Club legend Thomas Broich to leave Brisbane Roar at the end of the A-League season

BRISBANE Roar legend Thomas Broich will leave the club at the end of the season, The Courier-Mail can reveal.

Yet to be guaranteed another contract from Brisbane coach John Aloisi, Broich will look elsewhere in the hope of extending his playing career.

Less than three weeks ago, Broich told The Courier-Mail he was shelving retirement plans to continue playing – preferably with the Roar – beyond this season.

But now, unless the Roar host the grand final, which is an outside chance, Brisbane’s elimination final against Western Sydney Wanderers on Friday night will be his last A-League match at Suncorp Stadium.


Brisbane Roar great Thomas Broich will leave the club at the end of the season.
“He (Aloisi) said at this point he didn’t know whether he could offer me a new deal and how much he could offer me, so it left me in a really uncertain position,” Broich revealed on Tuesday.

“While I totally respect that the club has to do what is has to do, I just cannot be in that kind of position.

“I thanked John for his honesty and made my call.

“Now we all have certainty. We all know what’s going to happen. The club knows, I know, and that’s a relief for me.”

The news is bound to sadden Brisbane supporters. Broich is a fan favourite and with good reason.

Since joining the club in 2010, the German playmaker has inspired the Roar to three A-League championships, has twice won the Johnny Warren Medal, awarded to the season’s best player, and claimed the Joe Marston Medal for being best on ground in the 2014 grand final.

Broich asked the Roar faithful not to be upset about his departure.


Thomas Broich celebrates scoring for Brisbane Roar against Adelaide United.
“We’ve got capable people in charge. They just chose one path, and this path happens to not include me, but I’m sure the Roar will be very competitive in the future,” he said.

“It’s never been about individuals at this club. The club has always been bigger than one player. It’ll be the same leading forward.”

“I understand about the club going forward. I’m 36 years old so if they want to go for a younger player, then fair enough, I’m not going to stand in anyone’s way.

“That’s just the reality that I have to live with now.

“I’m obviously a bit sad. I’ve loved my time here, and it’s coming to an end. All good things have to come to an end eventually.

“The positives outweigh all the other stuff easily. I had such a great time here, I’ve cherished every moment, and there’s still plenty to play for ¬ that’s all I will remember.”

Broich, whose Roar farewell tour will also include a midweek AFC Champions League match at Suncorp Stadium next month, isn’t sure where he will play next season.

But whether it’s for another club or perhaps in Asia, he believes he still has plenty to offer.

“There are players in the world who play on until they are 42. Why can’t I play on for another two or three years? I’m not injury prone. I’m amazed that I’ve played that many games this season,” he said.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/football/a-league/club-legend-thomas-broich-to-leave-brisbane-roar-at-the-end-of-the-aleague-season/news-story/98e8071a452582c710e67cfeb1603c9f

Wsw?

Thomas should be cheap. This could open up the chance for a Timmy marquee or guest marquee.... If FFA approved

: - (

A sad way to finish up.I was hoping he could be back up on a small salary,before moving into coaching.But if he believes he wants to play full time,it's up to him to look elsewhere.Maybe the Indian Superannuation league.But i fear his legs wont let him play out wide anymore.
:((
Goodluck Broichy

Mariners could use someone to play in the middle now fab is probably leaving.....

Well, if he's not staying at Roar the one thing he wont be is "cheap" ... they'd fit him in if he were.

Been magnificent for our club, good luck to the bloke - go to another A League club or otherwise, he'll always be part of us!

Seen enough Broich to know this is a positive step by Aloishi

That's a shame but has had such a great a league career. I really hope he doesn't go to another a league club, if he wants to keep
Playing.. Indonesia? Thailand?

I rekn career 2 season to longmate.
Turned into a fukn extended memorial. We literally have a life-like golden statue of him to remember

Hope he gets some stupid money and then comes back to coach. 

Personally I think he is a decent A league footballer now, 3-4 years ago, he was the best player in the league. 
I think in another 6 months, he may not be at a decent level anymore,  just like every player, one day the legs just go and I think Brioch reached that point.

