Latest news with #Zadkovich
News.com.au
06-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Michael Valkanis to take over as Brisbane Roar coach following Ruben Zadkovich's axing
Former Adelaide United captain Michael Valkanis will be unveiled as Brisbane Roar's new coach on Wednesday after the struggling A-League club confirmed the sacking of Ruben Zadkovich. Despite having a year of his coaching contract remaining, Zadkovich has been axed following the club's poor form during his season-and-a-half in charge. News Corp Australia reported last month that Valkanis, 50, was set to take charge of the Roar, who finished second last on the ladder this season, winning only five of their 26 games. The Roar has also parted ways with Zadkovich's assistant coach Chris Coyne, with Valkanis understood to be bringing with him to Brisbane a European assistant and analyst. Valkanis, whose most recent coaching job with Turkish team Adana Demirspor lasted less than three months before he parted ways with the club in September last year, will coach the Roar for the first time next Wednesday when Brisbane meets Wellington Phoenix in an Australia Cup playoff in Darwin. A former Socceroos defender, Valkanis has also had head coaching roles with Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel) and Eupen (Belgium) and was an assistant to ex-Melbourne City coach John van 't Schip at Dutch clubs PEC Zwolle and Ajax and the Greek national team. He has also previously held caretaker coaching jobs at Adelaide United and Melbourne City. In confirming Zadkovich's sacking on Tuesday, Roar chief executive officer Kaz Patafta said: 'The club would like to acknowledge and thank Ruben for his commitment and efforts during his tenure in Brisbane. Ruben leaves with our best wishes for his future endeavours, as we begin to chart a new course here at the club.' Zadkovich thanked Patafta and Roar football director Zac Anderson for the 'opportunity to coach at this great club'.
Perth Now
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Zadkovich gone as Roar set their sights on new ALM boss
Battling Brisbane Roar are set to appoint their fourth full-time manager, and seventh overall, in less than three years after parting ways with Ruben Zadkovich. The Roar finished second-last despite going unbeaten in the final four games of the A-League Men season, including notching three wins. Zadkovich has been moved on after 38 league games - and just eight wins - at the helm (10 draws, 20 losses) after initially joining as an interim coach last year. "The club would like to acknowledge and thank Ruben for his commitment and efforts during his tenure in Brisbane," Roar CEO Kaz Patafta said in a statement on Tuesday. "Ruben leaves with our best wishes for his future endeavours, as we begin to chart a new course here at the club." In their statement, Brisbane flagged a new coach and said their staff would be appointed "in the coming days". The Roar will hope their next appointment is able to stick around. Since Warren Moon's departure in February 2023, caretaker Nick Green, Ross Aloisi, caretaker Luciano Trani, Ben Cahn and Zadkovich have all taken the reins then departed for various reasons. Brisbane have struggled for relevance for years, with the club seemingly a shadow of the powerhouse that captivated the league with Ange Postecoglou's "Roarcelona" team. Ross Aloisi took Brisbane to the Australia Cup final in 2023, but the Roar last appeared a genuine threat for ALM silverware when John Aloisi was at the helm between 2015 and 2018. Former Perth Glory boss Zadkovich will also have to plot his next move in coaching after another difficult spell in a top job. "I wish to take this opportunity to thank the members and fans at Brisbane Roar, alongside Kaz Patafta and Zac Anderson, for the opportunity to coach at this great club," he said in a statement.
