East Gippsland United has appointed new head coaches for next years LVSL season.
Fred Vanderslik and James Muir will take on the mantle, looking to improve on the Eagles 10th place finish last year.
Q: Can you tell me a little about yourself?
Fred Vanderslik..
Currently, I live in Eagle point near Bairnsdale with my wife and have two grown up children. I have been associated with Football (Soccer) in Bairnsdale, since around 1986. Previously, when living in Melbourne, I played football from the age of 8 years old with Eltham Soccer Club and eventually played at State league level. In 1989, I formed the Bairnsdale Indoor Soccer Association (known now as the Bairnsdale Soccer Club) and played outdoor soccer for Sale United Football Club in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League. I have gained considerable experience over the many years and now see an opportunity to assist in the development of the players of the future.
James Muir..
I live in Raymond Island, moving here after Easter from Melbourne where I was NPL Technical Director for Box Hill United & Northcote City from 2014-2017, as well as Coach Developer for FFV. Prior, I worked for Football NSW as Coaching & Development Manager for Southern NSW (2011-2014) and Fiji Football (2008-2011) as National Teams Staff Coach, and assistant Technical Director among other roles. I have also coached in Geelong with Geelong SC as Senior Assistant Coach, and Reserves Coach for North Geelong as well as other roles as State Coach at the National Youth Championships & National Futsal Championships for both Victoria & NSW, and played state league in Victoria & NSW and played youth football in Malta, England & Scotland. I am currently completing the 2nd part of my AFC/FFA Senior A Licence, and helped run a few sessions with the senior squad at EGUFC and the Gippsland FFV TIDC Program from May through to September this year.
Q: What would you say is your greatest achievement in this sport?
FV: That is a difficult question as I have had so many achievements and opportunities over many years in this sport. The most prestigious accolade was achieving my ‘FIFA Futsal International Referee’ accreditation from 1996 – 1999. This enabled me to experience the sport at the highest level while travelling overseas to officiate in Brazil and Portugal. Apart from refereeing, playing at State league level in my younger years was a fabulous time and experience.
Q: As a coach, what would be your most rewarding experience?
FV: I have a passion for developing individuals in this great sport, along the way I have achieved some favorable results such as, coach of the Victorian U16 Futsal (Indoor soccer) team to runners up at the National Futsal Championships in Canberra. I pride myself on being as organised as possible and have a self-disciplined attitude. Working with players at various ages is a thrill and seeing players achieve great things at a high level or just for their own development is rewarding. Recently, I completed my AFC/FFA Senior C Licence and look forward to implementing the lessons learnt in support of the senior playing group and support staff.
Q: What team do you follow in the A League?
FV: I enjoy watching both Melbourne based teams, but have a soft spot for Melbourne City and enjoy seeing City provide a professional approach to the league since the introduction of the buyout of the club by Manchester City. The standard has improved greatly and this provides opportunities to those young players wishing to take their game to another level.
Q: Do you follow any overseas teams?
FV: As I have Dutch heritage, I have always followed ‘Ajax’ of Amsterdam and enjoy
several European clubs.
Q: Do you get any inspiration from any of these teams?
FV: Countries such as Holland, Germany, Spain have always fascinated me, even though I do enjoy the flair of Brazil. I am quite a structured and organised person, so teams that are well organised and disciplined is important along with creative players and a work ethic in support of each other. Developing a style of play is not always a matter of choice, but one developed and recognised by those players you work with through collaboration.
Q: What do you intend on implementing next year?
FV: A planned and structured approach with technical support from James along with support of the senior coaching group, ensuring all players contribute to the clubs success. Taking the senior playing group to another level is on the forefront of our minds. James has taken on the roll as the ‘Senior Coaching Technical Assistant’, working alongside the reserves coach and myself. The club is very fortunate to have procured the services of James to assist me, as he also comes to the club with a wealth of experience. Collectively, and through collaboration, organisation and hard work will ensure the senior playing group will take a positive step forward.
Q: What do you see as being your greatest challenge next year?
JM: The club is still relatively young in terms of the other clubs in the league and taking the senior playing group to another level will not be without its challenges. Retention of players and commitment are only two challenges, but through structured planning and direction, we have full confidence the senior playing group will do well.
Q: What would you like to achieve by the end of next year?
JM: Through a well-developed program plan and support provided by key personnel, there is no reason why the senior playing group cannot aspire to challenging teams well above them. A favourable outcome is not necessarily about results on the scoreboard and we will strive to improve this situation, but it is about our senior playing group finding its style, discipline, commitment and camaraderie.
Q: What do you focus on as a coach?
FV: My focus is to use a first principles approach and get buy-in from the playing group on the principles and habits that govern the way we train, play and function as a squad. From this process, we then adjust our conditioning and training cycles and our weekly training sessions, as well as our style of play, which focuses on maximising our strengths and limiting our weaknesses.
To do this successfully training is a huge priority, as training sessions should be off the same intensity if not higher than match day to be successful in the long term. As a coach, I am quite particular about small details that if done right, add to the overall success and winning culture of the senior playing group