He's still easily in the top 5/6 on our list. Might be a little slow but I'd take is quality and vision over Arana's pace and (usually) horrible final ball for another year anyway. If J2 has room for a 49 year old I'm pretty sure BRFC has room for a 37 year old class act. I'm dumbfounded that the club can't at least put an offer to him. This is a classic case of the Bakries not committing appropriate finances to the club imo rather than a purely football based decision.

@ elgee

How is this a case of the bakries not committing proper finances to the club - Roar spend the full salary cap and have two marquees on the books every year. The only way they could "commit more finances" to the club would be if they broke the salary cap.

Do they underfund other areas of the club - yes they do, but that's not affecting the football budget.

I don't see how after dimi left they've spent his wages. Isn't Avram on an injury contract - ie - paid for by the insurance company. Broich shouldn't be a marquee next year but you can't tell me roar are spending their entire cap on non-marquee players given the lists that city & even perth have. Aren't half our guys getting game time still on youth contracts? Do we even have the maximum number of outfield players on senior deals? I hardly think Brady, Crestani or Caletti would be commanding beaucoup dollars.

*edited

@ elgee

Crestani or Caletti are on youth contracts (NYL) not senior contracts.

And yes Roar spend 100% of the cap allowance and yes they have a full quota of players.

Avraam is an injury replacement this season only, he wants a two year contract or he's back overseas next year.

I can't believe there is such a fuss over a 36 year old player leaving. It's just time.

You have to see both sides of the argument Waz. I can understand why Brisbane let him go, but I don't think they offered him a contract. They could have at least sat down with him and asked him what does he think is a fair offer. He is still better than most players going around in the A-league. He has the sort of football brain you can use at the club especially bringing the young players through. 

@ RBB

I can see both sides, but don't connect with the hysterics on this that's all.

Let's assume they have sat down with him, that they have asked what a fair offer is, and that he's looking for something over $250k possibly as high as $300k for one year.

Let's also assume that Roar know his medical history, the guy gets through games with regular injections, let's assume he's having his ankle operated on this winter, that was always saud to be s major operation the next time it was required.

Then let's assume Roar/Aloisi look at the squad they want for next season with all the usual limitations you have. Roar need a new striker, that's priority No. 1, they need to sign Avraam up (Victory, City have been in contact with him), Caletti is off contract and his agent recons he's worth more than minimum wage, Theo is 37 so maybe they need a new GK are they going cheap and backing Young or investing money in a top keeper? So where's the cap money best spent??

Then you look at the language Broich himself is using, he's nearly leaving on good terms, he's always been a good club-man and if he's accepted this as the right decision for the club that's telling.

Sentiment doesn't win you titles and let's see if wanderers, Victory or SFC snap him up. I suspect they won't.

Jets (if they have O'Donnovon) would be wise to have a look at Broich, but whoever does they need to be prepared to put him in the top earning bracket, he'll be one of your top 6-7 paid players, if he has a great season everyone will say Roar made a mistake, if he's missing most of the season "everyone" will say nothing and be conspicuously absent in their commentary. But everyone who's commenting isn't in Aloisi's position today - what are my options for building a title winning squad for next year?

I'd rather he stayed, I love the bloke, but I wouldn't get bent out of shaoe a 36 year old player is moving on. When it's time, it's time. Archie Thompson wanted one more year, the great players always do ...

How much silverware do the aloisis have as coaches vs how much has broich won in Brisbane. For every two foreign players aloisi recruits one is a dud. Hervas, arana, even oar coming back has been lackluster. Let oar go, let arana go, let avram go - he's great but we're still conceding goals like crazy - a good defensive structure/organisation with no zonal marking would fix that with the players we already had (the number of times I've seen roar defenders stand flat footed in their zone while runners take off this year makes me sick). Let all those players go and keep broich. I'm calling into question Aloisi's choices when acquiring and keeping talent. He won nothing at heart and he's won nothing here. If he wins silverware it will be an isolated victory - he's a Wenger a good coach, not terrible, not great. And now we have to lose Broich because of his good, not great list management. He can be vindicated of course if we go on to win the double two years in a row but so far he's had what four years as a senior coach now and until he gets some silverware I'm going to be skeptical. Reminds me of the Farina days to be honest except instead of just being competitive in the a-league we're competitive in the a-league and below par in the acl.

