Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Bojan's Fourth Title Is No Mean Feat
When you think of serial title winners most people will immediately recite the names of Carlos Ancelotti who led championship winning teams in Italy, England, France, Germany and Spain, Pep Guardiola (Spain, Germany and England) and Jose Mourinho (Portugal, England, Italy and Spain) and yeah, they done good!
Not to belittle their phenomenal achievements but their success was achieved in fully developed leagues boasting more than 100 years of stability, regulations that tend to be followed and at clubs who do tend to honour contracts and have a vision that extends beyond the weekend.
Aussie Ange Postecoglou is an Antipodean serial title winner. He won the old National Soccer League with South Melbourne and the ALeague with Brisbane Roar. He also picked up a number of age group gongs along the way and was rewarded with coaching the Socceroos to win the AFC Asian Cup in 2015 before heading to Japan where he inspired Yokohama Marinos to the J League.
As if that little lot wasn't enough, after Japan he headed to Scotland where he won the Premiership twice with Celtic. With that impressive CV it was hardly a surprise when big clubs started sniffing around. Somewhat surprisingly he elected to join the eternal trophy dodgers Tottenham where he has the media eating out his hand by saying 'mate' alot but it looks like his trophy days are over!
Meanwhile in South East Asia where leagues and their management are more erratic and clubs ebb and flow depending on local politics such consistency is much harder to replicate.
Two of the most successful coaches in Indonesia for example have struggled in recent years to replicate the success they enjoyed earlier in their careers.
Rahmad Darmawan won the title with Sriwijaya (2007/08) and Persipura (2005) as well as three Piala Indonesias with the Palembang based side but his own collection of medals has dried up over the last 14 years with just a pre-season East Kalimantan Governor Cup in 2018 added.
The last few season have seen this one time serial winner coaching the likes of Mitra Kukar, TIRA Persikabo, Madura United, RANS and Barito Putera - no disrespect but hardly the biggest names in the league.
Then we have Jacksen F Thiago. A lethal striker in his playing days, Jacksen won the league with Persebaya and Persipura (three times). Both Jacksen and Rahmad are of a similar age to Postecogelou but while the Aussie's success has seen him accelerate through the leagues, the two Indonesian based coaches have struggled to make a name for themselves in the uncertainty of a league that seems to make things up as they go along.
The two coaches have something else in common. They both had short, unsuccessful spells in Malaysia
Little wonder then that coaches who have found success in more than one country around the region are rarer than hen's teeth. Yes, there was Steve Darby - did I mention I wrote a book about him?! - but he is in a lonely club.
Funnily enough a pal of Darby's was an early member. Robert Alberts helped Home United win the SLeague in 1999 before 10 years later crossing the equator and famously coaching Arema to success.
Scotsman Simon McMenemy is another who can claim membership. Since arriving in the region he has guided Loyala Meralco Sparks (Philippines) and unfancied Bhayangkara to their respective titles. And, intriguingly, McMenemy, along with RD and JFT, had a short, very short, stint with the Indonesian national side - a poisoned chalice indeed!
The following season he helped Kelantan to their first ever title in Malaysia and in 2014 he won the league with Johor Darul Ta'zim - their first ever title success as well. Three titles in four seasons is pretty good going by any standard.
Savvy observers of the game sat up and took notice when he was appointed coach of Persib when they were in the relegation zone and fans boycotting games. In a remarkable turn around the team finished runners up in the regular season and defeated Madura United to lift their second title in 10 years.
While this piece is focussing on titles won it is worth pointing out Bojan was coach of PSM for the Covid curtailed 2020 season - they would go on to win the league in 2022/23. Before returning to Indonesia, he was in charge of Kuala Lumpur City and in three seasons there he won the Malaysia Cup, led them to the AFC Cup Final and the FA Cup Final before losing - not bad for an unfancied side which hadn't tasted success for many, many years.
It's probably fair to say Bojan Hodak is currently the most sought after coach in South East Asian football but for now he will be enjoying his break before focussing on next season when he will have the small matter of defending his title and mounting an AFC Champions League campaign!
NB - this list is of course not definitive!
# posted by Me @ 6:43 PM 
