and think, 'where's the art of defending gone?'," he said.
"We need to bring that back."
Patafta confirmed Suncorp Stadium would remain the club's home, but said the Roar were willing to invest in upgrades to nearby Perry Park for potential occasional use as soon as next season.
MICHAEL VALKANIS RESUME
* Inaugural Adelaide United squad member, a capped Socceroo, with Greek playing experience
* A-League assistant coach 2013-17
* First Australian to coach in Israeli Premier League, appointment at Hapoel Tel Aviv ended after three months because of war in the Middle East
* First Australian assistant coach at Dutch giants Ajax, where he filled in twice as head coach
* Coached Turkish club Adana Demirspor during a transfer ban and faced Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce with 15-year-old sensation Deniz Eren Donmezer in goal