I agree. He doesn't seem to have much animosity towards the club and there is nothing saying he can't follow through with his originally stated plan of getting his coaching education in Germany then coming back to Brisbane to coach after he plays a season or two elsewhere. Brisbane reignited his love of football, he's not just going to cut ties with the club because they didn't let him play until he was 40.

I'd prefer Broich stay on on a low contract and help bring through the younger guys, but he's got one season left at most and if the club thinks this is the right time to start rejuvenating an ageing squad, so be it. Maybe they see it as a chance to have guys like Brady step up.

As Awer stated - they could've put him on minimum wage contract this year and backended it with a highly paid first year junior coaching gig at the Bakrie's state of the art academy and home base. And sorted out citizenship for him on top. For a great guy the club owed him a lot more effort. Frankly I've never been more disappointed and that is stretching back to August 25 2005. Personally I think he still could've done a job for us next year as a utility. He won everything in the air as a spare man in the box against Kashima the other night and those guys are no mugs.  I expected a lot more from coach and club.

@ elgee

I don't think Broich was interested in a minimum wage deal when he feels he's worth $250-$300k or more overseas. And backending a deal with a coaching job would be in breach of the salary cap - such deals need to be approved by the ffa to prevent clubs manipulating the cap.

His plan two months ago were said to be retire, travel, go to Germany and get his coaches licence, come back and coach at Roar. All he's done is add one more year playing in front of that

Wouldn't a big chunk of his salary be outside the cap due to the loyalty player rule? He could be a $250k player but only $150k of that would count towards the cap.

It's in part what city did with Cahill and what Brisbane is doing with Holman from memory (and apparently Brisbane with North which I didn't even know) so obviously it's not a cap breach and if you find that source for Brisbane spending 100 per cent of their cap this year and last I'd love to see it.

http://www.a-league.com.au/about
furthermore I would say that if it was an in principle agreement that he would be compensated in the future (and Broich didn't sign anything stating this) his coaching wage would be between the club and himself - nothing to do with the a-league. So how could they take any sort of action to stop it. As others have pointed out the loyalty option could also have been exploited more. The cap argument doesn't wash with me. Where there's a will there's a way. I mean I wouldn't be feeling as angry as I do if I thought next year we would build a squad that would compensate for Maclaren & Broich leaving. Personally I'll be watching with great interest to see who Aloisi brings in to compliment the football geniuses that are Arana, Oar, Pepper. 

Broich and McKay are both over the cap, this year and last.  That's why Holman was back-ended this year.

Cahills a Marquee this year so no need to back end his.

Fair enough on Cahill. Might not technically be backending but I read that they told him he would have a lucrative future beyond his playing days to help get him to the club. But as you've pointed out backending is already happening. It seems way more ethical than not guaranteeing player entitlements or paying wages on time for two or more off seasons in a row.

From what i have read (probably totally wrong).  Is that he is on a large deal for the current season (paying overs, as league would call it) and then will be in the cap next season allowing for another guest marquee.  Smart move if so.

So they're front-ending & back-ending. Potentially. If so, yeah that's brilliant. Wish we would do that.

@ elgee

It can be a cap breach if you make a payment to a player that's not covered in the cap or in the marquee/exempt/visa player payment - so if you backend a players salary with a job after he's ceased playing the ffa will look at whether that's a fair and reasonable payment - if it's perceived to be an additional payment for playing then it would get reverse engineered in to the cap calculations.

