A PROFILE coach does not guarantee success but Melbourne City hopes its low-key English signing can extract full potential from a high-profile squad.
Warren Joyce, 52, has carved a reputation as top-line youth developer during a 17-year coaching career, headlined by stints in charge of Manchester United’s and Leeds United’s youth teams.
Less heralded but more pertinent are his spells with Belgian club Royal Antwerp (2006-08) and his most recent gig, four months in charge of Wigan Athletic in a season they were relegated to League One.
The Championship is more cut-throat than the A-League, but arriving at underperforming City he will be expected to get results quickly.
NEW MAN:Joyce appointed Melbourne City coach
Joyce will not last the eight years he spent at Old Trafford (2008-16) or four years at Leeds United (2000-04) as youth coach unless he secures City’s first A-League title.
New Melbourne City coach Warren Joyce takes his first training session with the club on Monday.Source:News Corp Australia
He has signed a two-year deal and Joyce must deliver in that time.
Joyce could not speak about his Wigan stint for “legal reasons” and gave little away with regards to his philosophy, but felt he was well equipped to make an impact at City.
“Neither one (youth or first-team job) fazes me. I actually think being a reserve coach is the hardest job in football because as soon as the team does things well, they (players) disappear,’’ Joyce said.
“In seniors you’ve got more chance of keeping them together.
“The reserve job is tough, I did it at a big club. You see the players, you get them doing everything right and they disappear and you’ve got to start all over again.
“It’s different with men, habits are formed more, they have more opinions, but you still want to throw challenges down to men of any age.
“I’ve come in with a purpose, with aims. I’ll try and leave a mark on Australian football and players you work with.’’
Politically Joyce is an interesting appointment, though finances played a part with 100-odd CV’s coming across chief executive Scott Munn’s desk.
New Melbourne City coach Warren Joyce (left) and assistant Michael Valkanis ahead of training on Monday.Source:News Corp Australia
Michael Valkanis, who has stayed on as assistant, was a chance to stay on until their season spectacularly derailed in the final weeks.
There was understood to be a push from some quarters to appoint former Adelaide United boss Josep Gombau.
With John van’t Schip already there when they bought the club in 2014 and Valkanis lured to City by Melbourne-based football chief Michael Petrillo a year ago, Joyce is effectively Manchester-based football chief Brian Marwood’s first appointment.
City vice-chairman Simon Pearce said: “He (is) an ideal cultural and tactical fit for Melbourne City.’’
Marwood, who saw City’s late-season collapse first-hand, said Joyce was a good fit.
“His teams have consistently won domestic and international trophies. He is the right manager at the right time for Melbourne City,’’ Marwood said.
Originally published as New man Joyce must deliver title
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