New Socceroos coach: who is he and what's his game?

New Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk [fon MAR-wayk] has been tasked with leading Australia to June's FIFA World Cup. Speaking exclusively to SBS, the 65-year-old Dutchman says he's ready to get started.

New Socceroos Head Coach Bert Van Marwijk during a press conference at the FFA Headquarters in Sydney, Thursday, February 1, 2018. (AAP Image/Brendan Esposito) Source: AAP

Bert van Marwijk has a simple football philosophy.

 

f3856a                         VAN MARWIJK                                              12s

"I like to have the ball. I like to play a good possession game. I like to play attractive(ly), and with a lot of creativity. But I also like to win, that's the most important thing."

 

But he concedes converting his ideology won't be so easy.

 

The World Cup gets underway in under five months, and a pair of friendlies for the Socceroos in March means time is of the essence. 

 

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"I have to do it in a short time. The things I want to do, and maybe I need a few months, I have to do it in a few weeks. That is the situation. I cannot change that."

 

Luckily for Australia, the 65-year-old has a strong footballing pedigree.

 

In 2002, he won the UEFA [yoo-AY-fuh] Cup with Dutch club Feyenoord [FY-uh-nord], and took an attacking Netherlands team to the 2010 World Cup final.

 

While some are worried van Marwijk may implement a defensive style at this year's tournament, the new boss says otherwise.

 

f3856c                         VAN MARWIJK                                              11s

"The statistics of the Dutch team in 2010 ... it's the other way around. I'm an offensive (attacking) coach, I was a offensive football player. I like offensive football."

 

Van Marwijk's Socceroos appointment comes after he led Saudi Arabia to this year's World Cup, but left the post just days after qualification, citing planning differences.

 

The Socceroos actually faced van Marwijk's team in qualifying, drawing 2-all away and winning 3-2 at home.

 

The Dutchman says he's delighted to be going to another World Cup.

 

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"We were qualified with Saudi Arabia to go to Russia, and at the end, it didn't work. They had other thoughts about preparation for such a big tournament, as I had. And now I get the opportunity to go, but with a country I like."

 

The Socceroos have been drawn in a tough World Cup group, with 1998 champions France, Peru and Denmark.

 

But Bert van Marwijk says he has no expectations on how the Socceroos will go.

 

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"I am not a type that I have expectations. When I see the group, then I'll say: we must do everything to survive the first round."

 

Until then, all eyes will be on friendlies with Columbia and Norway in March.