Former star striker says he has ambitions of being a top manager
18 May 2020 - 13:56
byNick Mulvenney
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Sydney — Robbie Fowler believes his decision to move to Australia was a gamble that paid off and that his Brisbane Roar side would have been contenders for a third A-League title had the coronavirus outbreak not intervened.
The former England and Liverpool striker had the experience of the 2011/2012 season as player-coach at Thai club Muangthong United on his CV when he took over at the Roar at the start of the season.
The 45-year-old led the club, which had finished second last in the league the previous season, to fourth place when matches were suspended in March with six rounds of the regular season and the playoffs remaining.
“I took over a team that was struggling, for a couple of years they’ve struggled really bad, last year they conceded 71 goals,” he told Optus Sport from lockdown in England.
“[I knew this] was a massive gamble for me. I knew I wanted to do it. I knew I wanted to be a coach. I think me going to the other side of the world showed how dedicated I am, how passionate I am, how much I wanted it.
“It was a huge gamble because it could have gone either way but thankfully I took to it. To me it was a gamble that has definitely paid off.”
Until Covid-19 “put a little bit of a kibosh on it”, Fowler felt the Roar were well placed to challenge for another A-League title to those they won in 2010/2011 and 2013/2014.
“Since the turn of the year, the team over there have been absolute class, I couldn’t have asked any more of them,” he added.
“We accumulated more points than anyone else and were probably the form team going into the playoffs. I honestly believed we had as good a chance as anyone in those playoffs to win the grand final.”
With Football Federation Australia hoping to resume the season in late July or August, Fowler could still land the title and so further his ambition that his coaching career might one day match the heights of his years as a player.
“I would never disrespect Brisbane Roar by saying I’m using this as a stepping stone straight away,” he said. “[But] I am ambitious. I want to try to manage at the very top level.”
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Robbie Fowler chuffed with move Down Under
Former star striker says he has ambitions of being a top manager
Sydney — Robbie Fowler believes his decision to move to Australia was a gamble that paid off and that his Brisbane Roar side would have been contenders for a third A-League title had the coronavirus outbreak not intervened.
The former England and Liverpool striker had the experience of the 2011/2012 season as player-coach at Thai club Muangthong United on his CV when he took over at the Roar at the start of the season.
The 45-year-old led the club, which had finished second last in the league the previous season, to fourth place when matches were suspended in March with six rounds of the regular season and the playoffs remaining.
“I took over a team that was struggling, for a couple of years they’ve struggled really bad, last year they conceded 71 goals,” he told Optus Sport from lockdown in England.
“[I knew this] was a massive gamble for me. I knew I wanted to do it. I knew I wanted to be a coach. I think me going to the other side of the world showed how dedicated I am, how passionate I am, how much I wanted it.
“It was a huge gamble because it could have gone either way but thankfully I took to it. To me it was a gamble that has definitely paid off.”
Until Covid-19 “put a little bit of a kibosh on it”, Fowler felt the Roar were well placed to challenge for another A-League title to those they won in 2010/2011 and 2013/2014.
“Since the turn of the year, the team over there have been absolute class, I couldn’t have asked any more of them,” he added.
“We accumulated more points than anyone else and were probably the form team going into the playoffs. I honestly believed we had as good a chance as anyone in those playoffs to win the grand final.”
With Football Federation Australia hoping to resume the season in late July or August, Fowler could still land the title and so further his ambition that his coaching career might one day match the heights of his years as a player.
“I would never disrespect Brisbane Roar by saying I’m using this as a stepping stone straight away,” he said. “[But] I am ambitious. I want to try to manage at the very top level.”
Reuters
Manager Steve Bruce issues warning on return to football
Uefa sees an August end for European football season
More than 6-million Germans tune in for restart of football
Serie A footballers get the green light for training
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Serie A footballers get the green light for training
English Premier League clubs to vote on return to training
Uefa sees an August end for European football season
LETTER: Losing the life I know
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.