MANY an A-League fan has scoffed at John van't Schip's supposedly excessive salary but he was worth every cent.

However, to focus on his pay packet (closer to $550,000-a-year and not $700,000 as has been reported) or his results ratio (15 wins, 16 draws, 18 losses) is missing the point.

Van't Schip will leave behind a legacy that far exceeds any other foreign A-League coach and, as it stands, ranks alongside trailblazers Ange Postecoglou, Graham Arnold and Aurelio Vidmar.

His legacy includes five potential Socceroos, two future A-League coaches and an administration that now holds a superior understanding of a football club philosophy compared with most A-League clubs.

Eli Babalj, Curtis Good, Mate Dugandzic, Aziz Behich and Brendan Hamill have all laid solid foundations for successful European careers and if Heart plays its cards right at the negotiating table, it will recoup van't Schip's salary in transfer fees and then some.

Ante Milicic and John Aloisi are without question two of Australia's brightest coaching prospects and they can't speak highly enough of the Dutchman's influence.

And it's hard to think that Peter Sidwell would have heard of Louis van Gaal three years ago, but mentioning him yesterday as one of van't Schip's mentors spoke volumes of how far this A-League club has progressed in a short period.

Whether Heart goes on to win this season's title or not is in many ways immaterial. When one gazes beyond the A-League table and weekly results, Heart is the A-League club that closest resembles a European club and van't Schip has played no small part.

He had his faults - his (and by extension the football department's) international recruiting has been mediocre, headlined by Brazilian striker Maycon.

But his talent identification and the continued faith shown in young players is straight from the Ajax Amsterdam school and unparalleled in the A-League.

Van't Schip has seldom, if ever, blamed his own player(s) in the wake of a loss - something Aussie coaches have a habit of doing - or used excuses, despite often having every reason to.

He's carried himself with dignity throughout, something which will be a cornerstone of Milicic and Aloisi's coaching personas.

While finances will dictate the decision on his replacement to a point, the challenge for Heart is not to replace van't Schip but to find someone to carry on that legacy.

Originally published as Van't Schip built for the long-term