Ernie Merrick

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Ernie Merrick
OAM
Ernie Merrick.JPG
Personal information
Full name Ernest Merrick
Date of birth (1953-01-15) 15 January 1953 (age 71)
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Shettleston
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1975–1978 Frankston City
1979–1984 Doveton
Managerial career
1979–1984 Doveton (Asst.)
1986 Frankston Pines (Asst.)
1987–1988 Preston Lions FC
1989–1991 Sunshine George Cross
1992–2004 VIS
2005–2011 Melbourne Victory
2011–2012 Hong Kong
2013–2016 Wellington Phoenix
2017–2020 Newcastle Jets
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ernest Merrick OAM (born 15 January 1953) is a Scottish-Australian coach, who last managed A-League soccer club Newcastle Jets. He was released on 6 January 2020. He was the former head coach of the Hong Kong national football team and A-League clubs Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix. He currently serves as the chief football officer for Football Australia. [1]

Contents

Coaching career

Melbourne Victory

In his first season at Melbourne Victory in 2005/06, the club failed to live up to its championship aspirations. With Socceroos Archie Thompson and Kevin Muscat in the squad, and the experience of 2 European internationals in Geoffrey Claeys and Richard Kitzbichler, expectations from the Melbourne fans were high. But they were left disappointed when the club finished the season 7th out of the 8 teams. After a promising start which saw them 1st after round 8, when they beat eventual champions Sydney FC 5–0, the team then won only 3 of the last 13 games.

During the second season, The Victory won the 2006–07 A-League Premiership, 12 points clear of second placed Adelaide United. Melbourne Victory faced Adelaide United in the A-League Grand Final at the Telstra Dome on 18 February, winning the match 6–0 with Archie Thompson scoring an incredible five goals.

The 2007–2008 season was a return to the disappointment of Merrick's first year in charge however, with the team finishing outside the Top 4 spots and thus failing to progress to the Finals Series.

Melbourne Victory finished second in the group phase of the 2008 Asian Champions League. Gamba Osaka won the group and went on to win the Asian Champions League.

In the 2008–2009 season, Melbourne Victory won the treble; the Pre-Season Cup, the Premiership and the Grand Final. In the Grand Final, Melbourne Victory defeated Adelaide United 1–0 to secure their second championship under Ernie Merrick's coaching.

During the 2009–2010 season, Melbourne Victory, despite severe season-ending knee injuries to key players, Billy Celeski, Matthew Kemp and star striker Archie Thompson once again reached the Grand Final. Sydney FC took out the title after extra time on penalties. Kevin Muscat and Marvin Angulo missed their penalty kicks, allowing Sydney to take out the championship.

Merrick in 2010 Ernie Merrick (4547043267).jpg
Merrick in 2010

On 12 March 2011, Ernie Merrick was sacked from his post at Melbourne Victory. The board of Melbourne Victory stated that they were unhappy with Victory's season and the 5–1 defeat by Gamba Osaka in Japan in the opening match of the Asian Champions League. Anthony Di Pietro, chairman of Melbourne Victory, said "Our club sets extremely high standards and we are disappointed with the results of the recent A-League season and also our start to the Champions League campaign" and that "Our intent is to continue to be the benchmark club in the A-League. We wish to be successful in Asia and believe this decision will assist in taking us to that level." [2] [3] [4] Merrick was the last foundation coach to be sacked.[ citation needed ]

Ernie Merrick was awarded coach of the year in 2007 and again in 2010.[ citation needed ]

Hong Kong national football team

The Hong Kong Football Association, on 16 December 2011, confirmed the appointment of Ernie Merrick as the new National Head Coach. [5] On 26 October 2012, it was confirmed that Ernie Merrick left his position as the team's Head Coach. [6]

Wellington Phoenix

On 20 May 2013, Merrick was announced as the head coach for Wellington Phoenix on a two-year contract, with an option for a third year. In his second season Merrick coached the team to third equal on the ladder with Adelaide Utd on 46 points and following this success he signed a 3-year contract extension. [7]

On 5 December 2016, Merrick resigned from the Phoenix following a 2–0 loss to Adelaide United. [8]

