Ralé Rasic

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Zvonimir "Ralé" Rašić OAM (born December 26, 1935 in Mostar^[1], Littoral Banovina, Kingdom of Yugoslavia) is an Australian former football player, coach and media personality of Serbian descent.

Rasic migrated to Australia in 1962, but returned to Yugoslavia after 18 months to serve in the army. His obligations met, Rasic returned to Australia, and played football in the Victorian league. He revolutionised the game in Australia, he was appointed coach in 1970 at just 26 years of age, and in 1974, he led the Australia national football team to the World Cup as coach.

After a disappointing performance at the World Cup, the Australian Soccer Federation dumped him as national coach, replacing him with Englishman Brian Green. Rasic and others believe that he was dumped because he was not seen as being a real "Aussie." He has stated, "They took from me something that I was doing better than anyone else. I was a true-blue Aussie and nobody can deny that. I taught the players how to sing the national anthem." These days, as the first coach to take Australia to the World Cup finals, Rale Rasic is widely respected in Australian football.

He was a television presenter on SBS, during the Australian network's 2006 FIFA World Cup coverage. His biography, "The Rale Rasic Story," was published in 2006 by New Holland.

1 Greatest Socceroos side
2 The New Institute of Sport for Football in Australia
3 See also
4 References

[edit] Greatest Socceroos side

During the broadcasting of the SBS FIFA World Cup coverage and in other media, Rasic has named his "Greatest Socceroos side" - a team of Australian players who he deems the best Australia has to offer. The team is:

Goalkeeper: Mark Bosnich
Defenders: Doug Utjesenovic, Colin Curran, Peter Wilson (captain), Milan Ivanovic
Midfielders: Ray Richards, Jimmy Rooney, Jimmy Mackay
Forwards: Ray Baartz, Adrian Alston, John Kosmina
Bench: Johnny Warren, John Watkiss, Robert Zabica, Attila Abonyi, Zarko Odzakov, Alan Davidson.

[edit] The New Institute of Sport for Football in Australia

On August 16, 2006, former Prime Minister and former Federal Member for Division of Werriwa, Gough Whitlam launched Cumberland Grove Country Club a training complex for young players. It is estimated that it will cost $40,000,000. Cumberland Grove became a reality through the efforts of Sydney businessman Edmond M. Parilo and Rasic. Cumberland Grove is now the home of:

Rale Rasic International Football Academy
The Rale Rasic Goalkeeping Academy
Southern Districts Soccer Football Association Headquarters
The Inaugural Australian Football Museum
Cafe Club 74

The Master of Ceremonies at the launch was Network 10 Reporter Frank Coletta and saw 30 children from Southern Districts in their different uniforms playing football on the new fields. The launch was highly publicised throughout Australia by Network 10, Nine Network, SBS, the ABC, The Daily Telegraph and the Sydney Morning Herald.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ The Rale Rasic Story: The Socceroos First World Cup Coach, as told to Ray Gatt, New Holland Publishers, Frenchs Forest, NSW, 2006. ISBN 978-1-74110-464-6

	Australia squad - 1974 FIFA World Cup
1 Reilly \| 2 Utjesenovic \| 3 Wilson \| 4 Schäfer \| 5 Curran \| 6 Richards \| 7 Rooney \| 8 Mackay \| 9 Warren \| 10 Manuel \| 11 Abonyi \| 12 Alston \| 13 Ollerton \| 14 Tolson \| 15 Williams \| 16 Rudic \| 17 Harding \| 18 Watkiss \| 19 Campbell \| 20 Buljevic \| 21 Milisavljevic \| 22 Maher \| Coach: Rasic