A veteran on the club and international football scene, 39-year-old Vicelich was a notable omission when the Auckland City FC squad was named for the tournament in Japan, as he continues to overcome a calf muscle injury.
But while acknowledging Vicelich will be tough to replace, striker Ryan De Vries is backing other members of the squad to stand up.
“It’s always hard to replace a person like Ivan Vicelich with all that experience, but I think the boys have all come together and we have realised we have all got to step up,” De Vries says.
“I think it will be a group thing, all of the senior boys and all of the younger boys in the past few weeks have all got to know each other and our strengths and weaknesses.”
Head coach Ramon Tribulietx believes Vicelich will still have an important role to play from the sideline, particularly given there are a number of younger players included in the squad.
“Obviously we are going to miss Ivan’s understanding of the game and his on-field managing skills, but that’s life,” Tribulietx says.
“He will still be helping us off the field and bringing that experience. He has got a great package of experience in his head and if he can transfer that to the young players then we will be very lucky.
“This is what his role is going to be like. Regardless of whether he is on the field or off the field he will be very important to us.
“He is 39 and the time was always going to come. He is not making a call on retirement or anything like that, but unfortunately he is unavailable this time.”
Auckland City FC will take on newly-crowned J-league champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup on 10 December.
For more on Auckland City FC visit aucklandcityfc.com

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