Vale Dr Jozef Vengloš

Football Australia is saddened to have learned of the passing of former Socceroos Head Coach, Dr Jozef Vengloš at the age of 84. 

Vengloš – who held a doctorate in Physical Education – managed Australia’s senior men’s national football team in three ‘A’ internationals throughout 1967, after beginning his coaching career in Sydney with Prague in the mid-1960s. 

After coaching in and with Australia, Vengloš went on to manage an array of clubs and national teams in Asia and Europe throughout a long and well-travelled career in the game.  

The former Slovan Bratislava player and coach managed Czechoslovakia, Malaysia, Slovakia, and Oman at international level, and was at the helm of clubs including Sporting Lisbon (Portugal), Aston Villa (England), Fenerbahçe (Turkey), Glasgow Celtic (Scotland), and JEF United (Japan).

Vengloš was the Assistant Coach of Czechoslovakia when they won the European Championship in 1976, and fourteen years later in 1990 was the Head Coach of Czechoslovakia at the FIFA World Cup in Italy, guiding his side to the quarter-finals where they were eliminated by eventual Champions West Germany.  

Other achievements throughout Vengloš’ life include being the first foreign born manager of a club in the English top-flight with Aston Villa, and being appointed as President of the European Coaches Union in 1995. 

Football Australia extends its deepest sympathies to the immediate and extended Vengloš family, and those closest to Jozef.