Verbeek’s winning record faces ultimate test
Few Socceroos coaches can boast the sort of winning record Pim Verbeek has. Yet few have been as heavily criticised as the 54-year-old Dutchman.
Verbeek’s results-driven agenda and choice of conservatism over flair to achieve it has brought remarkable criticism for a man who has guided Australia to both the World Cup and Asian Cup finals on his watch.
In his two and a half years in charge, he boasts a winning strike rate of 55 per cent in 27 matches, and has presided over only four defeats in that time.
The defensive qualities critics use to bucket Verbeek have helped earn 17 clean sheets and the Socceroos the proud mantle of having Asia’s most stingy defence throughout the World Cup qualifiers.
Not a bad effort for a man who wasn’t first choice for the job. Not even second, reportedly.
Verbeek only got his chance after fellow Dutchman Dick Advocaat reneged on a deal to coach Australia for Russian club Zenit St Petersburg, and other higher-profile candidates had declined.
Yet he sealed Australia’s qualification for Germany with two group matches to spare – most of his side’s best results achieved in the pressure-cooker of away ties against quality opposition.
“Football Federation Australia picked him and everyone was saying, ‘who is this guy?’” Socceroos defender Lucas Neill said of Verbeek, an assistant to the revered Guus Hiddink at South Korea during the 2002 World Cup campaign.
“He’s been tactically shrewd and his preparation has been amazing.
“Getting us ruthless, not conceding goals, not wanting to lose games, doing it the hard way, then getting it done with two home games to go … this is just amazing.”
A former professional footballer forced into early retirement by knee problems, Verbeek moved into a journeyman’s coaching existence with clubs around his native Holland.
Then a chance to manage Japanese club Omiya Ardija in the late 1990s led to an Asian adventure which eventually made him a successful international coach.
A third place finish coaching South Korea at the 2007 Asian Cup – as the Socceroos under-performed under Graham Arnold – put him on Australia’s radar.
Despite his pragmatism, Verbeek is a straight shooter, and his contention soon after being appointed that the domestic A-League was not good enough to prepare players for international football put him offside with many.
But his time in charge proves that controversial statement is probably right, as comparison of the results achieved by predominantly A-League selections to those of his first-choice European-based first 11 shows.
Verbeek has spent long periods of time during his tenure based in Australia – renting a seaside apartment in Sydney and splitting his time between it and his home in Holland.
And the tyranny of distance is what Verbeek blames for his decision to quit the Socceroos after the World Cup – win, lose or draw – for a less taxing role overseeing Morocco’s under-age national teams.
“To take a decision to live for four more years so far away from my family was a big decision,” Verbeek said.
“We have had a great time. It’s maybe better to leave when it’s all fantastic, to do something else.”
Verbeek has built Australia’s successful qualification on knowing World Cup campaigns are marathons, not sprints.
Yet his impressive record will count for little if Verbeek and his Socceroos hit “the wall” in South Africa, rather than enter the stadium full of running.
http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/05/20/verbeeks-winning-record-faces-ultimate-test/