Check out all the NPL and VPL coaching changes and appointments ahead of 2025

The NPL and VPL off-season has seen a host of coaching changes. Check out every club’s new or reappointed gaffer for 2025.

Every NPL/VPL club confirmed coach for 2025.

The Victorian football off-season is a busy one.

A host of new coaches have been appointed for the 2025 season, while many more have been reappointed.

From first-year coaches to club greats entering their eighth, ninth or even 11th season at the helm.

Check out the men taking charge at every NPL and VPL club next season.

Avondale coach Zoran Markovski. Picture: Brendan Beckett

ALTONA MAGIC

Goran Lozanovski (second season)

The former Socceroo returns for a second season at Paisley Park. After remaking the Magic squad last off-season, Lozanovski has the change to continue his rebuild with a full off-season and pre-season.

AVONDALE

Zoran Markovski (seventh season)

The Avengers great is locked in for a seventh season at the helm. After winning the NPL Victoria premiership-championship double last season, he guided Avondale to second in the premiership and a preliminary final appearance.

DANDENONG CITY

TBC

DANDENONG THUNDER

Andrew Piddick (second season)

After taking over just two weeks before the 2024 season started, Piddick is locked in for a second season at George Andrews Reserve. This time he’ll have an entire off-season and pre-season to bring in players and bed down his style.

GREEN GULLY

David Chick (new)

A third club in less than 12 months for Chick, joining the Cavaliers from Hume City. It’s a shock given Chick’s success at Hume, guiding the club to a NPL Victoria preliminary final, Dockerty Cup semi-final and Australia Cup quarter-final. Gully will be hoping he can bring that success after a difficult season saw the club finish 12th, above only relegation Manningham and Moreland.

HEIDELBERG UNITED

John Anastasidis (second season)

The star coach is locked in at Olympic Village for a second season. Guiding the club back to NPL Victoria finals and continued the Warriors Australia Cup success as it knocked off A-League treble winners Central Coast Mariners on the way to a Round of 16 appearance.

HUME CITY

Riccardo Marchioli (new)

Worked as an opposition scout for the USA women’s team before the Paris Olympics before returning to his old club, Brunswick City as director of football. Returns to the coaching ranks in 2025 at Hume City, hoping to continue the club’s extraordinary success this season that saw them make a NPL Victoria preliminary final, Dockerty Cup semi-final and Australia Cup quarter-final.

MELBOURNE KNIGHTS

Ivan Franjic (second season)

The former Socceroos defender and Knights legend hangs up the boots to pick up the whistle full-time in 2025. Took over the coaching role mid-season this year after the club parted ways with Ben Surey and mixed playing with coaching and his role as technical director. Will be looking to take the club back to finals as the very least.

MELBOURNE VICTORY

TBC

OAKLEIGH CANNONS

Chris Taylor (eighth season)

Having coached his 600th NPL match this season, Taylor is locked in for an eighth year in charge at Oakleigh Cannons. The legendary coach led the Cannons to the NPL Victoria championship this season, beating arch-rival South Melbourne in the grand final. The club also made the Dockerty Cup final and Australia Cup quarter-final.

PORT MELBOURNE

John Markovski (new)

After a late-season collapse saw the Sharks miss NPL finals, the club parted ways with Nick Marinos. In his place, former Socceroo and Victorian football great John Markovski has come on board. After a year out of the game, following a stint at Altona Magic, the 1992 Olyroos representative will be looking to led the club back up the ladder.

PRESTON LIONS

Louis Acevski (ninth season)

Having guided Preston back to the top-flight, finishing second in VPL1 to earn promotion, Acevski wasn’t going to miss out on leading the club in 2025. It will be his ninth season in charge of the Lions and the club will be looking to make a splash, while also continuing preparations for a potential move to the National Second Division.

SOUTH MELBOURNE

Esteban Quintas (seventh season)

The premiership-winning and Dockerty Cup-winning coach and 2024 NPL Coach of the Year is back for a seventh season at Lakeside Stadium. South Melbourne came agonisingly close to a history-making treble last season, only losing the NPL Victoria grand final. Hellas also made the Australia Cup semi-finals, pushing eventual winner Macarthur to the brink in a controversial finish. According to the club, South has played 93 matches in the past three seasons and won 70 under Quintas’ leadership.

ST ALBANS

Cam Watson (second season)

A rising star of the coaching ranks, Watson arrived at St Albans mid-season and helped turned the club’s fortunes around, taking it from relegation battler to safety. The Saints won six of their last nine matches and five on the trot between rounds 21 to 25, including wins over Heidelberg United and Oakleigh Cannons, to secure their NPL place. Watson will be looking to build on that momentum with a full off-season and pre-season at the helm.

VPL1

NEW FACES

BULLEEN LIONS – Alex Cobo

After a year out of coaching, following a stint at Pascoe Vale, Cobo returns to the sidelines at Bulleen. The Lions hope his “proven track record of excellence and a passion for developing talent” will lift the club back into promotion contention in 2025.

MORELAND CITY – Zivko Kolevski

After leading City’s under-23s in 2024, Kolevski steps up to senior coach in 2025 – taking the reins from David Ostojic. The new manager’s experience with the club’s junior development will be critical as it look to rebound from relegation this season.

REAPPOINTED

BENTLEIGH GREENS: George Katsakis (second season)

BRUNSWICK CITY: Nick Kyriopoulos (third season)

CAROLINE SPRINGS GEORGE CROSS: Eric Vassiliadis (seventh season)

EASTERN LIONS: Chris Greechan (fourth season)

FC MELBOURNE: Zeljko Popovic (third season)

KINGSTON CITY: Peter Tsolakis and Con Tangalakis (third season)

LANGWARRIN: Jamie Skelly (second season)

MANNINGHAM UNITED: George Karkaletsis (fifth season)

MELBOURNE CITY: Alessandro Diamanti (third season)

NORTHCOTE CITY: Steve Bebic and Zeljko Kuzman (second season)

TBC

NORTH SUNSHINE EAGLES

WESTERN UNITED

VPL2

REAPPOINTED

BOROONDARA-CAREY EAGLES: Manny Koutroulis (10th season)

ELTHAM REDBACKS: Alan Mulcahy (second season)

ESSENDON ROYALS: Michael Ferrante (fourth season)

GEELONG: Ante Moric (second season)

GOULBURN VALLEY SUNS: Craig Carley (eighth season)

NUNAWADING CITY: Steve Voursoukis (fourth season)

PASCOE VALE: Shane Rexhepi (second season)

SPRINGVALE WHITE EAGLES: Andrew Skledar (second season)

WERRIBEE CITY: Craig Moore (second season)

TBC

ALTONA CITY

BOX HILL UNITED

BRUNSWICK JUVENTUS

NORTH GEELONG WARRIORS

WHITTLESEA UNITED