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Former Matildas coach Alen Stajcic has been named as the head coach of A-League soccer club Perth Glory.
Key points:
- Alen Stajcic was most recently coach of the Philippines women's team
- The 49-year-old coached the Matildas from 2014 until 2019
- He says his appointment is an "incredible opportunity"
Stajcic most recently headed up the Philippines women's national team, which lifted its first major international trophy last year, and scored its first World Cup goal this year in a win against New Zealand.
He coached the Matildas between 2014 and 2019, during which the team made the quarter-finals of both the 2015 World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The 49-year-old has also previously coached the Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC Women.
Stajcic's appointment comes after a tumultuous period for Perth Glory, a club that has endured a lack of consistent coaching since 2018.
Perth lost their last head coach Ruben Zadkovich in June, when he quit after just one season.
Then in July, the club was put into voluntary receivership after former owner, businessman Tony Sage, relinquished control citing financial pressures.
'An incredible opportunity'
Stajcic will be taking the reins of a club that still has no owner, finished ninth last season, and placed last on the ladder the season before.
But Stajcic said he had what it took to bring the embattled team back to its former glory.
"I vividly recall the late '90s and early 2000s when Perth Glory revolutionised the National League with its connection to the city, its level of support and a team that was leading the way on the pitch," he said.
"I believe an incredible opportunity now exists to re-establish Glory as one of the giants of Australian football."
Stajcic has a track record of leading clubs through difficult periods, including taking charge of the Matildas after its previous coach, Hesterine de Reus, was sacked following a player revolt.
He also coached the Central Coast Mariners, taking them from wooden spooners to third place in the A-League.
He recently led the Philippines women's national team to its first ever World Cup.
"I'm a glutton for punishment, obviously," Stajcic said.
'A winner who loves a challenge'
Glory CEO Anthony Radich said Stajcic's pedigree and experience would be vital as the club entered a new era.
"He is someone who is renowned for being able to build strong cultures and positive, high-performing environments," he said.
"He also possesses an in-depth understanding of the Australian football landscape, has experience in operating in austere and challenging environments and in developing youth and has consistently achieved success."
"Most importantly, Alen is a winner and he loves a challenge."
Stajcic has returned to Australia after finishing his posting with the Philippines at the FIFA Women's World Cup, and will arrive in Perth next week.
He said one of his first priorities will be to rebuild the culture of the club.
"There's no magical formula for doing that other than having good people and good leaders around the group," Stajcic said.
"It's not as if you need to throw the baby out with the bathwater in terms of the players.
"But, certainly we want to be challenging for finals and getting in the finals, and for that, you know, it needs a little bit of a shift."
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