Macarthur FC have secured the signature of one of Australian football’s most experienced coaches.
Anthony Crea, who joins the club as head of high performance, is not only a legendary Socceroo fitness guru, but a local to boot.
The opportunity at Macarthur allows the 45-year-old to park his globetrotting past and work closer to home.
Born and bred in Liverpool, Crea understands the community and the long standing appetite for a team to call their own as well as anyone.
“When you do your job, you do it to the best of your ability. But when it’s local, it becomes personal,’’ says Crea.
“You always invest a little bit more and it hits the heart a little bit differently,” he said.
Since starting his career in 1997 at Marconi Soccer Club, Crea has played a part in some of Australian football’s most memorable moments, including the 2006 FIFA World Cup campaign.
Crea has worked with some of the Australian game’s biggest names and played a central role in delivering a swag of silverware during his spell with Melbourne Victory.
With a track record of success in all his previous roles, the former Socceroos fitness coach’s proven methods of training players to reach top physical condition, as well as building mental strength, will be valuable assets for Macarthur FC’s inaugural squad.
His new role will see him reacquainted with familiar faces, having worked with Ante Milicic, Ivan Jolic and Mile Sterjovski in previous roles.
“I know Ante very well. We’ve played with and against each other since we were 12 or 13, so I understand his mindset and who he is as a character,” says Crea.
“My goal is the same as the club’s goal – we want to win the league. This is the mindset you need and we all share that drive to be the best we can be.
“Ante has brought a group together who all think alike and are all driven to succeed. People like Mile Sterjovski for instance. I’ve had the privilege of working with him in the national team for many years and understand who he is as a person.
“Look at Ivan Jolic and what he has done in his coaching career and then you’ve got the likes of Ken Stead, who has so much quality and valuable experience. So, when you look at that, you know you’re coming to a solid group,” he said.
