New FAS technical director Joseph Palatsides aims to awake 'sleeping giant'
SINGAPORE — Newly-appointed Football Association of Singapore (FAS) technical director Joseph Palatsides believes that Singapore football is a sleeping giant, and the nation’s culture of excellence needs to be infused into the sport’s structure to revive its fortunes.
The 53-year-old Australian takes over Belgian Michel Sablon, who stepped down in December 2018 after taking on the post in 2015 to put in place a youth development structure for Singapore football.
Palatsides is closely associated with A-League side Melbourne City FC, winners of the 2016 Football Federation of Australia Cup. Joining the club in 2012 as their National Youth League (NYL) coach, he led their youth team to NYL titles in 2015 and 2017.
He also established and headed the club’s youth academy, nurturing players who have represented Australia at both age-group and senior levels. Rising star Daniel Arzani, who has played six times for Australia and was signed up by Manchester City, is perhaps Palatsides’ most successful protege.
Criteria for success
Palatsides joins FAS on a two-year contract with an option for a two-year extension, after resigning from Melbourne City last month as the assistant coach of the senior team.
And while he is tasked with ensuring continuity from Sablon’s youth development structure, he outlined his criteria for success during his tenure at Thursday’s FAS media conference at the Jalan Besar Stadium to announce his appointment.
He said, “The goals are to improve our whole youth development programme, develop a better football style, and achieve success consistently over a period of time. We will work very hard to achieve this.
“There is potential for Singapore football to grow and reach greater heights. I believe that it is a sleeping giant, and we need to bring over Singapore’s culture of excellence in other fields into football in order to get to where we want.
“My immediate task will be to engage the fraternity and the local coaches to see how we can synergise our efforts for the betterment of Singapore football.”
Sizeable obstacles await
Palatsides will have to negotiate sizeable obstacles that has often hindered the development of Singapore football in the past, such as national service and a small talent base.
Nevertheless, FAS president Lim Kia Tong noted two qualities of the new technical director that should serve him well during his tenure – his hands-on approach, and his experience in all facets of professional football.
“Joseph has been an international-level player, a player-coach, a youth-team coach, a senior-team coach, as well as a youth academy head. We feel that his all-around experience will be important in his job of improving our youth development structure,” Lim said.
“We are also impressed by his desire to be a hands-on technical director, one who goes out to meet the school coaches and youth coaches for their inputs, instead of just drawing up plans in the office.”
Besides developing top youth talents, Palatsides will also be in charge of the development of grassroots and women’s football, as well as further strengthening the FAS’ coaching structures.
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