Mark Jackson on Mariners journey and more with The Athletic UK

Read more from our Head Coach’s recent chat with The Athletic UK, including his time at Leeds United and journey to the Mariners.

By Beren Cross

He may be 36 now, but Juan Mata still turns heads in Australia, especially in opposition dugouts. Mark Jackson smiles as he recounts last week’s trip to Western Sydney Wanderers with Central Coast Mariners. The former Leeds United coach started an 18-year-old goalkeeper, a 17-year-old attacker and introduced a 16-year-old after 11 minutes. By stark contrast, the hosts rolled out their Spanish World Cup winner.

Nobody said this move to the other side of the world would be easy for Jackson. They won the game 3-1 with a little help from former Leeds academy graduate Ryan Edmondson. It was only a second victory in seven outings. Jackson’s side needed it in what has been a chastening start to his second season Down Under.

The 47-year-old has set the bar high with his achievements. His first season was a roaring success, which ended with an unprecedented treble for the A-League side. Central Coast won the Premiership (the 27-match regular season table), the Championship (the post-season play-offs involving the top six teams) and AFC Cup (the second-tier Asian club competition). Jackson was named A-League Manager of the Year.

After 13 games, Central Coast are 10th of 13 teams before the latest round begins. Jackson, who played for Leeds from 1995-2000 before a career in the EFL, saw his squad pulled apart after last season’s success, but he is relishing the challenge of rebuilding this team once again, with familiar faces around him. Ex-Leeds players Edmondson and Alfie McCalmont are on the pitch and Danny Schofield, a former youth coach at Thorp Arch, but best known for his spells at Huddersfield Town and Doncaster Rovers, is by Jackson’s side.

“There was no thought in my mind I’m going over there to be forgotten about,” Jackson tells The Athletic. “I was really confident in my ability. Myself and Danny spent quite a lot of time together in the time we were out of work. We built our relationship as two professionals.

“Danny being the top coach he is, with the aspiration to get back into coaching, not necessarily management like myself. We felt we made a good team and could offer something when the right opportunity came. We were watching games together and just waiting for that chance.”

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