Sydney's coach in an article:
I'VE been fortunate enough to work with some great players during my time.
Dwight Yorke springs to mind. Glenn Hoddle. Kazuyoshi Miura. Robbie Slater. Nicola Berti.
But the arrival of Alessandro Del Piero is the pinnacle.Like the rest of Australia, I can not wait to welcome Alessandro to Sydney.
One of the first things I will do as coach is sit down with him and explain our philosophies. Basically where we're going as a team and how we intend to get there.
Then I will ask him what's best for him, and how we can get the best out of him.
I'm not about to reinvent the wheel.
Alessandro has enjoyed tremendous success playing in the front third his entire career, and that's exactly where he will play for us.
Plus, fans don't want to pay money and watch Alessandro make a sliding tackle on the edge of the box.
They want to see him in full flight, in attack and hopefully slamming the ball into the top corner.
A lot of people have asked me in the past 24 hours since he's signed if I'm intimidated at all.
Am I worried about calling the shots with such a huge name at the club?
The short answer is "no".
Top players are successful for a good reason. They know exactly what to do on the pitch, and give 100 per cent with everything they do.
I expect the boys to lift when Alessandro gets here for training. I'll also ask Alessandro for his thoughts throughout the season. I'd be foolish not to. As a coach, I'm always learning and trying to get to different ideas for training sessions.
What will happen if Alessandro has a bad game?
Will I have the courage to tell him how it is?
The short answer is "yes".
And I think Alessandro will respect me if I'm honest with him, as I am with all players.
I'm not usually one to lose my cool. I wouldn't stand on the sideline, flapping my arms and screaming abuse. I only blow up from time to time.
I erupted at half-time during a Sydney FC youth game last year, only to kick a bin in disgust, then realise it was full of ice and Gatorade bottles.
I'm not foolish to think Alessandro will win Sydney FC the premiership on his own. He will only be able to play his best if the 10 other players on the park do likewise. I need a player like Fabio to play well at left back and get the ball to him. There needs to be that link.
The reason Central Coast Mariners enjoyed such a good season last year was they played as a team.
Even Sydney FC, when Dwight Yorke was here in the first season, we all pulled together and performed as one. We win, lose and draw as one.
As for the captaincy debate, Terry McFlynn will remain with the armband.
Brett Emerton will continue as his deputy. We have structures in place, and even though Alessandro is the real drawcard, making him skipper never entered my mind.
But what fun it will be to have him in town.
I'VE been fortunate enough to work with some great players during my time.
Dwight Yorke springs to mind. Glenn Hoddle. Kazuyoshi Miura. Robbie Slater. Nicola Berti.
But the arrival of Alessandro Del Piero is the pinnacle.Like the rest of Australia, I can not wait to welcome Alessandro to Sydney.
One of the first things I will do as coach is sit down with him and explain our philosophies. Basically where we're going as a team and how we intend to get there.
Then I will ask him what's best for him, and how we can get the best out of him.
I'm not about to reinvent the wheel.
Alessandro has enjoyed tremendous success playing in the front third his entire career, and that's exactly where he will play for us.
Plus, fans don't want to pay money and watch Alessandro make a sliding tackle on the edge of the box.
They want to see him in full flight, in attack and hopefully slamming the ball into the top corner.
A lot of people have asked me in the past 24 hours since he's signed if I'm intimidated at all.
Am I worried about calling the shots with such a huge name at the club?
The short answer is "no".
Top players are successful for a good reason. They know exactly what to do on the pitch, and give 100 per cent with everything they do.
I expect the boys to lift when Alessandro gets here for training. I'll also ask Alessandro for his thoughts throughout the season. I'd be foolish not to. As a coach, I'm always learning and trying to get to different ideas for training sessions.
What will happen if Alessandro has a bad game?
Will I have the courage to tell him how it is?
The short answer is "yes".
And I think Alessandro will respect me if I'm honest with him, as I am with all players.
I'm not usually one to lose my cool. I wouldn't stand on the sideline, flapping my arms and screaming abuse. I only blow up from time to time.
I erupted at half-time during a Sydney FC youth game last year, only to kick a bin in disgust, then realise it was full of ice and Gatorade bottles.
I'm not foolish to think Alessandro will win Sydney FC the premiership on his own. He will only be able to play his best if the 10 other players on the park do likewise. I need a player like Fabio to play well at left back and get the ball to him. There needs to be that link.
The reason Central Coast Mariners enjoyed such a good season last year was they played as a team.
Even Sydney FC, when Dwight Yorke was here in the first season, we all pulled together and performed as one. We win, lose and draw as one.
As for the captaincy debate, Terry McFlynn will remain with the armband.
Brett Emerton will continue as his deputy. We have structures in place, and even though Alessandro is the real drawcard, making him skipper never entered my mind.
But what fun it will be to have him in town.
