South Melbourne FC would like to confirm its first signing of 2021, with former SMFC Junior Goalkeeper James Burgess joining the club.
21-Year-Old Burgess joins the club following spells at NPL clubs Springvale White Eagles and Langwarrin, whilst also spending time in the Melbourne City Youth setup.
As well as being a fantastic shot stopper, Burgess is providing a composed keeper who is confident with the ball at his feet also. He will join Pierce Clark as one of our two senior goalkeeping options for the season ahead, with Ange Rigogiannis continuing his development in the Under 21s whilst training with the senior squad.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Senior Football Director Andrew Mesourouni was pleased to bring James to the club. “It’s always a fantastic story to bring a former junior back into the club and we are thrilled to have James. His breakout season with Springvale White Eagles was exceptional and we are confident that we have added a quality goalkeeping option to the club for the upcoming season. I’d also personally like to wish all the South fans a very Happy New Year.”
We’d like to wish James all the best in 2021 and cannot wait to see him in our colours.
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image media=”83384″ media_width_percent=”100″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]South Melbourne FC is thrilled to announce the appointment of Sam Poutakidis as the club’s NPLW Technical Director.
Poutakidis had two stints at SMFC, representing the club 55 times (scoring 4 goals) as a full back in both the National Soccer League (2002-2004) and then the Victorian Premier League (2008). His playing career spanned over a decade at the top level in Victoria and included two club best and fairest awards.
Since retiring from playing, Sam has played an active role in coaching over the past decade. This includes senior roles at Waverley Wanderers, Beaumaris and Richmond, with NPL assistant coach roles at Oakleigh, Kingston and most recently Port Melbourne. He has also been involved in the women’s game with some time at Ashburton in a specialist coaching role.
In all of his roles, the FFA A Licensed coach has had player development at the forefront. This included a very successful period at Oakleigh as Under 20s coach, where he guided his team to the league championship in 2014 and produced footballers ready for senior football.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, Director of Women’s Football Gabrielle Giuliano was thrilled to have Sam on board as the club’s NPLW Technical Director. “Sam has a wealth of experience in football over almost two decades and we are naturally delighted to have someone of his quality involved in the club and the female program. We look forward to having Sam working closely with Senior Women’s Coach Samuel Young and our other coaches in taking our program to another level.”
Sam will assist across the NPL boy’s program and in particular alongside NPL Technical Director Sinisa Cohadzic.
Sinisa Cohadzic was also excited to have Sam join the program. “Sam is a tremendous asset to the club and someone we look forward to having as part of the revamped youth system. His ability to nurture young footballers and teach them the right way to play the game is something we are looking forward to seeing. We are also excited to have someone with his experience in the system to work with myself and all of our other coaches.”
We welcome Sam back to the club and look forward to seeing him around Albert Park throughout 2021.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
South Melbourne FC is thrilled to announce the partnership with leading football analytics platform InStat for the 2021 season.
The software will be used throughout the NPL program, providing the club with the professional tools for individual and team performance evaluation, scouting, fitness analysis and a panoramic filming technology. The partnership will extend to all NPL teams, including analysis of all male and female footballers at the club.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Technical Director Sinisa Cohadzic was excited to be teaming up with the giants of football analysis. “The landmark partnership with inStat provides the club and our coaches with the very best tools to analyse and develop players like the best clubs around the globe. It’s a first ever holistic club approach to delivering video analysis, extensive statistics, and individual player indicators where we will be able to access results of all KPI’s that we want to achieve.
With this platform, we will be also able to scout players, analyse our opposition and deliver specific outcomes that we look for in players. It will help players assess their performance in detail after each game and help them take their game to another level.
We are delighted to be able to be first to show the way of future development tools to produce players towards our quest to become a force in hopefully soon newly formed second division.”
Oliver Civil from inStat was also looking forward to partnering with the club. “This deal re-affirms InStat’s commitment to growing the game technically across all levels of football in Australia. There is no better way to announce this, than with one of Australia’s most storied clubs.With a possible second division in 2022, InStat is proud to partner with South Melbourne and looks forward to supporting their ambition to return to the top flight of football in Australia.”
We look forward to bringing you more from this exciting partnership over the 2021 season.
South Melbourne FC confirms goalkeeper Nikola Roganovic’s retirement from football.
