Roar say Rado not sacked

Updated December 20, 2012 08:26:41

Brisbane Roar general manager Sean Dobson says Rado Vidosic was not sacked and even had a hand in his own demise as coach.

Former Gold Coast United coach Mike Mulvey was calling the shots at training on Wednesday morning as Vidosic moved into his new job as technical director.

Mulvey said the Roar were only "one or two degrees" off where they needed to be and their season was far from over despite being second-last on the A-League ladder with three wins from 11 games.

"They just need to rediscover the hunger, how to get the kill again, whatever it takes, we'll find a way," said Mulvey, as Dobson explained the reasons behind his mid-season appointment.

Vidosic, understood to have fallen out with at least one player during his brief tenure, fell on his sword late on Tuesday following a meeting between Dobson and the team's senior players headed by captain Matt Smith.

Vidosic played a major tactical role in Brisbane's back-to-back championship wins as Ange Postecoglou's assistant.

While credited for his skills work, he was unable to transfer his technical talents to coaching and motivating the club's marquee players, gleaning just a few wins.

The reality is Brisbane's gamble to go with Vidosic after Postecoglou walked out, has not worked.

"He wasn't sacked," insisted Dobson after Mulvey conducted his first training session at Ballymore on Wednesday.

"This club has an open communication process, people understand what is going on and why.

"Rado was part of this (restructure) process, the same way he was part of the process in the pre-season when we were considering our (coaching) options."

Dobson said Vidosic was better suited to the role he had been given as he had shown by the quality of international players he had attracted to the club.

"Rado is very passionate about education, very, very passionate about (player) development. For him that's where he is happiest," he said.

"Rado has been a big part of this club from day one. He knows it, it's inherent in his DNA."

Mulvey's immediate focus was Friday night's clash with last year's grand final opponents Perth Glory which he may have to win without gun striker Besart Berisha (shoulder) and young winger Dong-Hyun Do, who also went down at training with what appeared to be a potential serious knee injury.

The new coach immediately put a challenge to his players saying they had an opportunity to "light up the field" against Perth on Friday night.

"I've seen one training session but there's no doubt in my mind these boys are committed," he said.

"They're hurting because of the position they are on the ladder."

AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted December 19, 2012 17:37:55

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Redknapp sacked as Spurs manager

Updated June 14, 2012 15:32:23

Harry Redknapp has been sacked as manager of Tottenham Hotspur after nearly four years in charge of the Premier League club.

"This is not a decision the board and I have taken lightly," said Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy in a statement.

"Harry arrived at the club at a time when his experience and approach was exactly what was needed.

"This decision in no way detracts from the excellent work Harry has done during his time with the club and I should like to thank him for his achievements and contribution."

Spurs were bottom of the Premier League table when Redknapp arrived at White Hart Lane from Portsmouth in 2008 and Levy added: "Harry will always be welcome at the Lane."

Redknapp, in a statement issued by Tottenham, said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Spurs and am proud of my achievements. I have had a fantastic four years with the club, at times the football has been breathtaking.

"I am sad to be leaving but wish to thank the players, staff and fans for their terrific support during my time there."

The 65-year-old Englishman was known to be pushing Levy for an extension to his contract, which was due to expire at the end of next season, saying the uncertainty surrounding his position was destabilising the squad.

It has been claimed that Levy was only willing to offer Redknapp a rolling 12-month contract whereas Redknapp favoured a longer deal.

Redknapp, whose status as the media and fans' favourite to become the next manager of England was ignored by the Football Association (FA) when they chose Roy Hodgson instead, did achieve Levy's goal of a top four Premier League finish last season.

But while that would normally have been good enough for Champions League football next season it was not this time because London rivals Chelsea won this season's tournament and thereby qualified as European champions.

Tottenham was third and 10 points clear of north London rivals Arsenal when Capello resigned in protest at the FA's decision to strip John Terry of the England captaincy.

Had they stayed third, rather than been overtaken by Arsenal, Spurs would have qualified for the Champions League regardless of Chelsea's triumph.

Indeed, at the turn of the year, Spurs were being spoken of as potential title challengers.

But a run of one victory in nine matches - a sequence understood to have caused Levy great concern - contributed to them slipping to fourth.

Redknapp repeatedly denied the England speculation had had any effect on Tottenham's results.

Prior to the speculation surrounding the England job, Redknapp also had to deal with the stress of facing a tax trial relating to his time as Portsmouth manager. He was cleared by a jury of all charges.

Redknapp joined Tottenham from Portsmouth, where he had just won the FA Cup, in 2008 with Spurs, who had been managed previously by Juande Ramos, rock bottom of the Premier League.

But he subsequently led them to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and two top four finishes in the Premier League.

Everton manager David Moyes, linked with the Tottenham job when Redknapp was being touted for the England post, remains the bookmakers' favourite now there is a vacancy.

