Football: Coach with the X-factor

Auckland City coach Ramon Tribulietx (left) celebrates his side's lucrative win in Morocco. Photo / Getty Images

Auckland City coach Ramon Tribulietx was the architect of a significant footballing achievement last week - but will he stay in New Zealand?

There are many factors that combine to produce an unlikely result like Thursday's, when the ASB Premiership side toppled the Moroccan champions Moghreb Ttouan in the Club World Cup.

It reflects the increasing competitiveness of Oceania football, the benefits of a well-structured build-up and an impressive effort by the playing group. But perhaps most of all, it's a testament to the strategic and tactical skills of Tribulietx, who has few peers in this country.

But he remains one of the most underused and under-rated coaches in New Zealand. He has been recognised by other countries - Canada have used him as a technical advisor for their national teams at World Cups - but is still outside the circle here.

It's a shame. He could have been invaluable to the All Whites for last year's World Cup playoff, especially in scouting Mexico and hatching a game plan.

However, Ricki Herbert chose his own people, as has new All Whites coach Anthony Hudson - that's the prerogative of any head coach - but the failure of New Zealand Football to engage Tribulietx at another level reflects a culture that has placed greater importance on image and 'talking a good game' rather than actual performance on the grass.

Why isn't he involved in some way in the build-up to next year's Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand? It's a big opportunity on the world stage and surely Tribulietx has a useful skill-set, proven as he is at preparing teams to play against higher ranked opposition.

Hopefully things will change under the new structure being implemented at NZF but the caballo may have bolted.

Tribulietx's efforts have been noted around the football world. He loves his role at Auckland City but a professional offer would surely be very tempting and it's understood he was approached by an outfit to coach in the US.

"As a coach, I live on a day-by-day basis," Tribulietx said. "I have a contract with Auckland City until the end of the season and then we will see. I'm very happy here [and] don't make plans when you are a football coach because everything can crumble in one day."

The Barcelona native has been at Auckland City since 2008, first as an assistant, then co-coach, before taking sole charge at the start of the 2011-12 season.

"Auckland City have always trusted me, always had faith in what I was trying to do and I owe the club big time," Tribulietx added. "There are always talks or people interested but it has to be a very good offer to consider leaving a club like this."

Tribulietx has completely rebuilt Auckland's playing style - partly due to his own firm football philosophies and partly with the realisation that a possession-based system was necessary to compete on the higher stages. It hasn't always been popular but he has stuck to his guns and they have been able to prosper despite the loss of key players like Albert Riera, Roy Krishna and Joao Moreira.

His work ethic also takes preparation to a new level. Tribulietx has insisted his team train at least five times a week and he spends many hours looking for an edge. Over the last few months he has watched videos of Moghreb Tetouan play "at least" two or three times per week, constantly assessing information. He even uncovered a pre-season match against a Spanish lower division team Lleida Esportiu, which proved vital, as the Spanish team employed a similar style to Auckland City and it gave crucial clues as to how Moghreb Ttouan would react.

"This is my aim, to make sure I understand to perfection what they are going to do and how they are going to readjust," said Tribulietx. "As much as possible, you have to be ready for everything."