法国人勒冈将出任澳洲国足的主教练

BOC

http://www.smh.com.au/world-cup- ... -20100620-ypap.html

Le Guen firms as new coach



AUSTRALIA'S love affair with Dutch coaches is over as France's Paul Le Guen firms as the man most likely to replace Pim Verbeek at the helm of the Socceroos.

Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy confirmed last night the new national coach would soon be finalised, and while he wouldn't confirm Le Guen was top of the wishlist, it's believed the 46-year-old former French international, now coaching Cameroon at the World Cup, is the front runner.

There is a chance Verbeek's replacement will be in charge for Australia's first post-World Cup outing, a friendly in Slovenia in August, although Lowy insisted the FFA would not be rushed. ''It's not impossible but we can't rush it because of one game,'' Lowy said.

''It needs to be a very deliberate process; if we make the wrong decision, it could affect us for a long time.

''We have many irons in the fire but we will take our time to choose. It's very important we find the right person at the right price.

''I think we are in a reasonable position to do that, and we have to be competitive. Nobody is coming to Australia because they like the country, or the colour of my eyes.''

Pressed on whether Le Guen - who had mixed spells with Glasgow Rangers, Olympique Lyon and Paris St Germain before taking charge of Cameroon last year - was in the box seat, Lowy replied: ''Let me say this. Is the coach coming from the 31 countries that are here [in South Africa]? Yes.''

Asked if the new man would be Dutch, Lowy said: ''Are there any Dutch coaches here? I don't know if there are.'' Was there an official shortlist? ''We have many irons in the fire. I think we have a wishlist rather than a shortlist.''

Was that wishlist slanted towards an older, seasoned coach, or a younger coach on the way up, like Le Guen? ''It would be good to find a coach with enough experience to bring the youngsters through, the players we need for the next World Cup,'' he said.

Lowy laughed at reports the FFA had a $6 million salary to offer the next coach, about three times that paid to Verbeek, saying: ''There is no war chest. As I said, we have a budget and we believe we can be competitive.''

Lowy has made it clear he would prefer the new coach lived in Australia, rather than be based overseas, as has been the case with both Verbeek and his predecessor, Guus Hiddink.

''It's very important the new coach fits into the Australian scene, understands the mentality, understands the country and gets to know the players that are coming through,'' he said. ''We would like the coach to spend more time in Australia. That's preferable, definitely, but it's not a deal-breaker.''