Football Commentary: Gert Engels - Manager for Hire

Gert Engels talks to Soccerphile after his recent sacking at Kyoto Purple Sanga

Soccerphile sat down with recently fired Kyoto Purple Sanga Coach Gert Engels to discuss his sudden and unexpected dismissal, the team, and the future. Speaking in English, the trilingual Engels was candid about his tenure as the head of Sanga.

He spoke about the three years that saw him take Sanga out of the second division in one go, lead the team to a fifth place finish in its first season back in the top flight, and finally cap that with a win over Kashima Antlers at the Emperor's Cup final on January 1st of this year.

From this pinnacle, Sanga started the new campaign abysmally: 2-8 in the first half of the J1 season, mired in last place having both scored fewer and given up more goals than any other J1 team. Injuries and the loss of a the team's best player were among the many reasons for Sanga's travails. Engels oversaw one of the youngest and least supported teams in the J.League, a team that at its best played a delightful brand of offensive-minded soccer.

Soccerphile: We'd like to hear your side of recent events.
Gert Engels: Well, it was very important for me that the press release said I was fired, not that I stepped down. Money-wise, it's very important--and, actually, that's what they did. They ordered me to become assistant coach...I was given no alternative. And I said, no, definitely no. Of course, it's not good for me and it's not good for the team as well.

Soccerphile: The timing seemed strange. Two weeks into the break.
Gert Engels: At first, I was surprised by the timing. After the game with Cerezo (on May 24th, which Kyoto lost to finish the out first half of the season in last place), I thought, maybe before the break, it will happen...I waited a few days, but it didn't happen. I came back from a short holiday and then we had four days of training. Also, the club was looking to pick up one or two foreign players, and I was optimistic that Kurobe (forward Teruaki) and Teshima (defender Kazuki) would rejoin the team after recovering from injuries. Then after the fourth day, they told me there would be a meeting. At that point, Sanga's management told me they wanted me to stay on as an assistant to general manager Bunji Kimura. I told them that that was not part of my vision. The team was motivated and our plans were established. Two head coaches would create conflict. They asked me to think about it for one day. Nothing changed in one day, so they had to fire me. Yes, the timing was strange. It would have been better for both the new coach and the players if it had been done right at the beginning of the break. I think this decision was a late decision, a late decision, maybe from the sponsors. Kimura was in Korea at the time recruiting new players. Maybe he knew about it, I don't know. Maybe he thought I would agree to stay on as his assistant.

Soccerphile: The president of Kyocera (Sanga's main sponsor) said you didn't have a plan to get the team back on its feet--and that that was "unprofessional." Would you like to counter that?
Gert Engels: I don't know what he said. But I did have a plan, and of course I have a different opinion on that matter. If you speak about professionalism, you need to talk about the team composition.

Soccerphile: Was this firing worse than the time at JEF?
Gert Engels: Yes, it was more surprising. I was at JEF only a short time, but I was a no-name coach then. But this time, we built up the team here. I thought everyone knew about the source of our problems. The coaching staff all understood. I thought Sanga knew about it. I thought the club trusted in my work. We accomplished a lot in three years.

Soccerphile: Evaluate the first half of the season at Sanga. What were the reasons behind Sanga's dramatic loss of form?
Gert Engels: There are several reasons. First was that Park (Ji-Sung) left. That was a big blow to our club. However, even without Park we should not have gone 2-8. Last year we won games without Park. It was not only Park who left. Ueno (forward Yusaku, who transferred to Albirex Niigata) left. He didn't play much, but he was a permanent rival to our players up front. An experienced player who had a great influence on the younger players. Also, Noguchi (defender Hiroshi, who transferred to Omiya Ardija) our captain, left. He only played one game, but he was called "Mr. Sanga." He also had a good influence on the team. This year there is not the same rivalry for positions that we had last year.

