He’s back! Chargers icon Phil Economidis re-emerges in most unlikely league

Rugby league coaching royalty Jack Gibson once delivered Phil Economidis’ career the utlimate reality check and the iconic former Chargers boss continues to roll with the punches.

RUGBY league coaching royalty Jack Gibson once delivered Phil Economidis’ career the utlimate reality check and the iconic former Chargers boss continues to roll with the punches.

Now 67, Economidis is leading the charge for Red Star Belgrade, a Serbian footy club seeking entry into the English Super League’s Challenge Cup competition.

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Gold Coast Chargers coach Phil Economidis at training.

While all plans are on hold due to the coronavirus, the latest siting of the famously moustached Economidis adds to one of the most remarkable coaching careers of all time.

He famously led the ragtag Gold Coast Chargers to the 1997 ARL finals series, a truly epic achievement given the side was quickly assembled from offcuts of rivals.

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Former Gold Coast Chargers coach Phil Economidis. Photo: Gerard Walsh (Warwick Daily News).

Economidis’ efforts that campaign saw him claim the Coach of the Year award, presented by laconic title-winning guru Gibson.

“Just goes to show yer,” drawled Gibson. “If the club had any money this bloke wouldn’t have got the job.’’

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It’s been the story of Economidis’ career, who faded in and out of the game over the coming decades.

He’s had stints in the Intrust Super Cup and all over the place before bobbing up in the Serbian league.

Phil Economidis

Red Star owner Colin Kleyweg recently said: “Coach Phil Economidis has returned to Belgrade to continue his work with Red Star Belgrade Rugby League Club.

“Phil was an interim coach in 2018 for a three-month period but he left such an impression on his players, with Serbia making a similar impression on him, that it was inevitable he would return when the time was right for both.”

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Then, coronavirus arrived.

“Jack Gibson was right,’’ Economidis said in 2015.

“He put my coaching career in perspective.

“There’s always an element of luck in life. But I wasn’t a former top grade player with a profile and I just sort of flew under the coaching radar.’’

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