Images: Mark Avellino
As Arthur Papas returns to the Green Gully managerial hotseat this week, he must be pretty pleased with the team he retakes charge of.
Upon his departure following the conclusion of Round 2, a Gully side yet to fully gel was sitting in the bottom end of the ladder following a 3-0 opening round defeat away to Bentleigh and a memorable 3-3 draw at Kingston. Fast forward to present day and the nine-time VPL Champions sit second on the competition standings following a six-game unbeaten run.
The man tasked with replacing Papas on an interim basis was the inexperienced Brian Vanega, who at the time was the club’s 20s manager. Some might have been daunted by the task at hand, with the 2016 FFA Cup quarter-finalists seen by some as potential dark horses for the title prior to the commencement of the campaign.
Having announced his on-field retirement less than 24 months ago, the 32-year-old former midfielder admits he did have some doubts upon his appointment but was determined to continue on the progression made since Papas’ arrival at Green Gully Reserve in late 2015.
“I had a few small doubts, but after careful consideration I was sure that with the support of the club and staff that I could move the team forward whilst Arthur was away,” Vanega said.
“The plan the club put forward was for Arthur to return following his work overseas and we are at that stage now. But having worked so closely with him over the pre-season, I knew that I could continue the work that he had started with the team.”
A coach at the Maribyrnong Sports Academy alongside Papas and several of the Gully coaching staff, Vanega spent 2016 assisting Vaughan Coveny with the Melbourne Victory Youth team in the NPL but has always had aspirations of coaching in a senior environment while also stipulating his added motivations behind taking on the role in the first instance.
“In terms of my own coaching, it is something that I have working towards for some time and I am fortunate enough to have had great mentors over the years, as well as the opportunity to be a part of great environments, including Melbourne Victory and Maribyrnong Sports Academy.
“Since coming back to Green Gully in September, we’ve all been working together to push the club to a new level. We’ve achieved a lot in a short space of time and I really wanted to ensure that the club continued ahead with the plans, as we knew that success on the pitch was just around the corner. Further, I really believed that with the help of the staff, I could continue to push it forward during the time Arthur was away.”
Upon the conclusion of Round 12, Gully stand second on the NPL standings, one point behind ladder-leading Avondale whom they defeated 1-0 in last week’s tricky Round 6 FFA Cup tie.
With a massive 7th Round FFA Cup clash away to Bentleigh Greens scheduled later this month, Vanega stresses there is still plenty of room for improvement left in the side who will this Friday night take on Pascoe Vale at CB Smith Reserve.
“I have no doubt there is room for improvement. It’s an ambitious group of players and staff and we will consistently apply ourselves, because we know that despite a good recent run, we haven’t yet achieved the success we’re aiming for.”
Having served his apprenticeship with Victory Youth last term, the former Oakleigh Cannons midfielder reflected on the transition from working within a youth setup to that of a senior team environment.
“It’s definitely a change of environment and pressures, and you have less time at your disposal,” he said.
“The preparation to win a match just days away is intense. It’s certainly different to having a calm, measured approach for the long-term development when working with youth.”
In the off-season, Gully decided to improve on their professionalism by bringing in added backroom staff to the club as well as credentialed coaches like Vanega, his former Victory goalkeeper coach Peter Zois, and technical director Aaron Symons to name a few.
In addition to that, an increased emphasis on sports science and an investment to improve the playing surface at Green Gully Reserve were seen as crucial components to this goal, with Vanega lauding the club’s approach.
”It is on par with the Victory Youth setup. The club has invested a great deal into the resources that we thought were necessary in order to improve on what was already in place. The new playing surface at home is evidence of that.
“There’s a real belief that we are moving in the right direction and it is an exciting time to be there.”
In total, Vanega’s tenure over the senior squad saw Gully claim nine wins, three draws and just a single defeat from 13 outings – which came about as a result of a late fade-out against Heidelberg United as a proposed victory turned into a sudden defeat in the final few minutes of the contest.
While proud of such a record, the up-and-coming coach thanked the rest of the coaching staff – which also includes Shaun Ontong and Agim Sherifovski alongside Zois and Symons – for that achievement.
“Quite simply it wouldn’t have been possible without each of them. They are each great coaches in their own right, and I know our position is a reflection of the great work from everyone involved.”
Without a trophy since their Dockerty Cup triumph of 2013, there is renewed optimism at Keilor Downs that the 2017 side can put an end to that with a host of former A-League and NYL players at their disposal.
Rani Dowisha, Jeremy Walker, Callum Richardson, Josh Brindell-South, Kliment Taseski, George Lambadaridis, Stephen Hatzikostas, Jonathan Bounas, Alex Caniglia and Wade Dekker feature alongside acclaimed English trio Matthew Breeze, Jay Davies and veteran captain Daniel Jones as well as x-factor players such as Nick Krousoratis and Sami Nour.
Their outgoing interim coach heaped praise on the players he had at his disposal and the manner in which they conducted themselves over the last 10 weeks.
“There are definitely several players that can and do have ambitions to play higher. They have been a great group of players to work with, and it really helps the coaches to have players that want and expect so much from themselves.
“They deserve a lot of credit for how they have handled this period. Things don’t always go as smoothly as they have, but the players have persisted to drive and push forward week after week.”
Originally hailing from Western Sydney, Vanega began his senior career in 2004 following the collapse of the NSL at junior club Blacktown City Demons in the NSW top flight before successive knee injuries curtailed his career trajectory.
Further spells followed at clubs such as Macarthur Rams, Penrith Nepean United, Wollongong Wolves and Liverpool Bossy before moving interstate and joining Green Gully in 2012.
An industrious midfielder, he joined the Goulburn Valley Suns ahead of their inaugural season in 2014 before moving to the Oakleigh Cannons in 2015.
Retirement mid-way through the campaign saw him turn his eye to coaching, as explains his beginnings in the coaching world.
“When I commenced my VPL career in Melbourne, it [coaching] was something that I knew I wanted to pursue in the future. I immediately enrolled and began my coaching licenses. Shortly after that, I began coaching at Maribyrnong Sports Academy whilst I continued to play in the VPL/NPL. The experience I had as a player meant I felt strongly about becoming a coach myself.
“There is so much talent here in Australia and I just wanted the opportunity to provide the right coaching and environment that nurtures that.”
Of Argentine descent, Vanega is an admirer of several of the world-class Argentinian coaches of the current era, whether that be Marcelo Bielsa, Diego Simeone, Mauricio Pochettino or Jorge Sampaoli, while also noting the inspiration he attains from his mentors at Green Gully.
“I’m a huge admirer of all of those coaches, however, the reality is that the hardest part of coaching is not in the idea, but in the application on the training ground. For that I really am grateful to have seen some of the best coaches in the country up close.
“Arthur is right amongst them, and has been a great mentor to me since I started coaching and I really am thankful to him for that.”
For now, Vanega returns to take charge of the 20s after a character-building 10 weeks in charge of the first-team, where he took his coaching development to a new level.
Part of a new wave of coaches under 35 moulding their craft in the NPL, he has certainly heightened his reputation in recent weeks and played a big part in any prospective success Gully may achieve this year.