Newcastle Jets

In May 2017, Merrick was announced as the new coach of Newcastle Jets, following the sacking of Mark Jones after Newcastle Jets finished bottom of the league in the 2016–17 season. [9] Merrick took the Jets to the Grand Final in his first year despite losing the club's top goal scorer Andrew Nabbout in the January transfer window. The Jets played Melbourne Victory and lost the game after a controversial VAR decision. The following year Sydney FC made an offer to him but he declined and on 17 April 2018, Merrick signed an improved contract keeping him with the Jets until the end of the 2019/20 Hyundai A-League season. Having lost seven starting line-up players through transfers over the twelve-month period since the Grand Final and with long-term injuries to new signing Wes Hoolahan and Captain Nigel Boogaard, the club's results deteriorated and Merrick was sacked by the Jets on 6 January 2020

St Kilda

In early 2022, Merrick joined AFL club St Kilda as a mentor to senior coach Brett Ratten. The role includes match day duties and weekday roles with the football department. [10]

Personal life

Merrick was born in Edinburgh to a circus family. Before entering the head coaching ranks, he was a PE teacher as well as a semi-professional football player. [11]

Coaching statistics

As of 4 June 2019
TeamNatFromToRecord
GWDLWin %
Melbourne Victory Flag of Australia (converted).svg 20052011170744155043.53
Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg 16 December 201126 October 20124202050.00
Wellington Phoenix Flag of New Zealand.svg (team competes in Flag of Australia (converted).svg )20 May 20135 December 201694311548032.98
Newcastle Jets Flag of Australia (converted).svg 9 May 20176 Jan 202061281023045.90
Total32913566128041.03

Honours

Coach

With Melbourne Victory:

Personal Honours:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melbourne Victory FC</span> Football club

Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional soccer club based in Melbourne, Victoria. Competing in the country's premier men's competition, the A-League Men, under licence from Australian Professional Leagues (APL), Victory entered the competition in the inaugural season as the only Victorian-based club in the newly revamped domestic Australian league.

The A-League Men is an Australian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Australian soccer league system, it is the country's primary soccer competition and is contested by 12 clubs. The competition was formed in April 2004, following a number of issues including financial problems in the National Soccer League. Those records and statistics of the A-League Men are listed below. All updated as of 31 December 2023.

The 2006–07 A-League was the 30th season of top-flight soccer in Australia, and the second season of the A-League since its establishment the previous season. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the first season and on the interest generated by the Socceroos competing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Fox Sports had signed a A$120 million deal over 7 years for the exclusive broadcast rights of the A-League, AFC Champions League, and national team matches.

The 2007–08 A-League was the 31st season of top-flight soccer in Australia, and the third season of the A-League competition since its establishment in 2004. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the previous two seasons and on the interest generated by Sydney FC and Adelaide United playing in the 2007 AFC Champions League, and the Socceroos competing in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.

The 2008–09 A-League was the 32nd season of top-flight soccer in Australia, and the fourth season of the A-League competition since its establishment in 2004. Two new clubs, North Queensland Thunder and Gold Coast Galaxy had received tentative licences from the FFA but these were revoked for the 2008–09 season on 12 March 2008. Expansion plans are on hold until the 2009–10 season. Based on their 2007–08 performances, the Central Coast Mariners and the Newcastle Jets competed in the 2009 AFC Champions League for the first time.

The 2008-09 Hyundai A-League season was Melbourne Victory's fourth season. They finished top of the table at the end of the regular season and defeated Adelaide United in the Grand Final to take their second A-League title.

The 2009–10 A-League was the 33rd season of top-flight soccer in Australia, and the fifth season of the A-League competition since its establishment in 2004. The season marked the addition of two new teams from Queensland. Gold Coast United FC and the North Queensland Fury FC made their A-League debuts at the start of the season. Because of this, Queensland Roar were renamed to Brisbane Roar, as they were no longer the only A-League club from Queensland. With the inception of the two new clubs, many club transfers took place both within Australia and New Zealand, and around the world.

The 2010–11 A-League was the 34th season of top-flight soccer in Australia, and the sixth season of the Australian A-League soccer competition since its establishment in 2004. The home and away season began on 5 August 2010 and concluded on 13 February 2011. The addition of Melbourne Heart brought the total number of teams to 11. Brisbane Roar finished Premiers with two games remaining in the season following an Australian record unbeaten run, and later completed the Premiership and Championship double by beating the Central Coast Mariners in the Grand Final.

The 2010–11 season was Melbourne Victory's sixth season in the Hyundai A-League. It was the first A-League season with two teams from the same city, after the introduction of Melbourne Heart.

The 2011–12 A-League was the 35th season of top-flight soccer in Australia, and the seventh season of the Australian A-League soccer competition since its establishment in 2004. At the end of the previous season, the North Queensland Fury were cut from the competition by the governing body, Football Federation Australia, due to financial reasons.

