Latest news with #Valkanis
Perth Now
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Is Valkanis the man to get Brisbane roaring again?
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
Perth Now
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
New Roar coach has lofty ambitions
New Brisbane Roar coach Michael Valkanis will relish the challenge of restoring the fallen giants to their former glory, saying it had been 'sad' to see the demise of the three-time A-League champions. Once the toast of Australian football in playing a brand of football never previously seen in the A-League and winning titles, the Roar have almost become irrelevant. Poor results over the past two seasons has finally led to the sacking of coach Ruben Zadkovich, with former Adelaide United captain and ex-Socceroos defender Valkanis given the task of lifting Brisbane out of the doldrums. News Corp Australia reported last month that 50-year-old Valkanis was set to become the Roar's new coach, with the club confirming on Tuesday the departure of Zadkovich and his assistant Chris Coyne after Brisbane won just five of its 26 games this season to only finish above cellar dwellers Perth Glory. The Roar's woeful form also led to a further drop in attendances, with the club's average home crowd at Suncorp Stadium falling to 5463. New Brisbane Roar coach Michael Valkanis wants to restore the club to its former glory. George Salpigtidis Credit: News Corp Australia 'We've got to take certain steps and need to recreate what once upon a time existed here,' Valkanis told News Corp on Tuesday. 'Playing for Adelaide United and coming here, it was pretty special because it felt like a European game, and having been following the A-League lately, I was just sad to see how Suncorp Stadium was just empty. That can't be so. 'We need to create an environment that's going to allow the people to do their best work in, become better players, become better people and all have one shared vision of where we want to take this club. 'We need an identity that the Roar previously had in terms of playing an entertaining brand of football that's going to excite people, and it's very important that we reconnect with the community, bring people back to Suncorp Stadium, make that place exciting and create not only an intensity through the way we play, but having that intensity that the supporters brought as well. 'That's the challenge, and it's a challenge that we can meet and be able to turn things around.' Valkanis – whose most recent coaching job with Turkish team Adana Demirspor lasted less than three months before he parted ways with the club in September last year – has spent the best part of the past eight years in Europe after having cut his coaching teeth in the A-League as a caretaker boss of Adelaide United and Melbourne City. He had head coaching roles with Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel) and Eupen (Belgium) and was an assistant to ex-Melbourne City coach John van't Schip at Dutch clubs PEC Zwolle and Ajax, and the Greek national team. 'The one thing I've leant in Europe is the coaches and the staff work bloody hard, and enough is enough,' said Valkanis, whose has brought with him to Brisbane a Spanish assistant coach, Borja Lema, and a Greek analyst, Nektarios Grija. 'This coaching group will outwork anyone. The values I believe in, we live by, and the players will feel it.' Valkanis and his staff will need to hit the ground running, with the Roar in action next Wednesday night in an Australia Cup playoff against Wellington Phoenix in Darwin. 'This game is about next season and is of super importance,' Valkanis said 'We have to finish off this season on a good note and show our intent for what we're going to try to create next season.'
News.com.au
06-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Michael Valkanis to take over as Brisbane Roar coach following Ruben Zadkovich's axing
Former Adelaide United captain Michael Valkanis will be unveiled as Brisbane Roar's new coach on Wednesday after the struggling A-League club confirmed the sacking of Ruben Zadkovich. Despite having a year of his coaching contract remaining, Zadkovich has been axed following the club's poor form during his season-and-a-half in charge. News Corp Australia reported last month that Valkanis, 50, was set to take charge of the Roar, who finished second last on the ladder this season, winning only five of their 26 games. The Roar has also parted ways with Zadkovich's assistant coach Chris Coyne, with Valkanis understood to be bringing with him to Brisbane a European assistant and analyst. Valkanis, whose most recent coaching job with Turkish team Adana Demirspor lasted less than three months before he parted ways with the club in September last year, will coach the Roar for the first time next Wednesday when Brisbane meets Wellington Phoenix in an Australia Cup playoff in Darwin. A former Socceroos defender, Valkanis has also had head coaching roles with Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel) and Eupen (Belgium) and was an assistant to ex-Melbourne City coach John van 't Schip at Dutch clubs PEC Zwolle and Ajax and the Greek national team. He has also previously held caretaker coaching jobs at Adelaide United and Melbourne City. In confirming Zadkovich's sacking on Tuesday, Roar chief executive officer Kaz Patafta said: 'The club would like to acknowledge and thank Ruben for his commitment and efforts during his tenure in Brisbane. Ruben leaves with our best wishes for his future endeavours, as we begin to chart a new course here at the club.' Zadkovich thanked Patafta and Roar football director Zac Anderson for the 'opportunity to coach at this great club'.
News.com.au
25-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Michael Valkanis emerges as leading contender to replace Ruben Zadkovich as Brisbane Roar coach
Former Adelaide United captain Michael Valkanis has emerged as the leading contender to coach Brisbane Roar next season. With current Roar coach Ruben Zadkovich expected to be sacked when Brisbane's disastrous 2024-25 A-League campaign ends next weekend, 50-year-old Valkanis is understood to be the club's preferred option to take charge of the struggling outfit. Valkanis' most recent coaching job was with Turkish team Adana Demirspor, but that gig lasted less than three months before he parted ways with the club in September last year. The former Socceroos defender has also had head coaching roles with Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel) and Eupen (Belgium), and was an assistant to ex-Melbourne City coach John van 't Schip at Dutch clubs PEC Zwolle and Ajax, and the Greek national team. Valkanis has also held previous caretaker coaching jobs at Adelaide United and Melbourne City. The Roar – who are second last on the ladder with just three wins from 24 matches – play their final home game of the season on Saturday at Suncorp Stadium against Wellington Phoenix, before completing their campaign next Friday night in Gosford against Central Coast Mariners. Brisbane also has an Australia Cup playoff match in Darwin next month, but it's unknown whether Zadkovich will still be in charge by then.
