ANTE MIŠE, FORMER HNK HAJDUK SPLIT COACH:

“Matches are the best indicators of a successful system”

“Ante Miše was born June 14th 1967 and started his football career at the youth academy of FC Borovo, Croatia. He made his debut in the first team at the age of fifteen and played seven games for the Croatian national. He transferred to HNK Hajduk Split when he was seventeen and wore the Hajduk jersey 339 times, scoring 40 goals. In 1994 he moved to Holland, where he played for Vitesse for three seasons. He ended his football career at FC Mura in Slovenia in 2005.
For the next two years he coached Croatian teams in the second and third division and moved on to the Croation Premier League in 2008, when he took charge of FC Hajduk, Split, and with success. Miše guided to team to a Croatian Cup victory and a second place in the Croatian championship. Ante Miše is considered one of the most up-and -coming young coaches in Croatia.”
Miše talked to Dušan Petrović about his coaching philosophy, systems of play and gives us an inside look at how to prepare a team for an important match.

“Even as a player, I enjoyed playing offensive football. I inherited this from all the coaches who taught me to play this way, in ex Yu and then in Croatia. However, the years I spent in the Netherlands really formed my coaching philosophy and made my vision more determinate and complete. Playing and training under Leo Beenhakker, but also watching other Dutch coaches and analyzing their matches, have played a big part in forming my coaching philosophy. The teams that I have coaches play what I call 'creative offensive football'.
I want discipline in all lines, but when the defensive line is forced to play with discipline and structure, I always allow a dose of creativity and imagination to the midfield and offensive lines.”

System of a play
“My favorite system of the play is the 1-4-2-3-1, which was a great match for the Hajduk Split selection I worked with and their tactical and technical characteristics and speed. Basic characteristics of the system is that it consists of 4 lines: a defensive line of 4 players who play in the zone, a midfield, to create balance, with two defensive players in the second line, a third line with a central midfielder and 2 wingers and the last line with a sole striker. The pros of this system consists of offensive power with the fourth and fifth lines (great number of players), great variety and combinations within the system, the forming of triangles across all the lines and having a great number of players in the middle of the field. Matches are the best indicators of a successful system. Yet you can never be satisfied until you have created automation in the movements and fulfillment of players’ tasks across all the lines of the team.”

Discipline
“Special attention is paid to the players and their motivation in training. One of the most important things that lead to a good relationship and a good understanding between a coach and the players is the players’ discipline. To make this happen it is good to have qualitative insight in each player’s abilities, his qualities, his potential and his character (mentality). A coach must affect the team and its behavior in an conscious and controlled manner and provide all the players with the conditions to excel. Giving a player the feeling that he is worth the attention will make player more self assured and stronger and in turn he will be more motivated to accept the coach’s demands. The most important aspects in teamwork are making the individual qualities work for the team. Furthermore, there must be motivation, a good atmosphere within the team and maximum performance during the training. If we manage to ensure all of these aspects, the payoff will be reflected in the results.”

Preparations for the next game (7 day cycle)
Sunday
Day off

Monday
On Monday I divide the team into 2 groups. The group who played during the previous match and the substitutes. The players who played will have a regeneration training consisting of some relaxed running (2x12 min), Stretching (10- 12min) and a massage.
Training for the players that did not play the match:
• 10 min stability practice (pair work)
• 10 min strength practice (repetitive training) 2 series x 20 sec.
• 6 min stretching
• A game of 6v6 with 2 neutrals
o Field size: 40x30m
o Duration: 2x6min
o No goalkeeper
o 2 touches
o Play on possession, neutrals play with team in possession
o Game setup, like a corridor (neutrals are in the middle) with 3 players of each time on each side of them. Players must stay on their own side
• A game of 7v7 with goalkeepers on a short, wide field. 2x12 min, free play
• Total training duration: 75-90 min
• Training intensity: Maximum

Tuesday, 9.00-10.00 a.m.
• 6 min easy running
• 6 min stretching
• 12 min heading game with guards on the goal (the ball is passed by hand, only score by means of a header. Field 30x20m, all players)
• 12 min interval running
• 6 min stretching
• 12 min interval running
• 6 min stretching
• High intensity, aerobic-anaerobic component
Tuesday, 4.00-5.30 p.m.
• 12 min stability practice
• 12 min round pass
• 2x20 sec strength practice
• Attacking exercise on both halves
o 2 groups each on one half
o With goalkeepers
o System of play like in a match
o Attacking play with the system
• A game of 11v11 on 3 goals
o 15 min
o Formation 1-4-2-3-1 against 1-4-4-2
• 6 min regenerating running
• High intensity training session

