With lots of the pre-season filled by news of the new consortiums’ signings as the competition takes on a new look, some of the established clubs have flown under the radar. After Bobby McGuiness departed to Box Hill at conclusion of last season, Bulleen promoted from within and handed an opportunity to Ricardo Martinez, former men’s youth and assistant coach at the club, who embarks on his first senior coaching gig in any capacity. The new appointment spoke to TCF about his history and approach to his new role in 2016.
Firstly, given there’s not much information we could find on you besides your time at Bulleen, give us a bit of your coaching background.
My background in football coaching started back in Colombia, where I was involved for around 3 years with local football leagues and school football programs.
In Australia, my coaching experience started in 2010. I looked to register my daughter for the U12 girls team at Brunswick Zebras FC and they asked me to be the coach for the team, then I coached girls teams for three seasons at BZFC. In the same year, I started to coach for three seasons at the Victorian Champions League, where I enjoyed coaching talented players and being mentored by head coaches such as Joe Montemurro and Fabrizio Soncin.
From 2012 I have been part of the coaching team of AC Football Academy, running programs based on football technification. In 2015 I traveled to Spain as a head coach of the U16 boys team in a tour organised by AC Football Academy, where we were playing U15 teams such as Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano, as well as we sharing and ideas with Spanish football coaches
In 2013 I joined FC Bulleen Lions as a U18 boys coach and then I coached the NPLV U16 boys team for two seasons, wining the NPLV East division premiership in 2014. At FC Bulleen I was mentored by former TDF Serge Sabbadini, who gave me the opportunity to travel to Italy in 2013 and 2014 with the U18 and U16 boys teams in a football tour, where we shared training session and football ideas with Maurizio Viscidi, a vice coordinator of the national Italian youth teams. We had a great experience playing Italian teams like Inter Milan and Udinese.
For the 2015 season, I was appointed as an assistant coach of the FC Bulleen NPL 1 seniors men’s team, which got promoted to the NPL for 2016. It was my first formal experience in senior football which I really enjoyed, learnt a lot in that environment and improved my coaching skills while assisting the head coach Dominic Barba.
Following Bobby McGuinness’ departure, how did the coaching role come about for the women’s side?
It seemed that the club was looking for a change in order to face the new WNPL season in 2016. The offer came from the former TDF, who as I mentioned before he was one of my mentors during the last three years at FC Bulleen. I really did not have to think too much about it. I liked the idea of being the head coach of Women Senior team as I already knew the players’ football quality and attitude and I also knew some of the girls and I was aware of their commitment with the club and football community.
Additionally, I am doing my AFC/FFA A License, so I thought that would be a great opportunity to grow as a coach and explore other football ideas with senior players.
Despite not making finals last season, McGuiness is a respected figure in the women’s game and has big shoes to fill. Do you feel any additional pressure having succeeded him?
The additional pressure comes from myself as I am in the process to become a professional coach, so I really want to make sure everything goes well with the players, team, coaching staff and the club in general. I just compare myself with myself to improve and to be better each time.
In addition, FC Bulleen is a club that always strives to be successful and deliver with quality therefore there is also an extra-pressure that we should manage as it will always be there as part of our job.
How have preparations been coming along so far in the pre-season? Had you previously already known the players or has there been lots of familiarising to do?
We have been working with limited number of players in pre-season while we have some players participating in W-league, other players are recovering from injures and we are also looking to bring new players to fill some positions. However, the group of girls who have been working in pre-season are really committed and have great work attitude which is what we are expecting from WNPL footballers.
As I said before, I already knew personally some players and I also coached few of them. I used to watch home games and training sessions last season, so the players are familiar for me, however we need to collect more information so we are trying to interact as much as we can to know each other by having casual chats where we share information like personal plans for 2016, identify strengths and opportunities to improve as well as objectives for next season.
One of the great things I have to highlight about the team culture is that the W-League and injured players have came frequently to see the training sessions and we all have the opportunity to introduce and talk each other. That have allowed the players and coaching staff to know more each other.
Bulleen has been known as club that nurtures young Victorian talent, seen by the number of players that have played W-League currently and in the past. Is this a continued focus of yours and the club’s in the NPL era?
I believe football talent development is one of the main objectives of FC Bulleen. I think this vision will not change as this is one of the significant reasons why everyone recognise FC Bulleen as one of the most successful clubs in Victoria.
On the other hand, I have been part of FC Bulleen’s talent development program in the last 3 years. I believe in the club’s philosophy of developing talented footballers in order to be part of our future seniors team or professional teams. So, as senior women coach, I will boost that policy by providing opportunities for new young players and junior players who come from the club system to be part of the senior team. There will be changes for our players as long as those players have the profile and capability to play senior level.
Cindy Lay is one confirmed departure. Has there been any player movement in and out of the club during the pre-season?
Due to the new location of the eight WNPL clubs some players have had the opportunity to move to the closest club, thus they avoid to have to commute for training sessions and home games. I understand that Cindy Lay has found a WNPL club near her place, so unfortunately she will not be part of the our team for season 2016.
As far as I know there could be one or two other players in the same situation, however it has not been confirmed.
What footballing philosophies or beliefs do you bring into the game? It’s a different landscape now in the NPLW with fewer teams and no relegation, does that change your approach to this season and your philosophy?
My football vision and philosophy has been always aligned with the club’s one. We try to play attacking football based on ball possession. However, I am trying to introduce an element that is important to make sure the team performs and achieves its objectives. This element is balance. It will allow us to play a balanced attacking football which is more realistic. It means that we must take in account that we are not going to get the ball possession 100% of the game, so there are going to be some moments and situations in the game where we have to work hard to neutralise the opponent, regain the ball possession and keep it to create goal scoring options.
I don’t think we are going to change our approach regarding our football style due to some WNPL particular conditions. Personally, I consider myself a risk taker and football romantic which I try to bring it in my football philosophy and coaching style. We want to play an attractive football where players, coaching staff and supporters can enjoy it, however we have a responsibility to get important results accordingly to the club’s status and reputation.
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