Could you imagine how many paid advisors, consultants and coaches CFG could line up if you were allowed to do that. The rules also extend to employing someone's wife - it was part of glorys breach with Keogh that one

The backending of payer payments must fall in to a grey area. Technically Roar have been playing with four marquees this season, two paid this year and two next which makes you wonder why more clubs don't leverage it? But if they tried making Broich a paid anything afterwards that was above a fair and reasonable wage for that position they'd need to declare it in the cap now or risk sanctions later

And as for whether Roar pay the full cap or not, the only source is two CEO's (Pourre and Kingsman), it's your call whether you believe them or not as nothing is published officially on this.

You're saying that it both is and isn't happening though. That's a massive contradiction.  If they can't enforce it for player payments how would they possibly enforce it for backroom staff. There's no measure/salary cap for staff. Also Craig Moore has come out today and said there's still a back room position for him. It's not an offer they should make to every player but Broich is definitely special. I'm also very skeptical of the CEO's position on the cap. Last year was the minimum according to a Marco article I saw, personally I think they're just blaming it because they can. Unless someone from the club were to come out and say we've spent the entire 2.60 million + whatever was rolled over from last year and we're paying all the special payments we can outside the cap (youth provisions, etc) - I definitely don't believe it.

Without being able to find actual facts I find it hard to believe - I know it was cited we spent the minimum 90 per cent last year. Happy to be corrected. We definitely haven't exploited all of the avenues outside of the cap. Broich is great hence the fuss. For me he's in the top 5. We're not going to be able to replace him with a player of the same quality barring a miracle and if you can't do better then stick with what you've got. Don't make the squad weaker *edited.

Fair enough but still a shame.  Would've liked to see him do a Ryan Giggs and play on till he was 40, even if it only was in a decreasing on field role, before moving into coaching.

Good luck to him though where ever he ends up.

I just read an article stating he was applying for Aus citizenship. If he will be a non visa player next season I can't see why BR didn't give him a dodgy Jade North type contract. Having him on a low wage but being paid for coaching also etc.

An Australian team would seem most likely to me.

He would be eligible for a loyalty payment wouldnt he ?

Tough spot for Brisbane and for Broich, but I still reckon he is better than 60-70% of players in the A-league, even if he only plays 45-60 mins a game. 

Guess I'm supporting Victory next season if he moves. 

I for one am furious at this news, it is disgraceful that the club could just let a legend like this walk away. He wants to continue playing, loves the club, yes he is getting older but still has more class than half the players in the A-League. 

I doubt money is the obstacle here because we know from the past he was willing to take a pay cut for Berisha. So what is the problem? I doubt he is pushing to start every game and would be willing to play whatever role he can for the team, even if that was from the bench. 

"he didn’t know whether he could offer me a new deal"

didn't know if he could off Thomas Broich a new deal

Thomas Broich. 

You have to be f--king kidding me. Not offer a certain amount of cash, a certain length of contract. but not even an offer of a new deal. 



What an absolute disgrace. Any feeling of warmth I had towards that club is dead. What a f--king basket case. WTF. Wow. John Aloisi you sack a s--t. I'm so angry. If these idiots don't think Broich is worthy of an a-league contract there truly is no hope for them. He's still one of their best players ffs. 

haha

Massive reaction from fans understandably upset at this. I seem to be in the minority on this one, I think it's the right time for him to go. He's 37 next season and gets through each game with pain killing injections on his troublesome ankle. Bloke is still pure class but the times right, at least for Roar, if he'd played on next season I think we would have regretted it. I recon he could do another year in the HAL for someone though (assuming his ankle holds) and maybe two more years in somewhere like Thailand. Hopefully he's back as coach in a couple of years all the same.

As an Australian player he is a good pick up and strange release.

strange? its a f--king sick joke of a release. 

If they don't value Broich above say......Pepper and Arana? ...well sheesh.

Guy changed the way the game is played here.  Showed the value of body shape in receiving the ball, shielding and having a soft but sure first touch.
I can't think of anybody that would be close to replacing him.  Maybe Carrusca, but even he can't do what Broich does for Brisbane.  Castro would be the only nominee I could reasonably summon.

