Han Berger has been re-appointed as National Technical Director until July 2014, but will only be working on a part-time basis.
Football Federation Australia (FFA) today announced that Han Berger has been re-appointed as FFA National Technical Director until July, 2014.
Berger will continue on a part-year basis, working with FFA for eight months of the year, allowing him more time to spend with his family in the Netherlands during off peak periods in the Australian football calendar.
Since commencing as FFA Technical Director, Berger has been influential in updating both the coaching and player education programs. In 2009 Berger delivered the FFA National Curriculum, the first comprehensive national coach and player education program for Australian football.
FFA CEO David Gallop said he was delighted that Berger would stay with FFA to build on his work over the past four years.
“It is clear that the technical side of football development has advanced significantly during the four years that Han has been on board with FFA,” said David Gallop.
“Han produced the first ever National Curriculum and has been responsible for its implementation which has seen great advancements in coach and player education. He has set up an impressive network throughout Australia to do this, with great effect.
“Han is currently working on a second, expanded version of the Curriculum which will be launched early next year. It will consolidate the implementation of the technical improvements that he has introduced.
“We are very pleased that Han has agreed to continue to lead and contribute to the development of the many talented players and coaches which football has around the whole country. It is such an enormous task, and Han-s energy, experience, drive and ability to take us to the next level will be critical to our further development.”
With an updated National Curriculum still to roll out, Berger is adamant his job is still far from complete in raising the standard of players and coaches in Australia.
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to continue my work with FFA which has given me great satisfaction and enjoyment over the last four years,” said Han Berger.
“I am not at all satisfied that we have gone as far as we can go in lifting the quality of our football, our players and our coaches, and getting the message out across Australia and I am pleased to have an extended term to do this.
“In particular I want to see the benefit of the improved coaching education programs and programs for talented players come to fruition with better results for our national youth teams, and eventually with the Qantas Socceroos and Westfield Matildas.
“I am looking forward to the next steps and continuing to work with the good people in football in this country.”
Berger will depart for the Netherlands for the holiday period on 17 December.
National Coach Education Manager, Kelly Cross, will continue in his role to implement the continued drive towards coach development, while Assistant National Technical Director Alistair Edwards will continue to focus on youth development.
FFA is also in the process of appointing an Assistant National Technical Director for Women-s Football, a new position following FFA splitting the roles of the Women-s National Team Head Coach and the National technical development role which will focus on female youth development and the elite pathway for girls.