Josep Gombau didn't leave much of a legacy after his disastrous season as coach of the Western Sydney Wanderers. But his successor Markus Babbel owes him a debt of gratitude for luring one of the A-League's most promising young midfielders to the club before he was axed.
The acquisition of Jordan O'Doherty is beginning to pay off big time. The diminutive 21-year-old has added some much-needed drive and purpose to their engine room and a spot in Babbel's first-choice midfield three now appears to be his to lose.
Good find: Jordan O’Doherty was among the best players on the field in Western Sydney’s round three A-League win over Wellington Phoenix. Credit:SNPA
O'Doherty was an unused substitute in the Wanderers' season opener against Perth Glory but has made an impact in every match since. He came off the bench in the Sydney derby and nearly scored with a delightful curling shot from outside the box that had Andrew Redmayne well beaten, only for it to hit the post.
The next week, he starred and scored in their 3-0 rout of Wellington Phoenix, and was an equally strong contributor in the 2-2 draw with Brisbane Roar in Mudgee.
Fresh from a week off, he'll be looking to build on his impressive start to the season against Newcastle Jets in Western Sydney's first proper home game of the season on Friday night.
Born in Mallorca to English parents and reared as a footballer in the rough and tumble of the NPL from age 15, O'Doherty was looking for a fresh start when Gombau came calling. Having played and trained under Gombau at Adelaide United and also during his brief stint as coach of the Olyroos, the pair had a strong established relationship.
Gone-bau: Josep Gombau’s courting of Jordan O’Doherty might go down as his biggest legacy.Credit:AAP
O'Doherty never got to link up with him – the Wanderers sacked Gombau a few weeks before his signing was announced. But the club was still keen to proceed with his three-year contract and O'Doherty made it his mission to impress Babbel, the coach who inherited him. So far, so good.
"Hard work's always been important to me. It always helps you out," O'Doherty told Fairfax Media. "If you work hard for a gaffer, they're not going to look past you. I've just been working hard and being German, he expects hard work. That's hopefully worked in my favour a bit."
"Whenever I play, I give 100 per cent because I'm a winner. I want to win. I guess that's shone through."
O'Doherty certainly doesn't talk like a young player. His maturity is a product of the seasons he spent as a teenager with Adelaide Raiders and Melbourne Knights, two Croatian-backed state-league clubs where commitment, not reputation or talent, is the chief currency.
"Playing senior football at a young age, for me, has been the best possible thing," he said. "I'm obviously a little bit of a slighter build but I wouldn't doubt myself in a challenge against anyone. It's toughened me up."
While chiefly a No.10, O'Doherty has been playing a box-to-box midfield role with the Wanderers – helping out Keanu Baccus in defence and pitching in when Alexander Baumjohann needs assistance in attack.
O'Doherty is hopeful he can one day establish himself as the team's go-to playmaker, but for now is content to take a back seat and learn as much as he can from Baumjohann, the former Bundesliga wizard.
"He always gives me tips when he can," he said. "These players, they're another level when it comes to creativity. I think a lot of it is just being calm on the ball and making the right decisions. He's exceptional at it because he's been in the game for so long and it comes easy for him. Hopefully, that will start to happen for me."
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