Compare this to the way SFC has treated McFlynn and Victory with Muscat.  Broich has a ton of talent in his head that he could share as youth Coach.  He genuinely believes in the playing style. 

Just shows you - don't give anything to Roar because sure as fuck you won't get it back.  Terrible people.

@SWandP

I think Broich has received more in salary from Roar than most people will earn in a lifetime - $500k+/year for how long? Hes been paid really well.

He's 37 next up, his ankle is almost shot and will probably need major surgery in the winter, and he's not asking for a cheap salary he's asking for what he thinks he's worth - good for him - but if Roar overpay Broich under the cap how do they afford to keep Avraam, Caletti and sign a new striker to replace Maccers?

I wasn't thinking about money in my response.  It wasn't mentioned anywhere.
Since you raised it though - ditch Arana and promote a youth squad member in his place.  The youngster will be bottom of the payroll and then use the difference to pay Broich?  I'm presuming they are paying Holman and Oar the overs?  Neither of those has impressed me more than Broich this season.

While I feel like having a rant - Why are players like Arana even brought to the League?  There was an even bigger dud they signed last year and he's so forgettable that I've already forgotten him. 
This year they are forced to play Caletti and look at the performances!  If an import player isn't good enough to be on your starting sheet every single week then he isn't good enough to be robbing a young Australian of a chance at a Professional career. 

Broich will wake up one day and decide he doesn't want to go to training that morning.  He will be a top line player until that day. 

SWandP

You're thinking of Hervas. Who has one thing in common with Arana and that's they were both last minute signings after a winter crisis.

Keeping Broich is not as simple as dropping one player and promoting a kid - the salary cap means $2.8m has to be spent on a squad of 23 players and the PFA set a minimum wage ($60k?). So you'd have to lose an Avraam and sign a new striker on Peppers pay grade and ability.

The villain is the cap here. Keeping Broich but losing Avraam and Caletti and having no money for a decent striker is pointless.

I understand where fans are coming from but I think it is time for him to hang up the boots. 

There has to be a certain amount of value having him at training and in the dressing room. Even if he averaged 25 mins or so over a season.

Thats really sad. What an absolutely immense player he has been both for Brisbane and the league. 

He will be heading back to Germany, that is a sure thing.

Would be great if he got into coaching. I reckon he's got a lot to give. Something like an academy type coaching role

@fans

When I read this it's more about Aloisi than Broich perhaps. Removing an authority figure from the club who has stated managerial aspirations.

I was thinking,maybe it was his comments about Macca trying his luck overseas.Maybe the dressing room listens to Broich too much for the coaching staff.Because I am sure only a month or two ago Aloisi was praising him and saying he would want him involved with Roar after he finished playing.
Whats changed in the last few months?ACL and a lot of young players stepping up and too many old players?

@ crimdoncrusoe

What's changed in a couple of months is Broichs mind; a couple of months ago he was retiring at the end of the season, travelling for a bit, going back to Germany to get his coaching licence and maybe back to Brisbane ... now he wants to play on. That's what's changed.

Hahaha whoa that's really gonna blow up in BR's faces if this is true. The bloke is a club legend and he's gonna leave like this??? I wonder if this will be the breaking point for many Roar fans...
If this does happen then now would be the perfect time for the FFA to introduce a second Brisbane team. Setup as direct rivals to Roar, do the opposite of everything the Bakries have done, hire some bloke that the Aloisi's hate (what's that Adelaide guy up to?), make some jabs at their treatment of Broich, and then sign him as their marquee for their first season. Holy shit I would be able to taste the salt from here. What an awesome shitshow that would be. Would set up one hell of a fiery Brisbane rivalry! Or imagine if Victory signed Broich...goddamn the entertainment from this shit goes through :D

Welcome to Melbourne Broich!

-PB

Club needs to come out and explain it all from their end. If its the salary cap preventing TB from signing again then people will at least be able to redirect their anger at the FFA lol. What about that Archie rule for long serving players? 

