With applications for the position of NYL/NPL Coach of the Melbourne Victory set to close, TCF profiles three possible NPL Victoria candidates for such a role. Victory has advertised the position online as they search for a replacement for the outgoing Darren Davies, who departs the club after arriving in Melbourne in 2011. While A-League clubs don’t generally look towards NPL when making such appointments, the following three have developed a good track record of both gaining results and developing young players in their respective roles:
John Anastasiadis
The 47 year-old former PAOK forward is potentially the NPL front-runner for the position. He has experienced success in the top flight of Victorian football after winning the Championships in 2006 and 2015 with South Melbourne and the Bentleigh Greens respectively. The Greens’ run to the FFA Cup semi-finals in 2014 saw him flourish under the national spotlight as he steered a youthful side to the final four of the competition.
His teams generally endeavour to play free-flowing attacking football and he has coached a number of players over the years who have gone on to experience A-League success, with the likes of Dino Djulbic, Ivan Franjic and Connor Pain also representing the Socceroos.
Furthermore, the two-time NSL Champion has some familiar faces in the corridors of the club, with brother Dean the senior goalkeeper coach, good friend and former teammate Paul Trimboli the general manager, and having played under Ange Postecoglou – who still maintains some influence within the club – an endorsement from the national team manager could potentially weigh in Anastasiadis’ favour.
Arthur Papas
The NPL’s youngest manager is one of the nation’s most promising young coaches and has previous overseas experience of note. The 36-year-old retired in his mid-20s after a succession of knee injuries cut short his playing career. He immediately turned towards coaching and spent two years at Canberra in the AIS working under Dutchman Jan Verseiljen, after initial spells as assistant with the Altona Magic and Melbourne Knights. He returned to Melbourne in 2011, taking charge of the Oakleigh Cannons and in the process became the youngest manager in VPL history, a fact made more impressive after he won Coach of the Year by helping the Cannons reach the Grand Final.
He has also spent time as the assistant youth team coach to John Aloisi at Melbourne Heart, along with previous experiences working at this level after coaching the Newcastle Jets in the NYL while assisting Gary van Egmond with the senior side.
Papas departed for India and coached in the country’s top flight, achieving respectable results while at the helm of India’s Under 23 side and Dempo SC. The current Green Gully supremo has had a good start to life at the Cavaliers after gaining FFA Cup exposure last season with the Oakleigh Cannons. He also harnesses some of the state’s best young players at Maribyrnong Sports College.
Huss Skenderovic
A potential dark horse for such a role, the well-respected 43-year-old has had a successful start to life at the Dandenong Thunder, with the NPL2 East side winning their opening eight games of the season and earning plenty of plaudits for their attacking fluidity.
After a modest playing career, Skenderovic was appointed as assistant to Phil Stubbins at Richmond in 2006 and continued on in that role as Mike Chatzitrifonas’ side won the VPL Premiership in 2010 with a host of impressive young talents on their books. Succeeded Papas at Oakleigh in 2012 but lasted only nine games despite fielding a strong record, which saw the Cannons sitting fourth on the competition ladder.
He then made the bold move to Dubai, where he became technical director at top tier club Ajman, expanding his expertise and knowledge during a three-year stint in the UAE Pro League. Followed up this spell by spending a short time working alongside Papas as a strength and conditioning coach at FC Goa in India, where he worked under Brazilian legend Zico.
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Despite their strong credentials, their current employers may be reluctant to let go of their incumbents if they continue producing positive results. In addition to this, many more recognisable names are currently on the look-out for new endeavours, with the likes of Aurelio Vidmar and former Victory senior and youth coach Mehmet Durakovic both on the market, while there is also the possibility that a foreigner may fill the void, as was the case with Welshman Davies in 2011. Current caretaker Vaughan Coveny will revert back to the role of assistant with Brian Vanega, and Grant Brebner is expected to continue working with the NPL 20s as the club also steps up its search for the position of academy director.
Feature image: Graeme Furlong