An SMFC National Youth League championship winner in 2004, Roganovic returned to Lakeside as a proven top-flight goalkeeper in January 2015. He kept a clean sheet in his first SMFC senior game in February 2015 and went on to play for the club in 113 NPL Victoria/finals matches, with 136 total appearances and 42 clean sheets across all competitions. He had two stints with the club between 2015 and 2017 and then from mid-2018 until the conclusion of the 2020 season.
Roganovic was between the sticks during South’s 2015 Premiership and Dockerty Cup triumphs and kept a clean sheet in the Dockerty Cup final win over Oakleigh. He also made several excellent saves in the club’s 2016 NPL Victoria Grand Final triumph over Oakleigh. Individually, he won the SMFC Players’ Player of the Year award in 2016 and is an automatic SMFC Hall of Fame member as a senior championship winning player of the club.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, Football Director Andrew Mesourouni thanked Nikola for his outstanding service. “Nikola was a huge part of our success over the past five seasons and we thank him for his efforts whilst wearing our famous shirt. He retires as a championship winner and as a very popular figure around the club. We wish him and his family all the best for the next phase of his life.”
On behalf of everyone associated with the club, SMFC congratulates “Rock Roganovic” on a fantastic career.
South Melbourne FC confirms that Senior Women’s captain, dual Championship winner and Hall of Fame member Jamie Pollock will be returning home to the USA in order to be with her family.
Pollock grew up in Georgia, USA and first experienced football at Harrison High School. She also played youth football at Tophat 08 Gold and was part of the Georgia State Olympic Development Program. Accolades followed the midfielder throughout her youth football, being part of and captaining teams to the Georgia State Championship and the Olympic Development Program National Championship.
Her success continued at the University of Georgia, where she started every game she played over the course of three years, scoring 8 goals and providing 12 assists. As her time with the Georgia Bulldogs came to a close, she was offered a contract with Atlanta Beat in the Women’s Professional Soccer League, however the league folded before she graced the pitch. In 2013, Pollock joined the Florida Atlantic Owls as a coach before moving north to join the Boston Breakers setup in the National Women’s Soccer League.
A year later, Pollock was back in her native Georgia, this time playing for the Atlanta Silverbacks. The Silverbacks were her last US-based team as she then made the long journey downunder to play in Victoria.
South Melbourne senior coach (at the time) Socrates Nicolaidis had extensive experience in the USA, having coached at club and college level for some fifteen years. His network enabled him to identify Pollock to join his squad at Lakeside.
Pollock’s debut for SMFC was in June 2015 against the Senior NTC, followed by her Lakeside debut a week later against Casey Comets. A successful 2015 campaign saw SMFC finish fourth and qualify for the finals, where Pollock played a crucial role. In week two of the finals she scored a 90th-minute goal to down Heidelberg in a thrilling match at Lakeside. The following week she scored a brace at Kingston Health to help eliminate Ashburton United and book a place in the Grand Final.
Pollock played a critical role throughout the Grand Final and was awarded the honour of being the best player in the game. She was also front and centre as club captain Alex Cheal raised the WPL championship trophy following victory.
Pollock continued to be a key part of SMFC’s success, capturing the NPLW Premiers Plate in the 2017 and 2018 seasons as well as winning the 2017 NPLW Grand Final against Geelong Galaxy. Her leadership and work ethic saw her named as club captain in 2019 and she was formally inducted into the SMFC Hall of Fame at the club’s event in February 2020.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Women’s Football Director Gabrielle Giuliano paid tribute to Pollock. “Since arriving in 2015, Jamie has been a huge part of the club, our culture and family. She has not only been a superstar on the park as a key member to our success, but the time she has dedicated to being a role model for our younger players is something that will be greatly missed. We wish her all the best for her move back home and hope that the next chapter in her life is an enjoyable one. She is forever part of our family and the history of our club.”
SMFC senior coach Samuel Young also paid tribute to Pollock. “I want to thank Jamie for her years of service to SMFC. Jamie embodies what it means to be a South player; determined, professional and a winner. I’m disappointed that I didn’t get the chance to work with her on a match day but we understand her decision to head home in these uncertain times. Jamie leaves as an SMFC legend and the door will always be open to her in any capacity at the club. I want to wish her all the success in her future endeavours.”
The entire SMFC family wishes Jamie all the best in the next phase of her life and we thank her for her service to the club over the years.
South Melbourne FC is pleased to confirm the signing of Joshua Wallen until the end of the 2021 season.
