Nathan Coe is enjoying being back in Australia with Melbourne Victory. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun
NATHAN Coe was in no rush to come home.
Having served a lengthy apprenticeship at two of the world's biggest clubs, Inter Milan and PSV Eindhoven, the goalkeeper was finally getting consistent first team action with Danish first division outfit SonderjyskE.
And with a supportive long-term partner, now wife, happy to be by his side wherever football took him, there was no pressure to move closer to friends and family.
Then Ange Postecoglou called.
Coe had built an affinity with the Melbourne Victory boss when working together at under-age level. So when the pair spoke about the direction the two-time A-League champion was going, Coe saw the opportunity as too good to refuse.
"We never really thought we were coming back to Australia, so it was a bit left field I suppose," Coe said yesterday.
"My wife and I talked about it and she just said 'Whatever you want to do, whatever you feel is best we'll do'.
"Obviously knowing Ange and what sort of coach he is, knowing about Victory, how big the club is, how professional it is, the good players, it just made the decision easy.
"Ange told me what his plan was, where he wanted to take the club and I wanted to be a part of that. It fitted in with where I want to go and how I want to improve."
At 28, Coe's best years are in front of him. The 2014 World Cup is on the horizon, and the Queenslander insists that his move to Victory helps his World Cup dream.
First, he sought and received Holger Osieck's blessing before transferring, with the Socceroos boss pointing to Victory teammates Archie Thompson and Mark Milligan as examples of A-League players still firmly in the national team frame.
Secondly, there is Postecoglou's playing philosophy of playing out from defence - starting with the goalkeeper.
It's an added string to the bow, Coe says, that can't hurt his chances of adding to his three Australian caps.
"I don't think anyone would say it's a negative, having a goalkeeper that's able to play football," he said.
"For me to come and play like this is different, but I'm enjoying it and I think it's probably the way football's going. Most teams now want to be able to play from the back."
When Coe lined up against Newcastle in Round 4 he became the third keeper Victory fielded in the opening weeks of the season.
But Coe said fellow shot stoppers Tando Velaphi and Lawrence Thomas had made his time at the club as easy as possible.
"It would have been tough for them, I came in late and started to play," he said.
"I've been in that situation as well before. I guess it's football, but it still doesn't make it any easier.
"They've been great for me, they've welcomed me."
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