AFP

Tags: sport, soccer, english-premier, united-kingdom, england

First posted June 14, 2012 11:13:51

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Coach sacked after punching own player

Updated May 03, 2012 11:32:58

Fiorentina coach Delio Rossi was sacked after punching his own player Adem Ljajic during a Serie A match after taking exception to the midfielder's sarcasm.

Fiorentina acted quickly after the match ended 2-2 with owner Andrea Della Valle announcing the 51-year-old's dismissal for "a serious action from a mild person."

The club was known to be reviewing the incident, which took place during the first half, even before the game ended.

With his side losing 2-0 at home to the team second bottom in the league after just half an hour, Rossi decided to act and hauled off Serbian Ljajic to bring on Ruben Olivera.

As he went back to sit in the dug-out, Ljajic, 20, sarcastically applauded his coach's decision.

Rossi took exception to the player's reaction and leapt into the dug-out and seemed to punch Ljajic in the face.

The scene continued for several seconds with Rossi trying to attack his player with a burst of hammer-fist punches as Fiorentina officials tried to separate the pair.

A couple of substitutes also tried to calm the situation, pulling Ljajic away from his irate coach.

Dalle Valle said Rossi had left him no other option.

"I spoke with Delio Rossi and he was ready to apologise," he said.

"But the decision to sack him is a must due to the values this club has followed over the last few years.

"It's a decision I would have never wanted to take but there is no justification for Delio Rossi's actions.

"The sacking is for his own good, he's a great person."

The referee did not see the incident and neither coach nor player was punished.

But Fiorentina's fans showed exactly whose side they were on by jeering the young Serb.

Rossi, on the other hand, was cheered and clapped.

He was only hired in November after the sacking of Sinisa Mihajlovic and had faced pressure a few weeks ago with his side in dire form and heading towards the relegation trap-door.

AFP

Tags: italy, soccer, sport, italy

First posted May 03, 2012 11:04:47

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Leading soccer manager sacked for coming second

ELEANOR HALL: Second isn't good enough. It's a mantra professional coaches understand and it's just been enforced in a ruthless way by the Chelsea Football Club.

The club sacked coach Carlo Ancelotti overnight, despite winning two titles with him a year ago.

As Michael Atkin reports it highlights the highly competitive nature of European football, where wealthy private owners demand instant results.

MICHAEL ATKIN: Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti took the football team to unprecedented heights last season - winning both the English Premier League and the FA Cup.

SOCCER COMMENTATOR: There is the final whistle. Chelsea do the double for the first time in their history.

MICHAEL ATKIN: But just one year later, the team is in disarray after Ancelotti lost his job. Speaking after Chelsea's loss to Everton to end the season, it was clear he had no idea he was about to be sacked.

CARLO ANCELOTTI: I said I would like to stay but I have to accept the decision of the club. Now they have time to judge my job, if they decided that I have to stay, I will stay.

MICHAEL ATKIN: But shortly after the Italian was told finishing second to rivals Manchester United wasn't good enough. Chelsea released this statement to justify the sacking.

EXTRACT FROM STATEMENT FROM CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB: This season's performances have fallen short of expectations and the club feels the time is right to make this change ahead of next season's preparations.

MICHAEL ATKIN: It's sparked a furious debate in football circles about whether he deserved to go. It's been described as damaging to the game by the Managers Association and former Chelsea player Graeme Le Saux said it was bad for the players.

Damien Lovelock is a football commentator with Sky News. He says while the sacking is harsh by Australian standards, European football is a tough business where they expect results.

DAMIEN LOVELOCK: AFL, NRL even the A-League, oh yes, terribly, terribly poorly treated. By European standards especially in the elite competitions, not at all. It is worth the most money therefore it has the least margin for error. If you look at their season, I mean last year he comes in and they win two trophies so that is great.

This year that doesn't matter. Unless he had the most incredible bad luck with injuries or something, last year's great now do it again. You know, do better.

MICHAEL ATKIN: Chelsea is one of a growing number of European football teams with wealthy foreign owners. Ambitious Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is desperate for Chelsea to succeed in the European Champions League and when it didn't happen this year - he intervened.

Damien Lovelock says the owner's impatience destabilised the team.

DAMIEN LOVELOCK: Abramovich sacks the assistant coach, Ray Wilkins who is probably the most popular guy at the club, doesn't give a reason, didn't even tell Ancelotti he was going to do it. Ancelotti reads about it in the paper. It was extremely unpopular with the players and guess what - that is when the slump started.

He then signs Fernando Torres who has been out of form for nearly two years, signing a guy like that when you have still got Didier Drogba in your team and Nicolas Anelka who were getting the job done for you, doesn't exactly promote team harmony.

I think that's the biggest problem at Chelsea.

SOCCER COMMENTATOR: What a season for Chelsea and Carlo Ancelotti.

ELEANOR HALL: Not any more, Michael Atkin reporting there.

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