Former Matildas coach Alen Stajcic to lead Perth Glory
By Justin Chadwick
Former Matildas coach Alen Stajcic has set his sights on turning Perth Glory back into a powerhouse after being appointed coach of the embattled A-League Men side on a three-year deal.
Glory had been without a coach since Ruben Zadkovich stepped aside in June.
Alen Stajcic guided the Matildas to two Asian Cup finals and also led Central Coast to the ALM finals in the 2020-21 season.Credit: Getty Images
The club was thrown into further turmoil last month when owner Tony Sage handed back his licence amid ongoing financial woes.
Glory are still on the lookout for a new owner, but they at least now have a coach – and a well-credentialed one at that.
Stajcic led the Philippines national team at the current FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Although the world No.46 Philippines didn’t make it through to the round of 16, they beat NZ 1-0 and were competitive in a 2-0 loss to world No.20 Switzerland.
Previously, Stajcic guided the Matildas to two Asian Cup finals, the quarter-finals of the 2015 World Cup, the quarter-finals of the 2016 Rio Olympics and a highest-ever position of fourth in the FIFA world rankings.
The 49-year-old also led Central Coast to the ALM finals in the 2020-21 season, won two premierships and two championships as coach of Sydney FC women, and more recently helped the Philippines qualify for the Women’s World Cup for the first time in the nation’s history.
Now, Stajcic wants to help Perth relive their NSL glory days by transforming them into an A-League powerhouse.
Glory’s only title success since the berth of the A-League came in the 2018-19 season, when they won the premiership under Tony Popovic by finishing first on the ladder, before losing the grand final to Sydney FC.
“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,” Stajcic said.
“I believe an incredible opportunity now exists to re-establish Glory as one of the giants of Australian football and that vision is one shared by everyone at the club.
“I take great confidence from the groundwork which has been put in over the last year to set the club back on the path to success and am excited to help continue that process.
“Perth has a such a rich history in football and a rich history in developing players.
“It is our vision to once again give the Perth football community a team and a club which they can be truly proud of.”
Stajcic was controversially sacked as Matildas coach in 2019, just five months out from the World Cup in France.
The Football Australia-led decision was made following an internal review into the women’s national team.
FA was criticised for its handling of the situation in the aftermath, with Stajcic left blindsided by the move.
Stajcic rebounded from that setback to have success with the Mariners and the Philippines.
He will arrive in Perth next week, and will be joined by his long-standing assistant Nahuel Arrarte and analyst Stevan Antonic.
AAP