Straight to the jets as a marquee signing

I hope he stays in the A-League, a good singing for one of the lesser clubs.

15 All

Waz,If Broich wants to play on for a few more years full time then I can appreciate that Aloisis has to prioritise youth and long term objectives.
But if Broich leaves ,then thats one spot free and if Arana leaves that's another.If Macca leaves there's another.That's three.
Is Pepper going to stay?Surely not..A youth player can do what he does and so can one of our three experienced CB's.
So that's four spots.
But a loyalty payment can be made upto $200k outside the cap.Broich qualifies.
3 home grown players can be paid up to $200k outside the cap and under 23....,Brown,Borrello,Caletti?
Then there is the mature age rookie ,over 21 who can be paid outside the cap...Borello.
Have Roar maxed out all of these options?

Very disappointing! However, I can understand Roar's position. Its difficult, very difficult. So Friday night may be the last time, probably will go now!

Love ya Thomas!

So why couldnt Aloisi offer Broich a contract
And obviously Broic wasnt 100% commited to playing for the roar otherwise he would have waited for a contracy or further negotiated for one

Why would he hang around and beg for a contract? He wanted to play for them but they could not offer him a contract for what ever reason, he is just thinking of his future which is fair. 

Coming off contract, other HAL clubs will have been making offers since January.

Nothing wrong with the system, this is just Broich's agent using the fans to up the bidding.

So the ACL group games are not part of the season as far as the FFA and PFA are concerned?

I think we can dispense with money being a reason why Broich is not being resigned.It's relatively easy to pay him extra after he retires.
Moore says there is an open invitation for Broich to join Roar after his retirement.
So it's safe to assume Aloisis and Moore don't think Broich is worth another year.Which if we remember the first half of the season,Broich was very poor.If Aloisi wants more pace on the left then Broich is excess.He unfortunately never was able to play centrally.
Like ArchieT at MV ,tough decisions have to be made for the next generation.

I completely disagree re: performance. He has literally out performed McKay, Pepper, Oar and Arana all year. Pace was never Broich's go. If you let Broich go based on age and performance, you should be letting McKay go too. Broich would also a better CDM than Pepper or Holman who have both played in that spot this year. That's why I can't understand why they wouldn't keep him as a utility player. The guy can defend (tackle and win headers) unlike most of our other forwards. 

COACH John Aloisi says the A-League’s salary cap is to blame for the loss of Brisbane legend Thomas Broich next season, calling for it to be changed or scrapped to make it easier for clubs to retain long-serving players.

The 36-year-old will leave the Roar after seven campaigns, three titles and two Johnny Warren medals, having not been offered a new contract for next season.

Broich made the definitive call on his future after talking with Aloisi, who said he would not know what he could offer the former German international until salary-cap calculations were done at the end of the season.

Broich had been unsure if he wanted to play on until two weeks ago, when he first informed the club of his intent.
There is scope for A-League teams to pay up to $200,000 outside the salary cap, as part of a ‘loyalty player allowance’, but it operates on a sliding scale and it’s understood the Roar have used up almost all of it on other players.

Aloisi said it would have been easy for Brisbane to keep Broich, and better for the competition, if that allowance was increased, echoing recent calls from Ange Postecoglou for the cap to be removed.
“The salary cap is that complicated for us to explain to all the supporters; people don’t understand - they just go ‘why can’t you keep Thomas Broich?’,” he told AAP. “It’s not as simple as that. I would have loved to.
“It’s like Roma with Francesco Totti - you want your legends to be able to stay at their club for the rest of their lives.“We’ve been put in a position where we can’t keep him, virtually. I don’t really agree with it, because this is what can happen.”Broich is believed to be eyeing off a move to Asia, and his move to apply for Australian citizenship could make that easier.
It is hard to imagine him wanting to play for another A-League side, given the depth of his love for the Roar, the club where he rekindled his passion for football in their golden era.Aloisi said the door was open for Broich to return to the club in a coaching capacity at any time in the future.

