Football royalty has graced South-East suburbs based Mazenod College ahead of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
Former Manchester United greats Ray Wilkins and Frank Stapleton touched down in Melbourne last week and will lead the Jordanian National Team’s coaching staff into its 2015 Asian Cup campaign.
Affectionately known as Al-Nashama – “The Chivalrous”, the Jordanian squad has based itself at the brand new state-of the-art facilities at Mazenod College – home of Victorian State Three side Mazenod United – as a pre-competition training base in preparation for the tournament.
The playing squad arrived at Tullamarine airport on the 23rd of December, before Wilkins and Stapleton joined the remainder of the side after Christmas.
Wilkins – who won two major titles with Manchester United – labelled Mazenod’s brand new surface as “first class”.
“This is magnificent. Fr Michael Twigg [Mazenod College rector] said that we were going to have a good training pitch but this surpasses that. It’s first class,” Wilkins said.
After overseeing a 1-0 loss to the United Arab Emirates in a friendly on the Gold Coast, Wilkins spoke of his warmth for Australia.
“It’s been very pleasant,” he said.
“Frank and I arrived a touch later than the rest of the guys but we’ve been up to the Gold Coast and that was very pleasant.
“Unfortunately we lost the game but thoroughly enjoying our stay here in Australia.
“The squad has been great. Obviously they’ve struggled a little bit with the jetlag as we all have so it’s been difficult for them but they’ve got a great application to training so no problems as far as we are concerned.”
The 84 times capped English international was appointed as Jordan’s head coach in September on a five-month deal following an illustrious coaching career which included a lengthy stint as Chelsea FC assistant.
Stapleton – Wilkins’ assistant – spent majority of his playing career in England’s top flight, claiming three FA Cup triumphs with Arsenal and Manchester United from the late 1970s to early 1980s.
The Irishman has previously coached in the United State’s Major Soccer League, along with a spell as a specialist coach at Bolton Wanderers.
The pair spent three years together at Old Trafford, collecting an FA winner’s medal in 1983.
Despite only taking the reigns in September, Wilkins said confidence was high amongst the group.
“We’ve been in charge now for four months so it’s been pretty much an upheaval for the lads as much as it was for us so we are ready for it,” he said.
“We are changing the way we play, we tried several things but we feel that we’ve got a system that will work for us now.”
Expectations are high for the Jordanians, who are striving to surpass their best ever finish at Asian Cup, a quarter-finals appearance on two occasions in 2004 and 2011.
“That’s the minimum,” Wilkins said.
“We want to surpass that [quarter-finals]. It’s going to be difficult because all these teams are very tough to play against and with the climate hotting up nicely enough for us as well, it’s going to be a tough gig but it’s one we are really looking forward to.
“The challenge for any player to come away and play in a tournament for their country is a marvellous challenge and I’m very proud and I know Frank is to be leading this Jordanian side.”
Jordan will kick off its 2015 AFC Asian Cup campaign against Iraq in Brisbane of 12 January before returning to Melbourne to complete its final two group stage matches against Palestine (16 January) and Japan (20 January).