Author: George Kouroumalis

South Melbourne FC is pleased to welcome Jack Painter-Andrews to Lakeside Stadium, with the right fullback signing with the club for the 2023 season.

The native Western Australian signs for us from fellow NPL club Bentleigh Greens after a tremendous season. As well as stamping himself as one of the toughest right sided defenders in the league, he often found himself in the forward half launching many attacks for the Greens whilst scoring on six occasions himself.

As well as a wingback, he can also play in any position across the park, including as a right winger, right-sided attacker and across the back due to his incredible versatility.

Prior to coming to Melbourne, he began his career in the NPL Western Australian competition, including a stint with our sister-club Floreat Athena and Perth Glory.

Speaking to SMFC Media, Senior Football Director Andrew Mesourouni was thrilled to have Jack at Lakeside. “Jack has had a fantastic breakout season with the Greens and established himself as a wonderful player and one of the more attacking fullbacks in the competition. With an ability to score himself or to turn provider he not only gives us a defensive option but another dangerous attacking player as well.”

We welcome Jack to the club and look forward to seeing him in our famous blue shirt.

South Melbourne FC can confirm the signing of attacking midfielder Dragana Kljajić for the 2023 NPLW Victoria season.

Kljajić is a highly skilled attacking midfielder who is calm with the ball at her feet and lethal when pressing forward. This includes both at playing a ball through to the strikers or taking it herself to score for her team.

Originally from South Australia, she’s regarded as one of the finest midfielders in the state and has contributed to the Championship winning sides of Salisbury Inter and West Adelaide Hellas in recent times. Her form also saw her signed by A-League Women’s Club Adelaide United.

Most recently, Kljajić joins us following a stint in Scotland where she was part of the most recent Motherwell squad.

South Melbourne Women’s Football Director Theo Chronis said “I’m excited to welcome Dragana to Melbourne and to our very own South Melbourne. We have seen and heard plenty about her ability, so we are thrilled to bring someone into our club who will automatically add experience and quality to the middle of the park.”

Senior Women’s coach George Georgiadis said “We have been watching Dragana for a little while now and we are excited to finally see her in our colours. She’s a tremendously talented footballer with an incredible football brain. Whether she is creating for our attacking players or opening space for herself to score, we are excited at what she will bring our club and the league. We cant wait to have her experience in the middle of the park in the 2023 season. ”

We can’t wait to see her on Lakeside Stadium in 2023!

South Melbourne FC is excited to announce that midfielder Danny Kim has signed for the club ahead of the 2023 season.

Kim joins us after a season with Bentleigh that saw the midfielder play an integral part in the Greens winning the Dockerty Cup and making the final stages of the NPL and Australia Cup competitions.

The former Australian Youth International has also spent time with Geylang as a professional in Singapore, whilst also having spells at Brisbane Roar in the A-League and Lions FC in Queensland.

Kim has the ability to play in central midfield but is also well known for his ability to sit just behind the strikers as an attacking midfielder also.

Speaking to SMFC Media, Football Director Andrew Mesourouni was pleased to welcome Danny to Lakeside. “Danny will bring experienced, hardworking and highly technical football. His experience in the centre of the park and ability to create and score is something we are excited to be adding to our lineup.

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We look forward to seeing Danny in Blue and White when pre-season commences in late November.

South Melbourne FC is pleased to confirm that Senior Men’s Coach Esteban Quintas has had his contract extended for the 2023 NPL Victoria season.

Quintas has had an exceptional season at the helm of our Premiership winning men’s team, winning 20 of a possible 26 league matches. Our first placed finish not only secured us our first piece of silverware in six seasons, but was also the second best winning regular season in the club’s long and illustrious history.

While there is much to do now in the finals, the club is pleased with the work undertaken by Quintas in leading the group to its outstanding ladder position and his continued work with all areas of the club to restore pride into the SMFC badge through its senior football program.

A popular character amongst his tight-knit playing group, Quintas will continue focussing on our Semi Final on Sunday against Green Gully.

Speaking to SMFC Media, Senior Football Director Andrew Mesourouni confirmed the news.

“Esteban has earnt his contract extension through an outstanding regular season, including winning the Premiership and qualifying for finals in such a strong position. He’s a very much loved figure of our club and the players will be thrilled to have him lead the way for the next 12 months.”

We wish Esteban and the squad all the best for the upcoming Semi Final against Green Gully.

Vale Ulysses Kokkinos

South Melbourne FC is in mourning following the passing of Hall of Fame Member, Championship Winner, Club Legend and friend Ulysses Kokkinos.

Kokkinos was a larger-than-life figure and someone who was a large part of the South Melbourne family.

He made his first team debut for South Melbourne Hellas as a teenager in 1967 and made an immediate impact by winning the club’s top goal scorer that season, netting 15 league goals and 17 across all competitions.

He went on to represent the club over several stints between 1967 and 1976. Kokkinos’ first team honour with the club was in 1970 when Hellas won the Ampol Cup final replay with a 3-2 victory over JUST in extra time. In 1974 he was part of a very successful Hellas side that did the double in winning the Victorian State League championship (finishing four points ahead of George Cross in first place on the ladder) as well as the Dockerty Cup (4-1 victory over Ringwood City Wilhelmina).

Kokkinos was also part of the team that won back-to-back Dockerty Cup in 1975, with a 2-1 win over Sunshine City. Individually, he was a star attraction at the grounds with his skills and great goals and was rightly rewarded with selection with the Victorian state side.

Speaking to SMFC Media, an emotional President Nicholas Maikousis paid tribute to Kokkinos. “Ulysses was not just a figure known to all of us at South Melbourne but the Australian Football Community. As a footballer, he was a showman and someone who entertained whenever he stepped onto the park, while also contributing to the wealth of success at the club throughout that period. In latter years, he would be around the club as a fan, encouraging our players and teams as we continued to strive for success. He will be greatly missed by our community.”

The club will honour his life and memory at our Round 1 home match against Heidelberg United on February 17th.

Christopher Couesnon signs for 2022 season

SMFC is pleased to announce that it has signed Christopher Couesnon for the 2022 NPL Victoria season.

Cousesnon joins us from fellow NPL club St Albans and will be looking to bolster the South squad, having already commenced pre-season training. An effective keeper both in the air and ball on the deck, we look forward to seeing him throughout the upcoming campaign.

Speaking to SMFC Media, SMFC Football Director Andrew Mesourouni welcomed Chris to the club. “Having a young and enthusiastic keeper such as Chris join the club is pleasing and we look forward to seeing him work as part of our senior goalkeeping unit in 2022.”

#SMFC #NPLVIC

Jessica Young joins SMFC for 2022 NPLW season

South Melbourne FC would like to announce the signing of attacking player Jessica Young for the 2022 NPLW Victoria season.

Young joins the club from a breakout year with FV Emerging, which also gave her an opportunity as a train-on for A-League Women club Melbourne Victory.

She joins the club as a technical and hardworking attacking option, who can play on either wing or through the middle. She also has a natural eye for goal and proved that in the shortened season, including scoring on Lakeside Stadium against South in our only loss of the league season.

Speaking to SMFC Media, Samuel Young welcomed Jess to the club. “‘I’m really excited to welcome Jess to the club. We’ve been following her progress all year in the Emerging program, so we are pleased to have her on board in 2022 and beyond. Jess can play anywhere in the final third which gives us many options going forward”

We look forward to seeing Jess in South colours throughout 2022.