John Kosmina
Encyclopedia
Alexander John Kosmina known as John Kosmina, is a former Australian
football (soccer) player and manager of Polish Australian
ethnicity. He was most recently the manager of Sydney FC
. He is a member of the Football Federation Australia Football Hall of Fame.
and then West Adelaide, before signing for English side Arsenal
in February 1978. However, he only played one first-team league game for the Gunners (as a substitute against Leeds United on 19 August 1978), along with 3 appearances (2 as a substitute) in that season's UEFA cup. He returned to Australia in May 1979.
On his return, he went on to become one of the National Soccer League
's most prolific scorers, with stints at Adelaide City
, West Adelaide (for a second time), Sydney City
, Sydney Olympic
and A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers
before retiring in 1989. The most successful of these was with Sydney City, being part of their 1981 and 1982 championship winning teams, as well as being the league's top scorer in 1982.
side Newcastle Breakers, followed by a stint at the Brisbane Strikers
. Both stints were largely unsuccessful, his sides reaching the finals only once.
Finishing 2nd on the table behind Melbourne Victory
, Adelaide managed to reach the grand final, only to be thrashed 6-0. Kosmina's criticism of the refereeing of that match, coupled with the devastating loss and a touchline ban earlier during the season for a scuffle
with Victory captain Kevin Muscat
, saw him forced to resign by the Adelaide board.
He was then appointed by Socceroos coach Graham Arnold as his assistant for the 2007 Asian Cup.
by the Sydney Football Club Board, Kosmina was confirmed on 24 October 2007 as the new Sydney FC coach. Since signing with Sydney FC
Kosmina made an immediate impact; winning his first game with Sydney 3-2 against rivals Central Coast Mariners at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Sydney FC beat the LA Galaxy
5-3 at Sydney's Telstra Stadium
in a friendly, and also won a thrilling 5-4 victory against the Central Coast Mariners at Bluetongue Stadium. Following Sydney FC's poor run in the 2008/2009 season (missing the finals for the first time), John Kosmina had his contract terminated in late January 2009.
with Ross Aloisi
, Two Up Front and the episodes are on AustraliaLiveTV.com.
He was announced the manager of the Adelaide Raiders
, a semi-professional club playing in the South Australian Super League
. On 1 September 2011, it was announced he had signed as senior coach of South Australian Super League
club Croydon Kings
after more than 35 years away from the club.
: NSL Championship: 1981
, 1982 NSL
Cup: 1986
Personal Honours:
Kosmina Street in the Sydney suburb of Glenwood
is named for him.
Australia national football (soccer) team
The Australia national association football team represents Australia in international association football competitions. Its official nickname is the "Socceroos"...
football (soccer) player and manager of Polish Australian
Polish Australian
Poland has been a source country of immigrants to Australia, in particular in the post-war period. Immigration from Poland has long tapered off, with Polish Australian population now part of the mainstream Australian community.-Demography:...
ethnicity. He was most recently the manager of Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
. He is a member of the Football Federation Australia Football Hall of Fame.
Club career
He played for PoloniaCroydon Kings
The Croydon Kings are a football club in Adelaide, South Australia. Croydon Kings play in the South Australian Super League. They play home games at Polonia Reserve at Croydon in the Adelaide's west. They are one of the most successful sides in South Australian football...
and then West Adelaide, before signing for English side Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in February 1978. However, he only played one first-team league game for the Gunners (as a substitute against Leeds United on 19 August 1978), along with 3 appearances (2 as a substitute) in that season's UEFA cup. He returned to Australia in May 1979.
On his return, he went on to become one of the National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
's most prolific scorers, with stints at Adelaide City
Adelaide City
Adelaide City is a football club in Adelaide, South Australia. They are also known as The Zebras. They played in the National Soccer League for 27 Seasons but withdrew just prior to the 2003/2004 season. They now play in the South Australian Super League. City won the inaugural Super League...
, West Adelaide (for a second time), Sydney City
Sydney City Soccer Club
Sydney City Soccer Club is a football club from Sydney, Australia.The club was formed in 1939 as Sydney Hakoah by members of the Sydney Jewish community. They played between 1977 and 1986 in the National Soccer League as Eastern Suburbs and Sydney City...
, Sydney Olympic
Sydney Olympic FC
Sydney Olympic Football Club is an Australian football club that plays in the NSW Premier League. It competed in the National Soccer League from 1977 until the league's demise in 2004, having won the championship in 1989–90, 2001–02, the League Cup in 1980, the minor premiership in 2002–03 and the...
and A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers
A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers
APIA Leichhardt Tigers Football Club, also known as APIA Tigers and Sydney Tigers, is an Australian football club based in Sydney, Australia. The club was formed in 1954, known as APIA Leichhardt, by Italian Australians...
before retiring in 1989. The most successful of these was with Sydney City, being part of their 1981 and 1982 championship winning teams, as well as being the league's top scorer in 1982.
Managerial career
After retiring, he began coaching the Warringah Dolphins in the New South Wales state leagues, before coaching NSLNational Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
side Newcastle Breakers, followed by a stint at the Brisbane Strikers
Brisbane Strikers
The Brisbane Strikers are an Australian football club from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia who play in the Queensland State League.-National Soccer League:...
. Both stints were largely unsuccessful, his sides reaching the finals only once.