Soccerphile: What other problems did the team experience?
Gert Engels: We lost (Australian international) Ned Zelic. He was a rival, a threat, to the other defenders and a hard worker. We lost Tomo Matsukawa and Jin Sato, who were loaned out to Sapporo. Both were competitors for places for many of our players, and they were good professionals. Last year's team was very strong; it was built up on the basis of rivalry. The starting members were those who had fought for and won their spots (ahead of others). Many of those players are gone. Last year we had 13 very close games: one draw and 12 that we won by one goal. We didn't win clear; we won by fighting, a bit of luck, and with a hungry mentality. We had a good season. We won the Emperor's Cup. Last year we were just Purple Sanga, the team from out of the Second Division, with a lot of no-name players. All of that changed. We were analyzed much more closely. Teams wanted to beat us; they got up for playing us, the way that teams get up for Kashima and Jubilo. Now everyone knows us. Also, we lost a bit of that hunger. For many of our younger players, the interviews and demands on their time became much greater. I asked Sanga's media people to cut back on that. If you hear over and over how good you are, you start to believe it. We lost Park, but I was optimistic that through position rivalries and a new player we could compete for the title.

Soccerphile: Did you agree with the sale of Park?
Gert Engels: No one agreed with it, but he wanted to leave. After the J2 season he should have been offered a long-term contract. After the World Cup (in which he starred for Korea), it was obvious he would not accept a long-term contract at Sanga. As a result, Sanga lost Park and got no transfer fee in the sale (to PSV Eindhoven in Holland). I'm not blaming anyone but...

Soccerphile: Was Korean international Ko (Jong-Su) your choice to replace Park? Who did you want?
Gert Engels: Not really. I only had a chance to watch one video of him, but I think the decision had already been made. He's a classic game maker, which maybe doesn't fit in with our system. He has 41 caps for Korea, and I believe in his talent. If his knee were ok, I think he could contribute. But it turned out he was not yet fit, and he could not help us. He is used to being healthy, but now he is recovering from an injury, which he is not used to. It is a new mental challenge for him. He will improve with time.

Soccerphile: How did national team experience influence Daisuke Matsui and Makoto Kakuda? Were there any problems for Sanga?
Gert Engels: It wasn't necessarily a bad influence. But it was one more mental task than they had before. Maybe they are more tired than the other players. Last year we could have rested them more, but not this year. Usually, appearing for the national team should only be a positive thing. But they were competing for both us and the national team, and without being aware of it you start to concentrate on your national team duties.

Soccerphile: Do you have any offers from J. League clubs or elsewhere?
Gert Engels: No, not yet, of course not. The timing is not right. Now is not the time for offers. Like Ossie Ardiles who was hired after the break, but now is preparation time. I think there will be some changes after five games, but now there are no talks or negotiations with other teams.

Soccerphile: What are your plans?
Gert Engels: Of course I would like to continue as a head coach. I like Japan but in soccer you never know. I hope to stay in Japan, but we will think over every offer.

Soccerphile: What was your greatest accomplishment at Sanga?
Gert Engels: My view is to work long term, to build up a team, to develop. The way we played, the last 7-8 games without a loss (last season), and the win against the Antlers in the Emperor's Cup. But, if you look at what just happened, my biggest achievement was that I stayed so long with Sanga (laughs)! Sanga has a history of firing head coaches. We had success in both J1 and J2, so we lasted. That's an achievement.

Soccerphile: Were you well supported by the team's sponsors? Did you feel you could have turned it around?
Gert Engels: I can only say that while I am disappointed, I am not surprised (by the firing). It's a normal situation at a normal club. But I thought we had a special situation. Because of what we achieved, I thought we had a special relationship. We needed two or three more players--not expensive players--which the team now has. Of course I am disappointed, but I am not surprised. As the head coach with a good team and no injuries, if you lose then the responsibility falls on the shoulders of the coach. This season was different. Part of the responsibility is mine. But I was sure we could solve this problem. The team was frustrated, but most of the players understood what had happened. Even with injuries and a few new good players, I was sure I could improve the team's fortunes.

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