Folks, we have our new gaffer. And… it’s the one we thought it would be. Bosnian/Dutch football genius (that last part is mostly hopeful subjection) Darije Kalezic will helm the Wellington Phoenix from now until eternity... unless the FFA kick us out. The name had already been leaked so we sorta knew what to expect but now that all the international paperwork has been done the dude is here in the country and ready to get to work.

Kalezic played mostly in Holland where he has also had his best success as a manager and apparently still calls home. Guts then that our best Dutch player, Roly Bonevacia, just left. As such we can probably expect something more of a Dutch style about how he runs his team – which should be a good fit for the A-League, there have been a few players to go from here to the Eredivisie – but don’t sleep on experience gained as a manager in England, Belgium and most recently Saudi Arabia either. The lad is 47 years old, speaks perfect English, had a long career as a defender (mostly in Holland) and has worked extensively with youth players and systems too which is bloody handy given some of the emerging WeeNix chappies.

That England stint? Stockport County. He was there for a few months in early 2013, replacing Jim Gannon with the team in the Conference North relegation zone. Darije brought about some early results but that levelled out and he left by mutual consent two months later, with the team still in relegation trouble and the board admitting that they might have made a mistake in hiring “a manager without Conference experience”.

If that was a worry for the Wellington Phoenix board then they’ve helped ease it by pairing him with assistant boss Rado Vidosic – one of the most experienced assistants in Aussie football. The Croatian-born Dingo has spent heaps of time in a few different roles with the Brisbane Roar, mostly in this same assistant manager role, as well as spending time with Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory. Kalezic may be fresh to this league but Vidosic knows is as well as anyone. Clever stuff.

Obviously we don’t really know what to expect yet, all that will become clear in due course. But it’s kinda cool to see that Kalezic has a few philosophical pedigrees. On the Phoenix website they make mention that he “is a firm believer in the methods of world-renowned Dutch fitness & conditioning coach Raymond Verheijen and his theories of periodisation”. Same goes for Vido who they reckon, since leaving Melly Vic, has “been working extensively translating the footballing philosophies of Portuguese master Dr Vitor Frade”.

European footy, aye? With that supremely philosophical approach to the beautiful game. In New Zealand, footy’s just a game. But in Europe it’s the basis for avant-garde conceptual thought. And in South America it’s the basis for actual political revolution. Steve Hansen has tactics, right? But Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have PHILOSOPHIES.

Also a reason there to bat the board on the back (for the second time this week) for making a bold decision. Kalezic is definitely a risky appointment but pretty much anyone who would’ve been available to them was gonna be a risk too – so better that they take the optimistic, non-conservative approach. Plus while Kalezic and Vidosic (get used to pronouncing those ‘itches’) were only unveiled today, the contracts were signed last month and they’ve had a say in all the recruitment decisions that’ve been made since then.

Which… doesn’t really mean much yet. As discussed in the Kosta thing the other day, Sarpreet Singh and Ryan Lowry (probably Hamish Watson too) would’ve signed their deals ages ago – they just weren’t announced until recently. Probably in case Kalezic wanted to rip those deals up, but of course he was never going to.

However on the same day as the new gaffer was unveiled, news also broke that Alex Rodriguez had signed with Portuguese club Boavista FC – who just finished ninth in the Primeira Liga. Things break right for the both of him, he might even get to play against his old (brief) teammate Tyler Boyd if they’re both getting a run in the first teams next season there (Boyd with Vitoria Guimaraes).

That’s another guy who played big minutes last season who won’t be back for the Nix. This really is the start of a new era, with damn near half the first XI gonna need replacing. Glen Moss, Roly Bonevacia, Alex Rodriguez, Kosta Barbarouses, Shane Smeltz, Jacob Tratt… with Vince Lia and Lewis Italiano likely to follow them. Bear that in mind if they start poorly next season. Should still have Gui Finkler (who should be better in his second season with the team, and also without a few of those other dudes no longer pushing on his territory) and Marco Rossi but that leaves two import places and a marquee spot to fill.

Word is that some incoming transfers are to be announced in the following weeks, now that they’ve finally sorted out the empty throne at the top. Kalezic should have a few connections, while Vidosic ought to know a few Aussie-based lads to fill out that roster too. Say what you want about signing Australians but we need to lock in several new players who can make an immediate starting impact and there aren’t too many of those in the NZ Premiership (though it’d be nice if they tried one or two), while the overseas based kiwis/All Whites tend to have bigger goals in their sight. For example, Stefan Marinovic trialled with Wolverhampton a few months ago. He can probably get a sexier contract in Europe. Same goes for Bill Tuiloma, whose career has stalled but he still played a couple times for Marseille which is no small matter.

A few proper signings won’t make a squad, though. We saw that last season as the hyped playmaking pick-ups of Kosta and Gui culminated in a team that could barely score a goal for two months that wasn’t finished or created by Fijian Roy Krishna (the club’s best player last season). Which is why Kalezic’s familiarity with Dutch footy, where youth team setups are hugely prioritised (largely due to financial reasons – sign ‘em up cheap and sell ‘em for big bucks – but also because young players are more malleable to creative tactics (/PHILOSOPHY)), is a massive advantage here. We don’t know that his experience there will add up to success here, we don’t know that about anything yet, but at least we can assume he’s not averse to chucking in lads like Matt Ridenton, Sarpreet Singh, James McGarry, Alex Rufer, Logan Rogerson and the likes. He has to, because otherwise he’ll be working with half a squad.

Also relevant here, one last little nugget, is that Kalezic was fired by Roda JC (Ivan Vicelich’s old club!) at the end of the 2015-16 season despite guiding them to safety from relegation. The following season they needed the relegation playoffs to maintain their top flight status. But it wasn’t his performance that cost him, it was his mouth.

Darija Kalezic, May 2016: “I have an excellent relationship with [Roda Technical Director] Caanen. Only you can tell that his whole life has not been in contact with the first team of a professional football club in the Netherlands. Maybe he was a car salesman too long.”

Soon after he was given the flick.

So, ah… don’t expect Kalesic to tolerate the silly stuff. After things got a little too fluffy at times the last two seasons, that might be exactly what this club needs too. Judging by his opening press conference he ain’t necessarily the cheeriest bloke. Not a grumpy bloke, just one who is focussed on his gig. He takes his footy seriously. He wants players to know their roles, he wants to see a team that plays tidily and organised, with belief and dedication. With discipline. A professional environment, a good atmosphere.

Hey, all coaches say that sorta stuff at their opening pressers. The real deal is all about results and performances and that’s not something we can say a single word about until the season kicks off. We’ll see how that goes. Right now it’s enough to see an ambitious appointment, here’s hoping a few ambitious player signings come next.

Good on you for breezing on through here, if you wanna lend an extra hand of support so we can keep writing these things then all we request is a cheeky slap on an ad someplace here.