Page 58 - Rugby League World (February 2020)
P. 58
WORDS: MIKE SIMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY: ARCHIVE
A SEASONED
TRAVELLER
Veteran Australian coach Phil Economidis has a wealth of
experience and he’s currently sharing it with ambitious
Serbian club Red Star Belgrade who have set their sights on
gaining a place in Betfred League 1.
R ED STAR BELGRADE head coach Phil loved Rugby League.
“I grew up like any other kid in Australia who
Economidis must have one the most
frantically stamped passports of any
“I was a regular at the old Lang Park (now
coach currently working in the game.
known as Suncorp Stadium) and played a lot of
schoolboy Rugby League carnivals there.
You could even say he quite possibly
has so many frequent flyer points, he may
“My initiation to Rugby League was playing
never have to pay for air travel again. before and after school with my mates and I just
But the journeyman coach who often flies fell in love with the game from that early age.”
under the radar, has for the moment found a Economidis’ coaching résumé is as long as your
home in Serbia of all places, as he tries to elevate arm, but the likeable coach’s reputation proceeds
the game in the Balkans with Red Star Belgrade. him, normally washing up at clubs through word
The former Gold Coast Chargers coach is an of mouth.
interesting if not hilarious character, who has been “You could probably say I never have to
involved with Rugby League for over 50 years. interview for many coaching positions as most of
He does, however, take his coaching roles my coaching jobs I’ve attained have been through
seriously and the proof is in the pudding when it word of mouth through the Rugby League family.
comes to statistics holding the clipboard. “That’s not big noting myself by any means, but
He speaks with a typical thick Australian accent when you have been around Rugby League for as
with enough slang words to have you reaching long as I have, you certainly get to know people.
for the dictionary, yet his insatiable appetite for “That’s the beauty about Rugby League, everybody
coaching and Rugby League in general is infectious. knows you and reputation is everything.”