He also said the best way for upset supporters to channel their emotion - instead of being angry at the club - was to pack the stands in what could be one of Broich’s final matches at Suncorp Stadium, Friday night’s elimination final against Western Sydney.“I’m hoping it’s not. I’m hoping we play a grand final - but I hope there’s a big crowd to see him play because what he’s achieved at this football club and the A-League has been phenomenal,” Aloisi said.

Meanwhile, football director Craig Moore has said the club was disappointed with the timing of Broich’s announcement, saying it shouldn’t detract from Friday night’s finals game.“You’ve got to be mindful of not being disrespectful to the playing group because we’ve got a massive game this Friday, a finals game, where it’s all on the line,” Moore told Radio TAB.“Certainly this week we would have liked the discussions or the publicity was around that football match. To come out before the finals game is a little bit disappointing.“But I get it, I understand it. Thomas wanted to make a decision early so he could be focused and have his head in the right space, so we totally respect that.”Moore said there was an “open-ended invitation” for Broich to join the Roar’s operations - most likely in an academy role - once he retires after previously expressing a desire to take up coaching.

One man says he doesn't know what he can offer until we hire an accountant at tax time, the other says no room in the cap. Well which is it fellas? Is it possible you're contradicting each other because neither of you know what's going on with the finances? More than a little concerning.

I am not sure how you can blame the salary cap when he wasn't even offered a contract. Surely you could fit a player of Broich's standing at 200-250K. He is at least the 5th best player in the current line up. Someone was offered a contract instead of him, you still need to have 23 players in the squad. 

Clearly not. If they think his ankle is deteriorating and he wont be able to play that much next season, they would need to pay him that money plus bring in someone of similar quality, who'd likely want even more. If it was easy to do, they'd have done it.

Asking because I don't know - has there been a salary cap announced for the next season?

Yeah and I thought it had increased?

-PB

The salary cap for next season (apparently) gets confirmed May 30th. A news report a month or so back said clubs had been advised to expect a $200k increase on the cap for next season but no advice on the following year (which is dumb if you want to sign a player for 2+ years).

Brisbane Roar coach John Aloisi has urged his team to send club great Thomas Broich off with an A-League title

BRISBANE coach John Aloisi has urged his Roar side to reward departing star Thomas Broich with a fourth A-League championship.

As revealed by The Courier-Mail, Broich will leave the club at the end of this season after seven years of stellar service.

With Aloisi currently unable to guarantee the 36-year-old playmaker a contract for next season, Broich is looking elsewhere to continue his decorated career, much to the dismay of fans who felt more should have been done to keep the two-time Johnny Warren Medallist in Brisbane.

“I would have loved to have been able to work out something that would have kept Thomas here until the end of his playing days,” Aloisi told The Courier-Mail.

“But I understand him wanting an answer now rather than waiting until the end of the season to find out what future he had here.”

MOVING ON: Why Broich is leaving Roar

COMMENT: Cap revamp may have kept Broich

Aloisi said the salary cap made it tough for all A-League clubs, and hoped its days were numbered.

“We shouldn’t be restricted in our attempts to keep guys like Thomas at the Roar for the rest of his career,” he said.


Thomas Broich is leaving Brisbane Roar at the end of the season.
“He’s been so good for the Roar, and for me as a coach. He’s like a coach that’s on the field during games, and it’s the same at training with the way he works with players and mentors them.”

It is why Aloisi remains keen for Broich to return to the club once he retires to be part of the Roar’s coaching set up.

But for now, Aloisi wants his German marquee man and the rest of the Roar squad to focus on the task of becoming the first club to win an A-League championship from outside the top two.

Brisbane’s finals campaign starts tomorrow night when they host Western Sydney Wanderers in a sudden-death encounter at Suncorp Stadium.

“What a way it would be for Thomas to finish his Roar career with another title,” Aloisi said.

“I hope there’s a big crowd there to watch him and the rest of the team. The support from the stands will be very important.”

