Credits: Vinayak S Raj
An insight into attributes of Ivan Vukomanović as a coach, his arrival at Kerala Blasters and the journey ahead.
Kerala Blasters are hoping to turn things around from an era of recurring misfortune. The club has found a new gaffer all the way from Serbia, Ivan Vukomanović to be taken charge.
After the exit of Kibu Vicuna, it was evident that the club figured out it's need for adapting to a philosophy which suits the contracted players, a system into which those young Indian players can easily fit. The club focused on replacements who can make it possible keeping youth development in mind. From the final short list, the management was close to appoint Swedish tactician Gens Gustafson as head coach which unfortunately went down during final negotiations. Eventually the Kochi based club went for their second choice Ivan Vukomanović.
COACHING CAREER
The yellow army's new tactician began his coaching career with Belgian pro league club Standard Liege in 2013-14 season. On February 2014, he got promoted as their head coach.
In 2016, he joined Slovak Super Liga club Slovan Bratislava. He had a very decent stint there, finishing second in his first season by losing just 8 times out of 34. The Serbian Boss won his first and only trophy by winning the Slovak Cup with the club. The team remained unbeaten throughout the competition.
Vukomanović then coached Cyprus top division club Apollon Limisson. He joined the club as an interim head coach and managed just 4 games. Kerala blasters' Facundo Pereyra was a part of that team. Mumbai City FC's Cy Goddard, Ex-Bengaluru FC player Miku Fedor and Hyderabad FC's Lluis strastre played against him.
GAME STYLE
Vukomanović preaches a proactive brand of football in which he prefers a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 defensive formation, he has also played with a double six(defensive midfielders) formation.
He has a style of condensing the centre zone for which other than midfielders, often a forward lies deep, the defenders move up to reduce the space so that the opposition don't get to penetrate. A destroyer DMF is significant. Absence of a good winger who can make great impacts in the game has always been a problem for the blasters since the start of the league so far. Mainly the attacks of Vukamonovic are setting up through the wings. This points out that the team might sign a foreign winger this season who adapts to the style of the coach and could provide pin point crosses to the box. This urges to the need of a good striker who could make advantage of aerial balls as well. So a player of such quality can also be expected. Vukomanović is also successful in flexing his plans according to the opponents style without changing his system. It is certain that the addition of this new manager will create a new brand of game style in the team. The Serb tactician has also shown his strength in managing young players.
WILL HE ENJOY FREEDOM?
The club history hasn't witnessed much of a situation in which the headcoach brings his former players for advantage unlike other Indian Super league clubs. Many coaches didn't enjoy freedom to choose their type of players keeping apart the budgetary limits. This situation continued even after the arrival of Sporting director.
The newly appointed Sporting director failed to deliver in-form foreigners when he focused on experienced ones who unfortunately were down their peak last season. However, he already learnt the mistakes and has promised certain specific qualities and attributes for which they will be looking in foreigners next season.
ENDNOTE
The two time runners-up will be hoping to revive their glory days after four forgetful years. Success depends upon a number of factors coming together in favour, out of which those can be controlled, coordination between the coach and management in all aspects especially in foreign player recruitment is the key for blasters in the light of previous setbacks. With Vukomanović, who brings new things to the table, being appointed and begins to work with an evolved club management, fans are hopeful that the Kerala Blasters can turn things around.
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