John Kosmina

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Personal information
John Kosmina
Image:John Kosmina.jpg
Full name	Alexander John Kosmina
Date of birth	August 17, 1956
Place of birth	Adelaide, Australia
Nickname	Kossie
Position	Manager
Club information
Current club	Adelaide United FC
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
1973-1976 1977 1978 1979 1979-1980 1981-1986 1987-1988 1989	Adelaide Polonia West Adelaide SC Adelaide City Arsenal F.C. West Adelaide SC Sydney City Sydney Olympic APIA Leichhardt	? (?) 23 (12) 4 (0) 1 (0) 44 (12) 150 (89) 44 (13) 24 (6)
Teams managed
1994-1995 1995-1998 1999-2003 2003-	Warringah Dolphins (NSW) Newcastle Breakers Brisbane Strikers Adelaide United
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Alexander John Kosmina (born August 17, 1956) known as John Kosmina is the current head coach for the Australian A-League football (soccer) club Adelaide United. He has also previously coached the Newcastle Breakers and Brisbane Strikers in the National Soccer League. He is a member of the Football Federation Australia Football Hall of Fame.

[edit] Playing career

Kosmina was a striker in his playing days, and has represented the Australian national team 60 times, making his debut for Australia in 1976. In his club career, he played for Polonia and then West Adelaide, before signing for English side Arsenal in February 1978. However, he only played one first-team game for the Gunners (as a substitute against Leeds United on August 18, 1978), and returned to Australia in May 1979. He went on to play for Adelaide City, West Adelaide (for a second time), Sydney City, Sydney Olympic and A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers before retiring in 1989.

[edit] Coaching career

His coaching career began domestically in the NSL with the Brisbane Strikers. When it announced that a new Adelaide side would be formed to replace Adelaide City, Kosmina was one of the favourites for the job. Kossie was soon confirmed as the inaugural coach of Adelaide United FC. Kosmina coached United to a highly impressive 3rd in the final season of the NSL. It got better for John though, in the Hyundai A-League Season One, Kosmina managed to lead a side many regarded as inferior to be the inaugural Premiers before choking in the Finals Series to finish 3rd overall. Kosmina was preparing for Season 2 of the A-League before being announced as the Assistant Coach for the Socceroos in their Asian Cup qualifiers with Graham Arnold as head coach. Two members of his Adelaide squad were also in the Australia squad, Michael Valkanis and Travis Dodd.

On Sunday the 15th of October, John Kosmina was involved in an incident with Melbourne Victory captain Kevin Muscat. Late in the game while Melbourne were trailing by one goal, the ball travelled out of bounds towards John Kosmina's chair. John Kosmina appeared to pick up the ball, however Kevin Muscat, eager for the ball to return to play, ran over and balled Kosmina over in an attempt to get the ball. After John Kosmina stood up, he clearly clasped Kevin Muscat's neck and word were exchanged.

In the FFA hearing, Kosmina was given a 6 match touchline ban, and monetary fine. 2 matches touchline ban and the monetary fine were suspended, but would take effect if Kosmina was in trouble again.

Adelaide United FC - Current Squad
1 Beltrame \| 2 Alagich \| 3 Rees \| 4 Costanzo \| 5 Valkanis \| 6 Aloisi \| 7 Pantelis \| 8 Veart \| 9 Kemp \| 10 Fernando \| 11 Romário \| 12 Owens \| 13 Dodd \| 14 Goulding \| 15 Burns \| 16 Petta \| 17 van Dommele \| 18 Cornthwaite \| 19 Qu \| 20 Bajic \| 21 Spagnuolo \| 23 Giraldi \| 25 Djite \| Manager: Kosmina