Holger hears a who?

As we see the exit of Pim Verbeek following Australia's FIFA 2010 World Cup campaign, a new coach has been chosen to prepare for the team's next effort in Brazil 2014 - Holger Osieck.

Holger who, you ask? You're not the only one.

Osieck has a reasonable resume when it comes to football coaching. A fairly uninspiring playing career was followed with a fairly unnoticeable coaching career in the German lower leagues. The juiciest piece of info for Aussie football fans, however, is that Osieck was involved in Germany's 1990 World Cup win, under the tutorage of German hero Franz Beckenbauer. This experience alone, in addition to his success as coach with Japanese club side Urawa Reds in the Asian Club Championship, has quite a few people salivating (in fact, the Reds have since been referred to as 'Holger's Heroes' since then - expect a Herald Sun report to use this at least 50 times).

But there's still trepidation. After such a great start with Guus Hiddink, Verbeek's stern, straight-faced tactics were unimpressive to many. If you watched SBS football tragic Craig Foster present the sports during the 2010 World Cup, you'll know that he was definitely not a Pim fan (even mentions of his name around Fozzy is enough to send him into an extended diatribe). The question is: will Osieck embrace the physical, take-no-prisoners style of football that Verbeek suppressed, or will he introduce something new?

After seeing the Aussies stumble against Slovenia 2-0 this morning, Osieck will not doubt have a few things to think about - not least the fact many of the Socceroos best players are on downhill-side of their-mid 30s now. He'll be heartened no doubt by a promising crop of young players beginning to creep through to replace the likes of Breciano, Neil, Moore etc.

I also suspect that Frank Lowy's decision to name Osieck could be based on the former Usawa Reds coach's former position within the FIFA administration following the 1990 World Cup. Having someone who was on the inside and no doubt has a lot of FIFA contacts couldn't hurt when you're applying to get the World Cup to Australia. Or am I being cynical?

No country for old men: why a younger generation of new coaches are eclipsing their elders.

It was something of an analogy of the new AFL – former cellar-dweller team Richmond raining goals on the better-rated Crows in the final quarter, to bring life to the Tigers once-thought-to-be dead season. The old stable coach in Neil Craig versus the first-year former Essendon and Port Adelaide defender Damien Hardwick.

Both have had mix seasons in 2010. Hardwick watched the Tigers lose nine in a row before the ship steered correctly, while Adelaide started off well enough but stumbled mid-season due to injuries, an uncompromising schedule and, well, poor performances.
This made me really consider the plight of the current crop of young coaches who are making their mark in the game. Since they have generally come from playing the game within the past 10 years, they have a good grasp on how much it has changed.

North Melbourne’s Brad Scott has yet to prove himself, though his team has performed well against better-rated sides. Dean Bailey’s influence on the Demons also appears to be paying off, but his is a team still in the rebuilding stage. Collingwood’s favourite son Nathan Buckley had a couple of successful attempts at steering the Magpie ship this year on par with the ‘Buckley/Malthouse’ secession plan, and who could forget Alistair Clarkson’s young Hawthorn team upsetting the natural balance of the Geelong juggernaut to usurp a surprise premiership. And, of course, there’s Hardwick.

These ‘Young Turks’ aren’t immune however. Essendon’s Matthew Knights has been readily criticised for his teams’ inconsistent performance, especially from former Bomber players and staff (though the team’s 33-point win over the Saints will no doubt keep the criticism to a minimum).

But there is hope for the embattled Knights. This time last year the Docker’s Mark Harvey was equally lambasted for a perceived lack of coaching prowess. Considering the win/loss ratio of the teams’ 2009 season, there was little hope that Harvey would see a full 2010 – no doubt Fremantle’s performance against the Crows in round 15 will be forever etched in Harvey’s mind (the Dockers scored one goal and seven behinds for the whole game).

Oh ye of little faith.

The Dockers start to 2010 was a whirlwind of wins. The media and critics were scratching their heads, trying to work out where this new-found ability had come from? How was this young coach taking a side that’s had at least three lack-lustre seasons in a row to the top of the ladder?

Top-team coaches such as Mark Thompson, Rodney Eade and Ross Lyon are showing that they’ve still got their finger on the pulse, but for how much longer? Thompson has already indicated that he’s looking to stand down at the end of 2010 or 2011. Eade has been coaching for more than 20 years if you include his stint as the Brisbane Bears reserve coach. Ross Lyon is safe for now but for how long will supporters put up with another lost Saints trophy?

Next year, Sydney Swans will see the start of a new coach and former player, John Longmire, replacing a successful coach in Paul Roos – he’ll be a new face in the ‘Young Turks’ coaching club. With him will continue the new coaching styles being adopted by many of the clubs.

With so many fresh faces bringing new ideas and strategies to the AFL, it’s no wonder the game is turning into no country for old men… unless, of course, you speak to Kevin Sheedy.