Category: News

South Melbourne FC added another chapter to its history on Thursday when Lord Mayor Nick Reece and the City of Melbourne welcomed the club to Melbourne Town Hall as Australia Cup Champions.

South Melbourne flags were draped across the front of Town Hall as players, staff and board members arrived with the Australia Cup trophy. Just over a month after lifting the Cup in front of a sold-out crowd at AAMI Park, our club was formally recognised by the city it has represented in Australian football for generations.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece said the City of Melbourne wanted to mark an achievement of rare significance for both the club and the city.

“South Melbourne has helped shape the history of football in Melbourne. Generations of families across our city have grown up supporting this club, and its Australia Cup win was an incredibly special moment for Melbourne,” Cr Reece said.

“It’s rare to welcome a football club to Melbourne Town Hall with its flags draped across the building and a national trophy in hand. This triumph deserved that level of celebration. We invited South Melbourne to be our guests because we wanted to recognise what they achieved at AAMI Park and the contribution this club has made to our city over many decades.

“A packed AAMI Park saw a Melbourne club with a remarkable history become Australia Cup Champions. That’s a moment our whole city can take pride in, and I hope it’s the start of something special for football in this country.”

 

South Melbourne FC Co-President Bill Papastergiadis OAM reflected on what the reception meant for the club’s longstanding relationship with the City of Melbourne.

“South Melbourne Hellas truly embodies all the best characteristics of our city. It’s a cosmopolitan and multicultural club that is aspirational and which also has a big presence in community development. Our club is an important part of the fabric of our great city and today’s event solidifies this relationship,” Papastergiadis said.

“Andrew and I want to thank, in particular, our Lord Mayor and Alison for their leadership and support. Nick Reece has for many years been part of the club, attending our matches and events. Hence this tribute by the City of Melbourne is part of this continuing partnership.

“Our club is committed to continuing to make all Melburnians proud of their sporting heritage.”

Captain Marco Jankovic said it was a privilege to represent the playing group and the supporters who had followed South Melbourne long before the Cup run.

“We had people in the stands at AAMI Park who have followed this club their whole lives. You think about them when you walk into Town Hall with the trophy and see our flags out the front,” Jankovic said.

“As players, we know how much it means to wear this shirt. To be there representing South Melbourne on a day like this is something I’ll remember long after I’ve finished playing.”

South Melbourne FC thanks Lord Mayor Nick Reece, City of Melbourne CEO Alison Leighton and the entire City of Melbourne team for their warm hospitality and for marking our Australia Cup triumph with an occasion worthy of it.

We will always remember the night we lifted the Australia Cup at AAMI Park. In the history of South Melbourne FC, Thursday will have a place of its own. It was the day our city welcomed Hellas to Melbourne Town Hall and honoured our club as Australia Cup Champions.

South Melbourne FC welcomed Josh Burns MP, Member for Macnamara and Special Envoy for Social Housing and Homelessness, to Lakeside Stadium last week to celebrate our historic Australia Cup triumph.

Burns joined the Club in reflecting on an achievement that has brought pride to generations of South Melbourne supporters and the wider community.

“South Melbourne didn’t just win a cup. They rewrote the rules of Australian football and made history again.

“No club outside the A-League had ever lifted this trophy until now, and it’s fitting that Hellas were the ones to do it. For more than six decades South Melbourne has been a home for migrant families who built a life in our community. Every person who has stood on the terraces at Lakeside, through the good years and the hard ones, owns a piece of this.

“Macnamara is bursting with pride. Congratulations to the players, staff, the board and most importantly the fans. You’ve reminded the whole country what this club is made of and what makes this game great!”

South Melbourne Co-Presidents Bill Papastergiadis OAM and Andrew Mesourouni welcomed Burns to Lakeside.

“Josh has always been close to the Club and supportive of the multicultural foundations that underpin South Melbourne and football. It was a pleasure to welcome him to Lakeside and share this historic achievement with him.”

The Club thanks Josh for joining our celebrations and for his continued support of South Melbourne and our community.

South Melbourne FC is excited to formally announce the appointment of Jamie Reed as the club’s Senior Coach.

A familiar face to the South Melbourne family, Jamie played an influential role in our 2014 Championship triumph and returns to Lakeside with a strong connection to the club and its people.

A UEFA A Licence holder, Jamie brings coaching experience across youth and senior football in the United Kingdom.

Senior Football Director Peter Kokotis said Jamie’s appointment reflected the Football Department’s focus on building on the foundations already established.

“Jamie knows what it means to represent South Melbourne and the expectations that come with the role. His connection to the club, combined with his strong football background in the North West of the United Kingdom, makes him an excellent fit.

“We want to play attacking football that excites our supporters, while continuing to develop our younger players. Jamie shares that vision and we look forward to supporting him.”

General Manager Strati Xynas highlighted Jamie’s ambition.

“Jamie is an ambitious young coach who is hungry to make his mark. He understands our culture and is committed to driving standards every day, from the training ground through to matchday.

“We believe Jamie can challenge the players, bring fresh ideas and help take the team forward.”

