Former United coach to lead Wanderers
New Western Sydney Wanderers head coach Josep Gombau has pledged to play attacking football and build something big at the A-League club.
Gombau, a former Adelaide United coach who has resigned from his post in charge of Australia’s under-23 team, was announced today as the club’s coach for the next three years.
He will take over the running of the team next Tuesday, with caretaker coach Hayden Foxe in charge for Monday’s away game against Melbourne Victory.
“What the club has achieved in the last five years is amazing but now we start a new era,” Gombau said.
“I want to play the way that I believe that football is and that is to play attacking football, have possession of the ball, to be aggressive when we don’t have the ball.”
Gombau coached Adelaide from 2013 to 2015 and won the inaugural FFA Cup before taking up an academy post in the United States.
Football Federation Australia brought him back in mid-2016.
“I think I became a better coach under this time that I spent at the federation and say thanks for them also because they allowed me to take this new journey in my life,” Gombau aaid.
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He said he had spoken to Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou, who he was adamant was the best man to lead the country despite the fact the national coach has yet to clarify whether he will lead Australia to the World Cup if it qualifies for the tournament later this month.
Wanderers chairman Paul Lederer said Gombau was appointed after an extensive search domestically and overseas.
“At the end it was quite a simple decision, to be honest. He was the best man for the job,” Lederer said.
“He’s a man of great integrity, great knowledge, great vision – our visions are aligned.”
Foxe has filled the post since the club’s inaugural coach Tony Popovic announced a week before the season started he was leaving to take over at Turkish club Karabukspor.
Foxe, will stay on at the club, though Gombau will be looking to bring in at least one new assistant.
JOSEP GOMBAU – COACHING CAREER
Europe
Stay informed, daily
2003-2009: Barcelona youth teams
Asia
2009-2013: Kitchee (Hong Kong) head coach
Australia
2013-2015: Adelaide United head coach
2016-2017: Olyroos coach and Socceroos assistant coach
JOSEP GOMBAU – COACHING HONOURS
Asia
Hong Kong First Division: 2010/11, 2011/12
Hong Kong FA Cup: 2011/12, 2012/13
Hong Kong League Cup: 2011/12
Australia
FFA Cup: 2014
– AAP