Wallen joins the club after commencing the 2020 season with the Bentleigh Greens.
The midfielder returned to Australia this year following numerous seasons in England. This included a lengthy stint with the QPR Under-23 squad, where he had the honour of being club captain. He also played for FC United of Manchester.
As well as being a hard-working midfield option for Esteban Quintas, Wallen will provide a composed player to sit just behind the attacking players. His ability to create and shoot from range will also be a huge asset for the team.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, Senior Football Director Andrew Mesourouni was thrilled to have Josh join the squad. “Josh is a talented individual who will add an enormous amount to our midfield. He can create and score on his own accord, so we can’t wait to see him in our colours.”
South Melbourne FC is pleased to confirm Marco Janković as the club’s first new signing for the 2021 NPL Victoria season.
Janković is a familiar name in Victorian football, having played a pivotal role in the heart of Bentleigh’s 2017 and 2019 championship teams.
Prior to his time at Bentleigh, the 24-year-old Queenslander was also a key member in the 2016 Lions FC Premiership and Grand Final Championship wins. A strong and composed central defender, Janković will also add a wealth of experience and leadership to our defence.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, Senior Football Director Andrew Mesourouni added that “we rate Marco as one of the best defenders in the league, so we are thrilled to have him in blue and white from next year. 2020 has been a tough year with the cancellation of the league, however the club is continuing to work hard to improve the squad as we begin preparations for 2021. Marco is a natural leader and a fierce competitor, so we think he will make a real impact for us in the years to come.”
Janković will return back to Queensland to finish the season on loan with Lions FC for the remainder of the 2020 season and will link up with the club in November for the start of pre-season training.
South Melbourne FC is pleased to confirm that two time SMFC Golden Boot Winner, 2017 Championship Winner and Hall of Fame Member Melina Ayres will re-join the club for the 2020 season.
Melina has an incredible record in her two NPLW seasons with the club, scoring a total of 86 goals across all competitions during her time at Lakeside.
The club is thrilled to have one of our own back at the club, following Melina’s season in the W-League at Melbourne Victory.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, Senior Coach Samuel Young was excited to welcome Melina back to the club. “We’re delighted to welcome Melina back to South Melbourne FC. She has shown her quality domestically both in the NPL and W-League, as well as during her time overseas. Through these experiences, Melina has returned a more complete player and I have no doubt she will dominate the competition during the upcoming season. We are also confident that with the best years ahead of her, that we will see her pull on the Matlidas shirt in the near future. ”
We look forward to seeing her throughout the season as the NPLW season aims to kick off in late July.
A fantastic opportunity has appeared at South Melbourne FC for a Head Coach of U15s & U16s Junior Boy’s side for this season.
We are a club that has ambitions to progress and has process in place to become the best Junior development club in Australia.
You will work closely with a qualified Pro Licence Technical Director, who will Mentor you and help you develop coaching skills in line with clubs philosophy and playing style.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS OF THE ROLE AS COACH:
To provide a professional coaching environment
To have ability to understand and transfer the concepts proposed by the Academy Methodology
To create an environment that allows for development of playing philosophy
To communicate effectively with players
To provide support, dedication and encouragement to succeed
To attend training sessions, be punctual and committed
To work hard to improve all areas of your coaching
To adhere to the clubs philosophy in every game and every training session
To design every training a session plan, have it written and in hands at training
To attend post training meals and social functions
To represent the club in correct manner on and off the field
To keep record attendance together with team managers
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:
FFA C Licence
Work permit in Australia
DESIRED REQUIREMENTS:
FFA B Licence
FFA A Licence
Work permit in Australia
PLEASE SEND CV AND CONTACT:
Sinisa Cohadzic South Melbourne Technical Director
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”19580″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]South Melbourne FC is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Peter Athanasakis.
Peter was a familiar face within the SMFC family and his involvement with the club commenced back in the 1960s. Since then, he was a constant attendee of club matches and was a much loved member of our club.
Peter was the father of previous SMFC President Leo Athanasakis and the grandfather of SMFC junior players Peter and Pamela Athanasakis. It was not uncommon to see him in the change rooms post-match in the senior men’s fixtures, regardless of the result. He would also be there to support his grandchildren at their junior matches.
The club extends its deepest condolences to the Athanasakis family and Peter’s friends during this tough time.
South Melbourne FC is pleased to confirm Marco Janković as the club’s first new signing for the 2021 NPL Victoria season.