Everyone at South Melbourne welcomes Jamie back to the club and wishes him every success.

South Melbourne FC’s Hahn Australia Cup win has done more than put another piece of silverware in our cabinet. It has delivered the biggest audience in the club’s modern history.

On 10 October at AAMI Park, Hellas beat Melbourne Victory 4–3 on penalties after being 1–1 at the end of extra time. In doing so, the club became the first NPL side to lift the trophy since the competition began in 2014.

The fans followed. In huge numbers.

Across South Melbourne’s own channels from 4 to 18 October, the club recorded:
•⁠ ⁠32.4 million views and impressions
•⁠ ⁠14.4 million video views
•⁠ ⁠19,200 new followers

The broadcast of the final reached a TV audience of 810,000, up 56 per cent on last year. Club merchandise sold out, with the highest sales in South Melbourne’s history.

“These numbers tell a simple story,” said George Kouroumalis, South Melbourne FC Head of Operations and Media.

“People want to watch our club. They want to back it, back in the top flight and they want it yesterday. We, South Melbourne are in the national conversation and we want to be in the national club competition.”

The figures land as the new A-League season gets under way.

“We wish every A-League club a strong season. We also believe South Melbourne can contribute to the viability of that competition,” Kouroumalis said.

“We bring history, a loyal and growing base and now proof that a national audience will turn up for us. That is the kind of contribution the league needs to grow the game in every corner of the country.”

General Manager Strati Xynas said the club saw its success as a signal to foundation clubs across the NPL.

“Clubs that built this game should not be treated as its past. Our win shows they can be part of its future,” Xynas said. “We hope it gives every one of them a reason to believe.”

South Melbourne FC will continue to expand its digital footprint throughout the Australian Championship, with a dedicated media team lead by George Kouroumalis bringing supporters closer to the club through match coverage, photography, video and stories from behind the scenes.

Media and Social Media Managers
Neal Symons and Ross Papadakis

Photographers
Charlotte Neal, Luke Radziminski and Cindy Nitsos

Videography
Stephanie Surbevski, Paul Zarogiannis

Social Media Producers & Presenters
Alexia Crespin, Ari Stamatakos and Kosta Drossos, Kris Peladarinos, David Henning

Club History
John Kyrou

Thank you to our talented team for their creativity and commitment to sharing the South Melbourne story with supporters around the world.

About South Melbourne FC
Founded in 1959, South Melbourne FC is one of Australia’s most successful football clubs. A four-time National Soccer League champion, the club won the inaugural Australian Championship in 2025 and the Hahn Australia Cup in 2026.

South Melbourne FC is thrilled to announce a new partnership with New Balance, and their Australian elite teamwear partner, Belgravia Apparel, for the next two seasons.

The partnership will see South Melbourne wear New Balance high performance teamwear on and off the field from the Australian Championship onwards, beginning with Saturday’s away trip to Sutherland Sharks.

New Balance and Belgravia Apparel join South at an exciting time, following our historic Australia Cup triumph and as we begin our Australian Championship title defence. An independent brand since 1906, New Balance is renowned for empowering individuals through sport and craftsmanship, fostering positive change in communities around the world.

Belgravia Apparel and New Balance’s strategic alliance commenced in 2020, delivering a new benchmark in the industry, offering unparalleled quality, innovation, and ethical manufacturing practices

Head of Operations George Kouroumalis welcomed the partnership:

“We are incredibly proud to partner with Belgravia Apparel for the next two seasons. Having New Balance, an elite brand with strong global presence associated with South Melbourne, reflects the ambition of our club and the opportunities ahead.

“We want our players, staff and supporters to feel proud wearing our colours, and we are excited to bring this partnership to life both on and off the field.

“A big thank you to our very own Fernando De Moraes and the team at Belgravia Apparel for their support and for helping make this partnership possible.”

Belgravia Apparel CEO Brian Waldron added:

“We’re thrilled to partner with South Melbourne FC. We’re excited to bring our extensive football expertise to this partnership. Across Australia and New Zealand, we proudly support athletes and organisations at all levels of the game through our partnerships with Auckland FC, Newcastle Jets and numerous clubs nationwide.

This partnership unites two organisations committed to excellence and we look forward to working with the SMFC team.

Our new home kit will be officially launched next week. Stay tuned for a fresh look as we begin the next chapter in South Melbourne’s story.

South Melbourne is deeply disappointed by the jeering during Uncle Colin Hunter Junior Junior’s Welcome to Country at Saturday night’s Hahn Australia Cup Final.

The Welcome to Country is a significant moment of respect, and Uncle Colin deserved to be heard. We apologise to Uncle Colin and the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, and thank them for welcoming everyone to Country.

South Melbourne has a proud history as a club built by community, and respect for all communities, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, is fundamental to who we are. This behaviour does not reflect our club or the vast majority of our supporters.

We will work with Football Australia and Melbourne Park as part of their review.

South Melbourne FC can confirm that Sinisa Cohadzic has stepped down as Senior Head Coach ahead of the Australian Championship.

Sinisa has made a significant contribution to South Melbourne both on and off the field over a number of years, playing an important role in one of the club’s most successful recent periods.

