HAVING healed a troubled end to Guillermo Amor’s reign and worked wonders with Adelaide United, Marco Kurz is the supreme fit as Socceroos coach after Russia 2018.
Kurz is guiding a virtual Reds youth ensemble to the A-League finals while earning coach of the year plaudits from peers.
Something special is happening at Hindmarsh. Kurz has battled a debilitating injury list, Olyroos commitments and a minuscule budget to have Adelaide three points behind cashed-up, third-ranked Melbourne City. Indomitable will, fanatical fitness, inspired football and outlandish squad improvement have characterised Kurz’s regime. Kurz had flown under the radar here, but didn’t escape the notice of savvy United chairman Greg Griffin and football manager Ante Kovacevic last June.
Kurz — in just his second Bundesliga coaching appearance, steering Kaiserslautern — humbled Bayern Munich counterpart Louis van Gaal. There is no substitute for substance and Kurz has it in spades over 25 years, including 311 Bundesliga appearances as a player. Stuttgart native Kurz, 48, guided minnow Kaiserslautern into Germany’s top flight and seventh spot in 2010-11. When it comes to making a silk purse from a sow’s ear, Kurz has form.
When he arrived at Hindmarsh last June, he sat down all staff from accounts to the kit man, telling them, “I am here for a reason, you have to buy into it if you want to be here.” It is a theme that has washed through Adelaide’s season.
The significance of last Sunday’s 0-0 draw with champion Sydney is lost on paper. Dig deeper and Graham Arnold’s men couldn’t break down a United side with 10 first-team regulars sidelined and 11 players aged 21 or under.
Jordan Elsey looms as Adelaide’s next Alex Tobin, locking down former Besiktas front-man Bobo. Lachlan Brook, 16, striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, 18, and midfielder Jordan O’Doherty displayed confidence beyond their years against the likes of million-dollar marquee man Milos Ninkovic, Adrian Mierzejewski and former Socceroo Alex Wilkinson.
O’Doherty notes how Kurz eradicated the cliques and division that ravaged predecessor Amor’s dressing-room in a demoralising title defence last season. Experienced imports Daniel Adlung, Johan Absalonsen, Ersan Gulum and new skipper Isaias galvanised the Reds, while Kurz made Adelaide’s burgeoning rookies “believe”.
“If I compare it to last year the culture is completely better in the change room. Everyone is together, young and old, where sometimes it was divided in the changeroom. The seniors trust the younger players. Everyone knows their roles,” he said.
Karim Matmour shakes the hand of coach Marco Kurz ahead of his Adelaide United departure before Christmas. Picture: Sarah ReedThe shock mid-season departure for family reasons of Karim Matmour — the playmaker Socceroo Aaron Mooy replaced at Premier League outfit Huddersfield Town — should have upended Adelaide’s title assault. Instead, Birkalla export Ryan Kitto proved a revelation with five goals.
Kurz has provided the hands-on blueprint for youth development that Australia craves after a decade of abysmal under-age, international failure. Adelaide can’t pay for foreign marquee marvels like Sydney FC can, but is investing in future stars.
Australia’s next long-term coach won’t have the luxury of Tim Cahill. World Cup qualification will rely on maximising talent and buy-in to compete with Asian rivals that have left Australia behind.
Dutchman Bert van Marwijk is an ideal stop-gap Socceroos coach in Russia. Kurz represents the German enterprise, aggression, tactical fluidity and man-management expertise best suited to Australia post-Russia. Former Socceroos, now Yokohama, boss Ange Postecoglou has poached Kurz’ fitness guru Greg King but Football Federation Australia chief David Gallop should call for the German in August.