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Vince Rugari

@vincerugari.com

2.4K followers 720 following 250 posts

Sydney Morning Herald sports reporter | [email protected] | Author of Angeball: The definitive biography of Ange Postecoglou

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Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · Jun 13

A massive honour and great pleasure to sit down with George Vasilopoulos this week to talk about his time as South Melbourne president — and how he saved Ange Postecoglou by calling in sick to stop a board meeting in 1996 where he was to be sacked.

www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer...

He was in Daniel Levy’s shoes 30 years ago. Instead of sacking Ange, he called in sick

South Melbourne’s board wanted Ange Postecoglou gone, just five games into his first season as coach. But president George Vasilopoulos had other ideas.

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · 2d

And it dismisses the notion that a manager who doesn’t do that is actually scarier in a way. Like, if I played for Ange, we were shit in 1H and he was standing there quietly seething… I’d rather go into HT with a manager ranting and raving for 45 mins, over him.

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · 16d

Same thing Socceroos went through post-Ange. We all craved more ‘security’, then we got it, and then craved what we had before. It’s hard!

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · 16d

My whole joke, btw, was that before you had an attacking guy who needed to be more cautious. Now you have a more cautious guy who needs to be more creative. There is no ‘one way’, and each way has its positives and minuses, even though you don’t see it that way until it’s at your doorstep.

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · 16d

I can’t see what your joke was in reference to as someone has me blocked, so I’ve assumed the worst. Sorry if that was wrong. I’ll fuck off now. Enjoy.

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · 16d

It was just a joke man. I promise to never another one again

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · 16d

So I’m told!

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · 16d

He’s got to adapt, for me.

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · Sep 12

Uhh no it’s not lol

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · Sep 12

People can follow football however they want. I find the policing of others like this distasteful and arrogant. It’s completely reasonable to hold an allegiance to a club while admiring former players and coaches associated with it. You’ll find fans of all of Ange’s ex clubs do this, tbh.

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · Sep 10

I didn’t want it to go like this 😔

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · Sep 10

Hello Tottenham BlueSky. www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer...

Does Ange Postecoglou still ‘believe in fairies’? We’re about to find out

Ange Postecoglou will be operating in the shadows of Brian Clough, one of England’s greatest managers, at Nottingham Forest. In many ways, they are kindred spirits.

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · Aug 25

Brother. The inanity. I can’t do it

Reposted by Vince Rugari

profspur @profspur.bsky.social · Aug 25

Every pundit already claiming
Frank is the opposite of Ange in terms of ‘the high line’ should be pressed to quote on-air what Ange’s Spurs and Frank’s Brentford avg def line heights were last season.

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · Aug 8

I don’t pick the photos

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · Jul 18

How Oasis ruined the Socceroos’ plans for a 20-year anniversary clash with Uruguay — plus a whole load of new stuff from a lengthy chat this week with Tony Popovic

www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer...

How Oasis ruined the Socceroos’ plans for a 20-year anniversary clash with Uruguay

The trade-off for Noel and Liam Gallagher’s long-awaited reunion at Accor Stadium in November is that another similarly historic reunion will not take place at that very same venue that month.

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · Jul 11

Comedians, influencers and footy players: Why we can’t get enough of celebrity boxing, even though we say we hate it www.smh.com.au/sport/boxing...

Comedians, influencers and footy players: Why we can’t get enough of celebrity boxing

There is surely no other sport like boxing, where notoriety outweighs skill to the extent that most people would seemingly rather watch rookies fighting instead of the actual best in the world.

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · Jul 11

The Premier League awaits Wrexham. One more promotion to go. But how can a club built on authenticity, accessibility and community reach the game’s most elite and corporatised level without sacrificing its soul?

www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer...

‘That is why I don’t sleep most nights’: Ambition, the EPL and the paradox of Wrexham AFC

The Premier League awaits. But how can a club built on authenticity, accessibility and community reach the game’s most elite and corporatised level without sacrificing its soul?

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · Jul 7

Sydney FC to seek millions in compensation over Allianz Stadium drainage fiasco www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer...

Sydney FC to seek millions in compensation over Allianz Stadium drainage fiasco

A review is expected to recommend the stadium be shut down for at least six weeks to fix the playing surface, meaning the Sky Blues will have to take their home games on the road again.

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · Jul 3

‘We’ll show you how to do it’: Secret recording catches suspected match-fixers red-handed www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer...

‘We’ll show you how to do it’: Secret recording catches suspected match-fixers red-handed

Police have been handed a covert recording in which it is alleged a representative of a Chinese investment group asks a player at an NPL club to engage in match-fixing.

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · Jun 17

🤷‍♂️

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · Jun 13

‪George Vass is the best of the Australian game. I could have written thousands more words from our chat. A beautiful guy and an absolute gentleman. Crazy to imagine the alternate universe which could have unfolded if he didn’t chuck that sickie. ‬

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · Jun 13

A massive honour and great pleasure to sit down with George Vasilopoulos this week to talk about his time as South Melbourne president — and how he saved Ange Postecoglou by calling in sick to stop a board meeting in 1996 where he was to be sacked.

www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer...

He was in Daniel Levy’s shoes 30 years ago. Instead of sacking Ange, he called in sick

South Melbourne’s board wanted Ange Postecoglou gone, just five games into his first season as coach. But president George Vasilopoulos had other ideas.

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · Jun 7

I’m fine thanks

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · Jun 6

Anyway.

In today's @smh, one of my favourite - and most important - things I've ever written.

It's about a special club in Griffith, NSW, and the needless rigidity of Australian soccer administration.

www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer...

Vince Rugari @vincerugari.com · Jun 6

Ange will land on his feet. But Spurs have made an enormous mistake in sacking him www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer...

Ange will land on his feet. But Spurs have made an enormous mistake in sacking him

Sacking Ange Postecoglou is a decision Tottenham Hotspur will almost certainly live to regret.