His time as Senior Head Coach culminated in one of the greatest nights in South Melbourne’s history on Saturday, guiding Hellas to the Australia Cup title with a penalty shootout victory over Melbourne Victory in the final at AAMI Park.

It was a triumph that meant far more than silverware. For generations of South Melbourne supporters, it marked a historic return to the biggest stage in Australian football and a moment of celebration for the entire Hellas community. Sinisa’s role in delivering that achievement will forever be part of our club’s story.

Under his leadership, South Melbourne also secured the Australian Championship and Dockerty Cup, while representing the club with distinction on the international stage, including reaching the OFC Pro League Final.

Senior Football Director Peter Kokotis paid tribute to Sinisa’s contribution:

“My journey with Sinisa began in 2019 when I appointed him as Technical Director of our club. He told me he wanted to leave his blueprint at South Melbourne and help us transform the football department. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that journey would culminate in what we experienced on Saturday.

“To win the Australia Cup against Melbourne Victory in the final, and to see what that meant to our people, is something we will remember for the rest of our lives. Sinisa has helped give this club and its supporters a moment that will live forever in our history.

“He leaves as a legend of this club. In just 18 months as Senior Head Coach, he has won four trophies, including two national titles.

“I thank him from the bottom of my heart for his work and passion. He will always be welcomed as a Hellas great whenever he steps into our club.”

Co-Presidents Bill Papastergiadis and Andrew Mesourouni, together with the Board, players, staff and wider South Melbourne family, thank Sinisa for his professionalism, commitment and dedication, and wish him and his family every success in the future.

Former NSL player and current senior coach Sam Poutakidis will assume Senior Head Coach duties for this weekend’s Australian Championship opener away to Sutherland Sharks.

Our focus now turns to the Australian Championship and achieving the ambitious objectives we have set for South Melbourne Football Club.

South Melbourne FC is delighted to announce the marquee signing of New Zealand international Kosta Barbarouses.

Kosta joins South following his time with Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League, bringing an outstanding record of success and experience at both club and international level.

A four-time A-League Champion, Kosta won titles with Brisbane Roar in 2011, Melbourne Victory in 2015 and 2018, and Sydney FC in 2020. His contribution on the biggest stage includes scoring in Victory’s 2015 Grand Final triumph and netting the winning goal in the 2018 decider.

His career has also taken him abroad, spending time with Russian club Alania Vladikavkaz before joining Greek giants Panathinaikos on loan for the 2012/13 season. His time in Athens added valuable European experience to a career spanning some of the most recognisable clubs in the region.

Across multiple spells with hometown club Wellington Phoenix, Kosta became a fan favourite, earning Player of the Year and Golden Boot honours. His attacking versatility, intelligent movement and ability to both create and finish chances will provide further quality to our attacking line.

A longstanding member of the New Zealand national team, Kosta was also part of the All Whites squad for the recent 2026 FIFA World Cup, adding another significant milestone to his decorated career.

His arrival is a major addition to our squad as South Melbourne continues to build a team capable of competing for silverware.

Football Director Peter Kokotis said:

“We are delighted to welcome Kosta to South Melbourne. He has won championships at some of the biggest clubs in the country and knows what it takes to perform when the stakes are highest.

“His quality, movement and ability to create and finish chances will give us another dimension in attack. Just as valuable is the experience he brings to the dressing room and the example he can set for our younger players.

“We have big ambitions for this football club, and bringing in a player of Kosta’s calibre reflects that. We look forward to seeing him in our colours and welcoming him to the South Melbourne family for the Australian Championship, Oceania Professional League and NPL over the next 12 months.”

Welcome to Hellas, Kosta!

Thursday 24 September 2026

The Hahn Australia Cup Final between South Melbourne FC and Melbourne Victory has sold out AAMI Park in just over a day, including the entire half of the stadium allocated to South Melbourne supporters.

South Melbourne Co-President Bill Papastergiadis said the response demonstrated the place South Melbourne Hellas and other foundation clubs hold in Australian football.

“Selling out AAMI Park in just over a day, including every seat in our half of the stadium, illustrates the role that South Melbourne Hellas and other foundation clubs play in Australia’s football landscape,” Papastergiadis said.

“History and tradition are crucial to supporter engagement. The football community is clearly craving a stronger connection across our football pyramid.

“Ticket sales have surpassed the previous Australia Cup Final record before a ball has even been kicked. This response affirms Hellas’ credibility and credentials as an important part of the game.

“It is time for our code to engage with all of its participants and for the A-League structure to reflect that. Hellas wants to be part of the game’s future.”

Co-President Andrew Mesourouni said the sellout was a powerful response from the club’s supporters.

“I have always believed in this club and its supporters. Our tradition and history cannot be erased,” Mesourouni said.

“Given the opportunity to shine, our supporters have filled half of AAMI Park and helped make this a record occasion for the Australia Cup. Our club has so much to offer football in Australia.”

South Melbourne faces Melbourne Victory in an incredible final and derby at AAMI Park on Saturday 10 October.

For all media enquiries contact George Kou at multimedia@smfc.com.au