Rudan named as Western United coach
One of the worst-kept secrets in the A-League was finally made public on Thursday morning when former Wellington Phoenix boss Mark Rudan was unveiled as the inaugural coach of Western United.
The 43-year-old Sydneysider, who made such an impression with the Kiwis in his sole season in charge of an A-League club, has long been linked with the A-League new boys.
He will join up with one of his former charges, A-League goalkeeper of the year Filip Kurto, at his new team. Kurto left Wellington earlier this month and announced he was joining Western.
Western have already recruited a number of players which, it must be assumed, Rudan either signed off on or was consulted upon before they were signed.
Rudan had a peripatetic career as a player. A commanding central defender, he developed through the Sydney United system as a junior and played for the club from Sydney's western suburbs in the NSL.
He also had spells in Germany, China and Malaysia before playing for Sydney FC in the first few seasons of the A-League, winning the inaugural championship.
Afterwards, Rudan played in Japan and Liechtenstein before finishing in the A-League in the 2009-10 season with Adelaide United.
The new Western United boss served a lengthy coaching apprenticeship with Rockdale City and Sydney United in NSW before taking the Phoenix role. He also had a year with the Australian under-20 team as an assistant coach.
During his time with Sydney United he twice won the National Premier League title.
He also carved out a niche for himself as a television pundit and analyst working for Fox Sports, a career ''sideline'' which undoubtedly built his profile with the wider soccer public.