Ange Postecoglou was appointed head coach of J.League club Yokohama F. Marinos, exactly four weeks after he "sensationally quit the Socceroos post," according to David Davutovic of the HERALD SUN. Postecoglou joined the City Football Group-owned side on a multi-year deal, "triggering his return to club coaching" for the first time since '13. Postecoglou will reportedly spend several days "shadowing" Man City Manager Pep Guardiola in January before departing for Yokohama to start the preseason. The J.League season starts in February. A Chinese Super League club made a "late play" for Postecoglou, "but the long term strategies and stability that underpin Yokohama and CFG convinced him it was the right move" (HERALD SUN, 12/18). The AAP reported Postecoglou will become the first Australian to coach in the J.League since Graham Arnold -- "the man most likely to replace him as Socceroos coach" -- had an "ill-fated spell in charge of Vegalta Sendai" ending in April '14. Postecoglou will replace Erick Mombaerts as coach (AAP, 12/18).
STEPPING STONE: The HERALD SUN reported in a "stunning coup de grace," Postecoglou is joining CFG -- Melbourne City's owner and "among the A-League empire at war with Football Federation Australia amid the local power struggle." Many will view Postecoglou's move as a "backward step," but those who have worked with him said that he is "always several steps ahead and no doubt he views this as a stepping stone." That he has accepted the Yokohoma job and a reported similar salary "probably underlines how disillusioned he must have been with FFA" (HERALD SUN, 12/19).