Wednesday, 4.00-5.30 pm
• Warming up training (Middle intensity)
•10-15 min skips coordination (high intensity)
• Possession game in 2 groups. 2x6 min (rotate groups)
- Group 1:
• Field 20x30m
• 5v5 with 2 neutrals
- Group 2:
• Field 20x30m
• 4v4 with 4 neutrals
• Game of 10v10 on a shortened field (70m)
o Free play
o 1-4-2-3-1 vs 1-4-4-2
o 12 min

Thursday, 4.00-5.30 pm
• Tactical session (opponent possession and counter attacks) 30 min
• 11v11 on 2 goals 2x12min
• 12 min stretching
• Medium intensity training

Friday, 4.00-5.00 pm
• Tactical session
• 12 min passing
• 20min shooting ball on the goal
• Counter attacks
• Acceleration training in pairs 8x10m
• Stretching 10-12min
• Medium intensity training

Saturday, 4.00 pm
MATCH

Choosing a system
“In the previous section I outlined the microcycles of the 7 day preparation phase for the week prior to the qualification match for Europa League. The match was played after the first primary round, which meant our season had not started and that the players hadn’t reached their top competitive form yet. In deciding on what system to play I also took the opponent’s qualities into account. They play in a 1-4-3-3 system and I decided to counter that with a 1-4-2-3-1 formation. From scouting the opponent, Zilina (Slovakia), we gathered they were an experienced team with an average age of 27 and had some tall players, they are strong in combination plays and counter attacks. The main goal of our formation was to create an outnumbering situation on midfield, so we could control and dominate play there.”
“There are a few reasons why I choose that system. One of the main reasons is that we had experience with the system and it is a great match with the qualities my players have (speed, combination play, counter attacks down the flanks and offensive power and numbers). One of the main reasons was also because we were playing this first match on their turf, so we needed to play offensive and score, so we would have an extra advantage in the second match at home. Playing the system I’ve chosen for that game, we could prevent the opponent’s counters down the flanks and create problems for them to combine in the middle.”

Player tasks
“Each match is different and so the tasks of the players differ too. We played with a micro defense and 2 stoppers who had the special tasks to push the back line as far from our goal as they could (40m from the goal), taking away the threat of their tall forwards. The two defensive midfielders were given the task to play close to our back line and take control of those so called 'nobody’s balls'. In opponent possession the half wingers had to provide support in the center, covering the two 2 defensive midfielders. In possession these half wingers had a task to make diagonal runs off the ball, to create space for our wingbacks, who both have great offensive
strength. Our striker had the special task to be in constant contact with the opponents left stopper, so he could create space for our offensive midfielder to enter the opponents box.”

“The reason I give special tasks to certain players is because they have certain qualities that can make a difference. The players who are assigned special tasks are the players with a certain character and the ones I know are able to deal with the pressure of the game. This doesn't mean the other players do not have special qualities. It takes an entire team, with quality players to pull this off. Without the help and functioning of the entire team the players with the special tasks could not accomplish them. It takes an entire team to reach your goals.”

Staff members and their tasks during the preparations
“Besides the players, each member of the staff also has a tasks during this preparation phase. Every members has been delegated a task to analyze certain parts of the opponents’ game:
• The goalkeeper coach: goalkeeper‘s qualities (running out, footwork, 1v1, penalty strategy)
• Defense coach: do they play zone defense or man to man, what are their flaws down the flanks or through the middle
• Midfield and offense coach: analyze each midfielder and forward and their qualities

Psychological aspect of preparation
“One of the most important elements during preparation is psychological preparation of the players. My task as a coach is to decrease the psychological pressure as much as possible. This is why the players are sometimes put in quarantine before an important match. I often use quarantine as an aspect of individual concentration, to prepare the players for the expected task (confidence, stability, balance). Media are always in quest for information, sensations and in that way they influence the psyche of a player. When the players know everything about the upcoming opponent and what they can expect, they are more relaxed. Stability of a team is very important, and it can lead to good results. The results are those that keep peace and good atmosphere in the locker-room. The coach, consciously and controllably can and must keep the team stability even if the results are not satisfactory. I consider this the most important quality of a coach.”