Ex-Adelaide Comets player Kon Antoniou returns to club as coach until the end of NPL SA season

An opportunity to coach the club he helped rise from the lower tiers of SA soccer to its top flight as a player has lured Kon Antoniou back to National Premier Leagues side Adelaide Comets.

Former Adelaide Comets player Kon Antoniou has taken over as the Mile End club’s coach until the end of the season. Picture: Adam Butler

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An opportunity to coach the club he helped rise from the lower tiers of SA soccer to its top flight as a player has lured Kon Antoniou back to Adelaide Comets.

The former defender was on Tuesday unveiled as the Mile End outfit’s boss until the end of the season, replacing Theo Tsiounis who resigned from the role last week.

Antoniou said landing his first senior coaching job where he won promotion to the National Premier Leagues SA eight years ago was an exciting prospect.

“It is a big opportunity after being part of the club for quite some time as a player,” said Antoniou, who appeared for Comets from 2007-12.

“I still speak to a lot of people there and it’s a club that is building and going in the right direction.

“It was definitely a big decision, but it was an opportunity that doesn’t come often for coaches.

“I had to grab it and give it my best shot.”

Antoniou had spent the past two seasons as assistant to Robbie Saraceno at MetroStars, where he also previously played.

Kon Antoniou (right) playing for MetroStars in the 2004 SA Premier League grand final.

He took over the reigns with FFA Cup SA holder Comets sitting eighth on the table following a mixed start to the campaign.

But Antoniou inherited a squad packed with talent including ex-La Liga defender Jon Aurtenetxe, Afghanistan international Omid Popalzay and dual-Melta Medallist Allan Welsh.

It would be his second position at the club given he already coached his son in its under-6 team, ironically alongside Tsiounis.

“It’s becoming one of the bigger clubs in the state and trying to combat against the Metros and Campbelltowns and Blue Eagles,” Antoniou, 42, said.

“The players there are potentially the best players in the state and that goes to show the steps Theo took to get these players.

“You take your hat off to that, but it’s now about building on that and getting the best out of these players.

“I believe in these players and that’s the key.”

The former West Adelaide junior also turned out for Port Adelaide, as well as Victorian sides Port Melbourne and Kingston City, during his playing career.

He had installed former Comets teammate and ex-National Soccer League striker Elias Demourtzidis as his assistant ahead of this weekend’s bye for the FFA Cup SA first round.

“No player is bigger than the club and that’s the most important thing,” said Antoniou, who would lead Comets for the first time against Raiders on Saturday, April 6.

“As a player or a coach, this is probably the toughest competition this league has ever had.

“We’ll worry about this week first and then the bigger goals will come as time goes on.”