Nothing is as ugly as when friends fall out. Secrets shared, dreams forged together and ambitions held in unison suddenly all seem worthless when friendship turns to indifference at best, or enmity at worst.
John van ‘t Schip, the Melbourne City coach, and John Aloisi, the Brisbane Roar boss, were both once close colleagues.
These days they seem to be the most tetchy of enemies, Aloisi delivering barbs about Melbourne City and the way they go about their football, van ‘t Schip responding in kind and then adding more with interest, accusing his former ally of being a childish whinger.
The spitefulness has turned this fixture into one of the bigger grudge matches on the calendar.
These two men go back to the very formation of the club that became City. Van ‘t Schip was hired by then Melbourne Heart as inaugural coach, while Aloisi, towards the end of a decorated career, was signed from Sydney FC as one of Heart’s first players.
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