Broich said helping the Roar to a fourth A-League title in seven years would be the “ultimate goodbye”.

“I will give my everything to achieve that,” Broich said.

“For me, there are only a few more games to play for the Roar, and I’ll just fight like a lion.

“On Friday the focus is playing the Wanderers and hopefully progressing to the second week of the finals.”

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/football/a-league/brisbane-roar-coach-john-aloisi-has-urged-his-team-to-send-club-great-thomas-broich-off-with-an-aleague-title/news-story/900c3dfc03bc49d96b3da18420fd1140

We all wait for FFA, to reveal the increase in the salary cap.With the increased revenue from Foxsports ,they have to increase the cap.They have a contract with PFA.

It’s like Roma with Francesco Totti - you want your legends to be able to stay at their club for the rest of their lives.

true they're both 40, you cant play forever

This will be a great distraction when Brisbane play WSW. I expect Brisbane to send Broich off with a loss.

Very very saddened and disappointed by this news. I'm not sure I'll ever like a player more.

Doubt it,it will probably have the opposite effect, Broich will play his absolute best against us. 

Who doesn't see a Speed incoming?

"Thomas BROOOICHH 36 years young"

Might be hard for him to play with a knife in his back though

RBB or Roar management? 

very clever. Have BRFC supporters stopped and considered how much Broich would command - $100k? $200k? $300k? and how much he could get at another HAL team or overseas? I don't see him dropping his demands and as BRFC have made him a millionaire over the recent few years he and his agent will still want the best salary possible. How much is he worth to them? another Hervas instead of a Kristensen or another Kurtishi instead of a Berihas or Maclaren? its a funny discussion when football supporters get emotional, its like watching teenage boys argue over a pretty girl, no thought just testosterone. How much are they prepared to risk to keep Broich? and why do football supporters feel they know more than the coaches with all their analysis and GPS data and medical history and squad knowledge and transfer target knowledge? Thomas Broich has acted like he's just fallen off his pedestal and he doesn't like the new view, so he thought he might bring BRFC down a peg or two in the process. some hero.

Brisbane Roar do a fine job of bringing themselves down and looking like fools in the off season. Broich is as humble as they come and no where in that article did it show he was being big headed or falling off his pedestal. He wanted to continue to play on but Roar could not guarantee that at the time, so he understood where the club was coming from, thanked them for their honesty and wished them the best.

Could the timing have been better? Sure but then fans would not have had the chance to fair well this club legend for one last time, there is also the home ACL game as well. I still feel the club is making the wrong decision here, where there is a will, there is a way and I'm sure if they tried hard enough they could find a way for it to work.

Fans are emotional and have every right to be, there are those who take it to far on both sides but we need to move forward and support the players tomorrow first and foremost. I look forward to many beers pre game and watching Brisbane Roar and the legend that is Thomas Broich. 

You are joking right. I think its fair to say that throughout this whole process Thomas Broich has acted with the utmost integrity. This includes his willingness to accept that he would no longer be a Marquee. Even though having Holman and Oar as Marquee players is a questionable decision. This despite having Broich literally stand aside so that Brisbane roar could start recruiting and retaining existing players, essentially allowing Brisbane to sign him towards the end of their recruitment needs. This is despite accepting that he might not always start matches even though he is still performing at a high level. He did not seek a request for a contract even though he was more than entitled to seek options a whole lot earlier. How you can think that Broich is trying to be a hero and take down BRFC a peg or two is beyond me. Brisbane needs a fucking wake up call on how to manage a team list and especially how to manage one of their best and most beloved players. 

has he got his australian passport?  maybe he can get some retirement money in china.

Broich is apparently asking for a salary package of over $400,000 including salary, flights back to Germany, car and agents fees.

How would possibly know that? Did you speak to Broich or his agent?

I coach in the NPL, we get the gossip on BRFC all the time because of the cross over between coaches. There's no reason not to believe it but i have not talked to Thomas or his agent. But i do know ex-professionals that seem to think he could earn that in South East Asia quite easily so maybe its true?