SKOKO'S LEADING ROLE

SOCCER legend Josip Skoko has returned to his spiritual home of North Geelong Warriors to aid the club’s 2011 season and help develop its legion of promising young players. Former Socceroo Skoko is forming a coaching dream team with his brother Ante, who has replaced Vinko Buljubasic as head coach. The partnership marks the first time that the brothers, who both have deep connections to Warriors, have worked together in soccer in almost 20 years. Skoko has registered as a player for the upcoming season, raising the tantalising prospect of the 35-year-old, who won 51 caps for Australia, playing for North in State League 1. Skoko retired at the end of the latest A-League season after a one-year stint at Melbourne Heart. However, he said: “At this stage, I won’t be playing, no. I retired for a reason,” he said. “I would’ve kept playing at the highest level if I could carry on. I registered just in case something happens, but I’d prefer the young players to take centre stage. “I want the club to do well and I feel at home there. I want to do anything to help the club and soccer in Geelong. The club is well positioned with its young players and financially too.” Skoko said that he started working with North’s under-21 players three weeks ago as a way to keep his fitness up and to dip his toe into coaching. In a rapid series of events, Ante, who was the under-21 coach, has been elevated to the senior coaching position following the dismissal of Buljubasic. Ante Skoko said: “Will Josip play? I’m not sure. I’ve had a lot of calls from people hoping he will do, but he is giving his body a well-deserved rest. “He will be turning up each week to take training and he’ll be there on match days too. At training, the kids really can see what it takes to be a top professional from him. “It’s been good fun to have him by my side. You have to respect what he’s done in the game.” Ante added of his coaching promotion: “It all happened quite unexpectedly. But I have got a good relationship with the boys there and the club is really re-establishing itself as a place for good, young local talent.” Joe Zilic, North’s president, admitted that the abrupt switch in coach on the eve of the season “wasn’t ideal”, despite the high-profile addition of the Skoko brothers. “I think highly of Vinko, he has done a lot for the club,” he said. “But there was a situation there that I couldn’t just ignore. I have to think of a club of more than 200 people. “But, as a fan, I’d say it is a hurdle to overcome. You can’t forget the players in all of this, I feel for them.” http://northgeelongsc.com.au/wp/2011/04/skokos-leading-role/