International football coach Bernd Stange is returning to Perth for the launch of his long awaited biography.
The popular former Perth Glory coach (1998-2001) will travel from his home in East Germany for the function along with his wife, Dorothea.
The book has been written by Perth author Thomas Mackay who has spent more than two years tracing the remarkable exploits of the German coach.
Stange will be reunited with his friend and former work colleague Roger Lefort who was Glory’s first general manager and who will launch the book entitled: “Bernd Stange – The Coach Who Knew Too Much” produced by Skyeboat Publishing of South Perth.
“Bernd Stange and former Perth Glory owner Nick Tana have a special place in sports history because they changed the face of professional football in Australia for ever. They were the trail blazers in the transformation of the code from a social football set-up to full professionalism. For that alone football in Australia remains in their debt” Mackay said.
In 2003 the German received one of the rarest honours in world sport – the FIFA Presidential Award – for his part in resurrecting football in Iraq after the U.S. led invasion left that country’s national team destitute. While in Iraq he narrowly escaped assassination by terrorists.
Stange will hold a news conference at the Perth Soccer Club, Dorrien Gardens, 3 Lawley Street, West Perth, at 11.45 am on Tuesday, 22 November, 2016. The book launch ceremony will follow immediately afterwards at the Soccer Club at 12.30 pm
Media contact for both events are: Thomas Mackay at: E: thmack@bigpond.com or M: 044 88 747 80 or 08 9368 6775
Stange was the keynote speaker at last weekend’s WA Football Hall of Fame induction:
Stange will also be attending the Glory V Jets match on December 10 where he will be addressing Perth Glory Members in the nib Lounge post match. Be there and get your book signed.
