After leading the Filipinas to greater heights in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Australian Alen Stajcic has been appointed as head coach of the Perth Glory FC for the 2023-2024 Isuzu UTE A-League.
The Glory announced the development in a social media post yesterday as Stajcic will be joined by former Filipinas assistant coach Nahuel Arrate in the club.
The former tactician Filipinas coach will replace former Ruben Zadkovich after Perth Glory wound up in ninth place with a 7-8-11 win-draw-loss record last season.
In an online article published by the club, Stajcic liked the football culture in Perth and is determined to help the club challenge for the title.
“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,” Stajcic said.
“Perth has 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,” he said.
“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.”
Glory chief executive officer Anthony Radich believes Stajcic was the right man for the job.
“He is someone who possesses all the attributes required to take this club forward both on and off the field and is the high-caliber appointment that Perth Glory needs and deserves,” Radich said.
“Alen is highly respected, not only as a coach, but very importantly, as a person of the highest character and integrity.”
Stajcic made a big impact on the Filipinas after replacing head coach Marlon Maro in October 2021.
Not only the 49-year-old Aussie mentor secured a World Cup squad for the Philippines but he also the mastermind the Filipinas’ title run in the AFF Women’s Championship last year at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
