WITH a record number of Australian coaches in the A-League and expansion firmly on the agenda, coaching spots are up for grabs.

Coaches with A-League experience (ie. Aurelio Vidmar) are excluded under my criteria.

Below is my list, with the honourable mentions and previous lists beneath.

Re-live our weekly STUDS UP football chat at the foot of the page.

TOP 10 A-LEAGUE COACHES IN WAITING

1 Ante Milicic

Socceroos assistant, 42

With expansion starting in 2018, Milicic will officially be the most sought-after coach in Australia after a nine-year apprenticeship under John van’t Schip, Tony Popovic and Ange Postecoglou.

2 Mark Rudan

Young Socceroos assistant, 41

Got his first taste of international coaching recently, assisting Young Socceroos boss Ufuk Talay. Solid NPL experience with Sydney United, he’s now a contender for the Wellington job.

3 Harry Kewell

Watford reserves coach, 38

When Kewell dedicates himself to something he goes full throttle and that’s exactly what’s happened at Watford, where he continues to improve and his work ethic hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Harry Kewell at a Glen Waverley in Melbourne. Source: News Corp Australia

4 Damian Mori

Adelaide City coach, SA NPL, 46

If one looks at the success of AFL coaches who’ve got a maiden chance after long apprenticeships (Luke Beveridge, Alan Richardson, Don Pyke, Ken Hinkley), then Mori deserves a crack at some stage.

5 Chris Coyne

Bayswater City coach, WA, 37

The former Socceroo continues to impress in the west and is the frontrunner to coach a WA expansion side if it happens. Would an interstate team consider him?

6 Robbie Stanton

Sydney FC youth coach, 44

The former defender would be a strong contender to lead a Sutherland-Illawarra A-League side, having won titles with Wollongong Wolves as a player and Sutherland Sharks as a coach.

7 John Anastasiadis

Bentleigh Greens coach, NPLV, 48

Anastasiadis has one of the biggest budgets in the NPL but he is highly regarded by anyone who plays under him while the Greens have played some of the best football in the state league.

8 Ross Aloisi

Brisbane Roar assistant, 43

The former West Adelaide boss is the trusted lieutenant of brother John Aloisi at Brisbane Roar as is marked with big responsibility. Has the experience to give it a crack.

9 Ivan Jolic

Central Coast assistant, 42

The former youth guru has committed himself to the senior path now and after quitting Melbourne City to relocate to Sydney, he’s made a huge impression as Paul Okon’s Mariners assistant.

10 Mirko Jelicic

Lokomotiv Tashkent assistant, UZB, 42

The Perth product is a fitness guru-turned-coach and after a stint in the WA state league with Cockburn, he’s gone abroad and was recently appointed coach of Uzbeks Lokomotiv Tashkent after time in Malaysia.

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou (right) with assistant Ante Milicic. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: News Corp Australia

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Green Gully boss Arthur Papas has featured in the top 10 in previous years and was stiff to miss, though his potential was again on show in this year’s FFA Cup, while South Melbourne’s Chris Taylor and Heidelberg’s George Katsakis are consistently at the top.

Brian “Bomber” Brown’s continued success with Bonnyrigg White Eagles coach makes him a candidate.

Former Socceroo Jason Culina has started his apprenticeship under dad Branko.

Adelaide United youth assistant Ivan Karlovic has huge potential and the former MetroStars boss returned to coaching after a sabbatical.

Australian youth coaches Tony Vidmar (Joeys) and Talay are gaining valuable international experience.

Melbourne City assistants Mike Valkanis and Joe Montemurro are highly-rated.

Luciano Trani is waiting in the wings after his controversial exit from Newcastle.

Gold Coast City’s Grae Piddick headlines the Queensland talent.

Mark Rudan, Coach of Sydney United. Source: News Corp Australia

PREVIOUS LISTS

2015

Milicic, Rudan, Mori, Ross Aloisi, Papas, Tony Vidmar, Coyne, Anastasiadis, Brown, Lou Acevski

2013

Milicic, Kevin Muscat, Paul Okon, Tony Vidmar, Rudan, Phil Moss, Joe Mullen, Stanton, Anastasiadis, Coyne

2012

Tony Popovic, Milicic, Muscat, Tony Vidmar, John Aloisi, Pappas, Phil Stubbins, Okon, Mike Mulvey, Jean-Paul de Marigny