Adelaide United
In 2003 he became the inaugural coach of Adelaide United. Kosmina coached United to an impressive 3rd in the final season of the NSL. Maintaining his job for the inaugural season of the Hyundai A-League, Kosmina led his side to the Minor Premiership but a poor finals series saw them finish 3rd overall. The next season saw mixed results for Kosmina and Adelaide United.Finishing 2nd on the table behind Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
, Adelaide managed to reach the grand final, only to be thrashed 6-0. Kosmina's criticism of the refereeing of that match, coupled with the devastating loss and a touchline ban earlier during the season for a scuffle
Chokehold
A chokehold or choke is a general term for grappling hold that critically reduces or prevents either air or blood from passing through the neck of an opponent. The restriction may be of one or both and depends on the hold used and the reaction of the victim...
with Victory captain Kevin Muscat
Kevin Muscat
Kevin Muscat is an Australian football player who currently plays for Victorian State League Division 1 side Sunshine George Cross and is assistant coach of Melbourne Victory...
, saw him forced to resign by the Adelaide board.
He was then appointed by Socceroos coach Graham Arnold as his assistant for the 2007 Asian Cup.
Sydney FC
After the sacking of Branko CulinaBranko Culina
Branko Čulina is a football coach and former player. He is currently without a club after being sacked by Newcastle Jets.-Club career:...
by the Sydney Football Club Board, Kosmina was confirmed on 24 October 2007 as the new Sydney FC coach. Since signing with Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
Kosmina made an immediate impact; winning his first game with Sydney 3-2 against rivals Central Coast Mariners at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Sydney FC beat the LA Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
5-3 at Sydney's Telstra Stadium
Telstra Stadium
Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay...
in a friendly, and also won a thrilling 5-4 victory against the Central Coast Mariners at Bluetongue Stadium. Following Sydney FC's poor run in the 2008/2009 season (missing the finals for the first time), John Kosmina had his contract terminated in late January 2009.
Recently
He occassionally appears on Fox Sports as a commentator and football analyst. Kosmina co-hosts a weekly Internet television show about football on Australia Live TVAustralia Live TV
Australia Live TV is an Australia based online television network run from Chapel Lane Studios in Hindmarsh, South Australia, Adelaide The company started with one sports Internet television show KG and the General but now hosts several shows -Programming:...
with Ross Aloisi
Ross Aloisi
Ross Aloisi is a former Australian football player who was known for being the captain of Adelaide United in the Hyundai A-League - a team he guided to a minor premiership, a pre-season cup and earning entry into 2 Asian Champions League campaigns...
, Two Up Front and the episodes are on AustraliaLiveTV.com.
He was announced the manager of the Adelaide Raiders
Adelaide Raiders
Raiders is a football club in Adelaide, South Australia, that plays in the South Australian Super League. Its home ground is the Croatian Sports Centre in Gepps Cross, a northern suburb of Adelaide. It is a Croatian Australian-backed club and is also known by the name "Adelaide Croatia"...
, a semi-professional club playing in the South Australian Super League
South Australian Super League
The South Australian Super League is the highest state-level association football competition in South Australia and commenced in 2006. Prior to the 2006 season, the highest level competition in South Australia was the South Australian Premier League. Nationally, it is one grade lower than the...
. On 1 September 2011, it was announced he had signed as senior coach of South Australian Super League
South Australian Super League
The South Australian Super League is the highest state-level association football competition in South Australia and commenced in 2006. Prior to the 2006 season, the highest level competition in South Australia was the South Australian Premier League. Nationally, it is one grade lower than the...
club Croydon Kings
Croydon Kings
The Croydon Kings are a football club in Adelaide, South Australia. Croydon Kings play in the South Australian Super League. They play home games at Polonia Reserve at Croydon in the Adelaide's west. They are one of the most successful sides in South Australian football...
after more than 35 years away from the club.
Player
With Sydney CitySydney City Soccer Club
Sydney City Soccer Club is a football club from Sydney, Australia.The club was formed in 1939 as Sydney Hakoah by members of the Sydney Jewish community. They played between 1977 and 1986 in the National Soccer League as Eastern Suburbs and Sydney City...
: NSL Championship: 1981
National Soccer League 1981
The National Soccer League 1981 season was the fifth season of the National Soccer League in Australia. The champions were Sydney City SC, winning their third title.-League table:-Individual awards:*Player of the Year: Bobby Russell...
, 1982 NSL
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
Cup: 1986
Personal Honours:
- FFA Hall of ChampionsFootball Federation Australia - Football Hall of FameThe Football Federation Australia's Football Hall of Fame was formed in 1996 as the Soccer Hall of Fame to honour outstanding services to association football in Australia....
Inductee - 1999 - NSLNational Soccer LeagueThe National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
Top Scorer: 1982 with Sydney CitySydney City Soccer ClubSydney City Soccer Club is a football club from Sydney, Australia.The club was formed in 1939 as Sydney Hakoah by members of the Sydney Jewish community. They played between 1977 and 1986 in the National Soccer League as Eastern Suburbs and Sydney City...
- 23 goals - NSLNational Soccer LeagueThe National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
Papasavas Medal (U-21): 1977
Manager
With Adelaide United: A-League Premiership: 2005-2006A-League 2005-06
The 2005-06 season was the first season of the A-League, a domestic club competition for football in Australia. After over 12 months without a national professional club competition, the first match in the A-League was played on 26 August 2005...
Kosmina Street in the Sydney suburb of Glenwood
Glenwood, New South Wales
Glenwood is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Glenwood is located 40 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Blacktown...
is named for him.