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United’s Head Coach to join the 100 club this Friday

The Gold Coast United Head Coach, outspoken character and veteran of the Hyundai A-League, will join the likes of Ernie Merrick, Lawrie McKinna and Ricki Herbert as having coached 100 games in Australia’s top football competition.

The humorous, candid and entertaining generator of quotes is no stranger to making headlines that promote the Hyundai A-League like no other, but his longevity, resilience and football smarts cannot be ignored either.

With the seventh season of the league now well underway, Bleiberg remains as the only coach left standing who has been around since the competition’s inception in 2005.

The other current coach who has managed as many games as United’s mentor is Wellington’s Ricki Herbert. Former managers, Melbourne Victory’s Ernie Merrick and Central Coast Mariners’ Lawrie McKinna, managed 151 and 120 games respectively, but are no longer occupying the hot seat at their clubs.

A foundation coach at two start-up clubs, Queensland Roar and Gold Coast United, his achievements in producing attacking teams cannot be overlooked.

United skipper Michael Thwaite says this is largely down to Bleiberg encouraging his troops to do what they do best when they’re on the field.

“Miron gives more freedom on the field to his players than any other coach I’ve worked with and that sits well with the players because they are encouraged to express themselves and play their natural game,” Thwaite said.

“He treats everyone like adults and expects us to be responsible, so that works well off the field as well as on it. That approach brings out the best in players, both as footballers and as people.

“Of course he’s well known for his entertaining media presence, but those of us who know him understand that he does this to promote the game – and he does it well.”

United defender Kristian Rees, who himself passed the 100 game mark last weekend, has been on both sides of Bleiberg’s tactical nous. The former Adelaide United centre-half was earmarked by Bleiberg as a potential Gold Coast signing due to the dogged resistance he provided to Queensland Roar’s forward forays in the early days of the Hyundai A-League and they are times he remembers well.

“During my time with Adelaide United we played Miron’s Queensland Roar team a few times and we always knew we were in for a tough game because of the attacking approach he would employ,” Rees said

“When he was kind enough to offer me the chance to come and play for him at Gold Coast United I was excited about the opportunity because I knew he would put together an attacking team.

“He’s excellent at adapting to different circumstances and putting a good squad full of the right characters, which makes it fun to come to training each day.

“I didn't know it was his 100^th game this week until someone told me, so it’s a great milestone for him to reach. We want to win every game of course, but it would be especially nice if we could get the three points on Friday and make his 100^th match a special one for him.”