Thursday, 13 October 2011 3:54 PM
South Melbourne FC has appointed Peter Tsolakis as its new Head Coach for the 2012 Victorian Premier League season.
Affectionately known as ‘Gus’, Tsolakis represented South Melbourne FC as a player between 1988 and 1994. He played 160 National Soccer League matches and scored 30 NSL goals over his seven seasons at Middle Park. He was well known for his powerful strikes at goal and delighted South fans with many memorable and timely goals. He was a member of the 1990/91 NSL Championship team (scoring a penalty in the dramatic shoot-out) and also played and scored in the 4-1 rout of Sydney Olympic in the 1989/90 National League Cup Final. Gus was assistant to Danny Wright for the 2002/03 NSL season and actually oversaw the final two NSL matches that season as Senior Coach following Wright’s dismissal.
Gus proved what an amazing athlete he was by playing State League football into his 40s, notably with Northcote City. After eventually hanging up his boots, he coached Northcote City and oversaw the incredible transformation of a side playing State League Two football in 2008 to being crowned the inaugural Mirabella Cup champions in 2011. As coach, he won double-promotions as Champions of State League Two in 2008 and State League One in 2009 before Northcote finished as finalists in the Victorian Premier League in 2010. Northcote City fell just one point short of successive finals appearances in 2011 after failing to win in the final round, ironically against South in one of the games of the season that ended in a highly entertaining 3-3 draw.
SMFC President Leo Athanasakis is delighted to welcome Peter back to the Club, adding that “the Club is excited to welcome back one of its favourite sons. Both Peter and his father won Championships with the Club, and we have been very impressed with Peter’s coaching achievements at Northcote City. We welcome Gus back to South Melbourne FC and are confident he will bring the Club much success.”
South Melbourne FC wishes Peter Tsolakis the best for season 2012 and is excited at the prospect of him leading the Club in a new chapter of its history.