The 2012–13 A-League was the 36th season of top-flight soccer in Australia, and the eighth season of the Australian A-League since its establishment in 2004. The 2012–13 season saw the introduction of a new Western Sydney-based team, the return of Newcastle Jets FC after their A-League licence was returned by FFA, and the end of Gold Coast United after they were removed from the competition at the end of the previous season. This season was also the last A-League season to be broadcast exclusively on paid television, after SBS obtained the rights to a live Friday night game each week of the A-League season, and all A-League finals games on a one-hour delay, on a $160 million four-year broadcast deal, effective from the 2013–14 A-League season onwards.

The 2013–14 A-League was the 37th season of top-flight soccer in Australia, and the ninth of the A-League since its establishment in 2004. The season began on 11 October 2013, with Western Sydney Wanderers as the defending A-League Premiers and Central Coast Mariners as the defending A-League Champions. The regular season concluded on 13 April 2014, with Brisbane Roar crowned Premiers. The 2014 Grand Final took place on 4 May 2014, with Brisbane Roar claiming their third Championship with a 2–1 win in extra time against Western Sydney Wanderers.

The 2016–17 A-League was the 40th season of top-flight soccer in Australia, and the 12th since the establishment of the A-League in 2004. The season began on 7 October 2016.

The 2017–18 A-League was the 41st season of top-flight soccer in Australia, and the 13th since the establishment of the A-League in 2004. The season began on 6 October 2017 and ended with the Grand Final on 5 May 2018.

The 2019–20 A-League, also known as the 2019–20 Hyundai A-League for sponsorship reasons, was the 43rd season of national level soccer in Australia, and the 15th since the establishment of the A-League in 2004. The regular season commenced on 11 October 2019 and was scheduled to conclude on 26 April 2020, though was postponed to 19 August 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic caused Football Federation Australia (FFA) to suspend the season from late March to mid July. The season resumed on 17 July 2020, which meant the finals occurred in mid-August and the Grand Final was held on 30 August 2020.

The 2019–20 season was Newcastle Jets' 19th season since its establishment in 2000. The club participated in the A-League for the 15th time and FFA Cup for the sixth time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020–21 A-League</span> 44th season of top-tier soccer league in Australia

The 2020–21 A-League was the 44th season of national level soccer in Australia, and the 16th since the establishment of the A-League in 2004. The season was started on 28 December 2020 and concluded with the Grand Final on 27 June 2021. The start of the season was later than previous seasons as a result of both the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and New Zealand, and as part of a gradual shift to move the competition from summer to winter. Wellington Phoenix played the majority of their home matches at Wollongong Showground in Wollongong due to international travel restrictions.

The 2021–22 A-League Men, known as the Isuzu UTE A-League for sponsorship reasons, was the 45th season of national level men's soccer in Australia, and the 17th since the establishment of the competition as the A-League in 2004.

The 2022–23 A-League Men, known as the Isuzu UTE A-League for sponsorship reasons, was the 46th season of national level men's soccer in Australia, and the 18th since the establishment of the competition as the A-League in 2004.

References

  1. ↑ "Football Australia appoint Ernie Merrick OAM as inaugural Chief Football Officer". Football Australia . 2 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  2. ↑ Foxsports Australia http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/a-league-giants-melbourne-victory-sack-coach-ernie-merrick-after-asian-champions-league-disaster/story-e6frf4gl-1226020259849
  3. ↑ Sportal "Victory, Merrick part - Football - Sportal Australia". Archived from the original on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  4. ↑ Sydney Morning Herald http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/melbourne-victory-sack-coach-merrick-20110312-1brxl.html
  5. ↑ HKFA appoint National Head Coach www.hkfa.com. 16 December 2011.
  6. ↑ "www.hkfa.com". 26 October 2012.
  7. ↑ "Phoenix Appoint A-League's Most Successful Coach - Wellington Phoenix FC 2014". Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "Ernie Merrick resigns as head coach of the Wellington Phoenix". Newshub. 5 December 2016.
  9. ↑ "Merrick sees off Kean for Jets job". The World Game . SBS. 8 May 2017.
  10. ↑ "Smells like Victory: Why Saints have turned to two-time A-League winner". afl.com.au. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  11. ↑ CGW | Getting to know Ernie Merrick
  12. ↑ "News - A Leagues | KEEPUP".
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