What is it about Ric Charlesworth that ensures that his teams end up successful? It is unfair to say he has a Midas touch, as no one gets the success he does by simply going through the motions as a coach. He must instil a belief in his players that other coaches somehow fail to with every squad member.
The Kookaburras World Cup victory over Germany in India at the weekend was Charlesworth’s third World Cup success having won with the female Hockeyroos in 1994 and 1998.
Even though the Australians overcame the Germans who had defeated them in two of the last three World Cup finals, thanks to goals from Eddie Ockenden and Luke Doerner, Charlesworth put the win immediately into perspective by stating that the team was only just beginning to find its feet.
Maybe this is why he is so successful, with that comment he has said that his own team can do better, so that they do not rest on their laurels, yet he has also dealt a blow to the teams they have defeated telling them, that this team has not even got close to reaching its potential.
Either way it is a remarkable achievement by the man who is only the second player to win the World Cup and then coach a winning team (Hans Jorritsma being the first). It was also a superb performance by the players to overcome the favoured Germans to win thier first World Cup since 1986, when Charlesworth was a player.
The official explanation is in fact quite a logical one. Graham Reid was named as the coach so that he could sit on the bench, as Ric Charlesworth likes to sit in the stand and watch from there.
The question is, as you say, what will the sport’s historians show in years to come?
Thank you for sending the official FIH team sheet through and you are spot on. Graham Reid is listed as coach.
Your comment about how history will record this game is right on the money. We will havre one of the Kookaburras on the show tis week and we will endeavour to find out why this happened.
Thanks for being so eagle-eyed!
OK, follow up:
Just confirming Charlesworth is NOT the second person to play and coach in a World cup winning side. The coach is definately listed as Graham Reid. Charlesworth is listed as coach for the first 3-4 games then Reids name appears. Now I know this is pedantic, but once our collective memory dies off, future generations will base there knowledge on those official team sheets. Much like the numerous cases in Soccer when the ref sends of fthe wrong guy. Sure, everyone at the game knows it wasn’t him, but 30 years later when people look back through the records you know who will get the recognition for it. Lets see what the AHA says
Well sorry to bust up the party fella’s, but the official FIH team sheet that was posted on the web during the game lists the Australian coach as Graham Reid, the current assistant. On every other official team listing Charlesworth was named as coach, however for the Final “Possum’s” name was listed. Wether this was a generous gesture from Charlesworth or just a stuff up by the data input dude or something more sinister who knows.. I have fired of an email to the FIH so we we see what they have to say. It wouldn’t surprise if this is just a little test from Charleswoth for the illustrious Australian sports media, cause everyone has gone with the story, but has anybody bothered to check?