People may still be digesting all that transpired over the course of 2015, but with the start of the 2016 season looming just three weeks away, it is never too early to look to the future.  With January comes a blank slate for the players.  They will have with new hopes, new goals, and in the case of Roger Federer, a new face on his team. 

Earlier this week, Federer announced that Stefan Edberg would be stepping down as his coach.  Although Federer surely was regretful to part company with his childhood idol, the split could hardly have come as a shock to the 17-time major singles champion.  The Swede was originally only meant to coach Federer for the duration of the 2014 season, so the Swiss would count himself lucky that Edberg extended their partnership an additional year.  He can also count himself lucky that he has quickly managed to find a suitable replacement for Edberg in former professional player Ivan Ljubicic. 

Theoretically, there is ample reason to believe that Ljubicic will prove a beneficial addition to the Federer team.  During his own career, more than one commentator referred to the Croat as a “poor man's Federer.”  With his one-handed backhand and variety of shot, his game may not have been at the same level or consistency as Federer's, but it was similar enough that he ought to have a thorough understanding of the perks and pitfalls that come with possessing that type of game.  That should give him a clear idea of what will work best for the Swiss in a multitude of situations, as well as areas where Federer can look to improve.

Ljubicic should also have garnered more than an inkling of what Federer is capable of from having competed against the former No. 1 on 16 occasions during the window that their professional careers overlapped.  Furthermore, Ljubicic has personal experience playing some of the veteran players currently on tour.  While Federer and many of those other veterans have evolved since that time, the experience still provides the Croat with valuable insights and places him a position that is unique compared to many other coaches. 

As if the sum total of his experience as a professional were not enough to make him a good fit for the job, the fact that the former No. 3 has already enjoyed a high-profile coaching gig also helps his cause.  Ljubicic did a tremendous job helping Milos Raonic rise up the rankings the last few seasons, proving that he knows how to bring out the strengths and hide the weaknesses of his charge.  The Croat would have spent a significant amount of time scouting the competition while in the employ of the Canadian as well, and although the differences in their respective games mean that Federer's approach to a match is apt to differ from Raonic's, it is unlikely that all of the data Ljubicic gathered while scouting will simply go to waste. 

All told, there is a lot to like about this new partnership.  Ljubicic brings plenty to the table between his respectable professional career and his early outing as a coach.  He understands the grind of life on tour and the added challenges that come with trying to keep things fresh and finding motivation when one is in the latter stages of a career.  He has some big shoes to fill following Edberg, but fans of Federer should feel confident that Ljubicic not only will be able to keep their man on track in 2016 but might just perhaps help him find a way to secure that elusive 18th major singles title.