Four-time double-winner Ramon Falzon has been appointed Green Gully coach

New Green Gully coach Ramon Falzon believes the club has strong foundations to jump back up the NPL Victoria ladder and comes with a strong youth focus.

New Green Gully coach Ramon Falzon. Picture: XG Media

Green Gully has secured a significant recruiting coup in the shape of its new NPL coach.

The Cavaliers have come to terms with four-time NPL Western Australia premiership and championship-winning manager Ramon Falzon.

Falzon led Perth to league doubles in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021 and was named NPL WA Coach of the Year in 2018 and 2019.

The Malta-born coach has previously served as Malta under-17s coach before moving to Australia and joining Perth Glory’s youth team.

He takes the reins at Gully Reserve after Green Gully parted ways with long-time coach Stephen Downes last week, with Micheal O’Rourke serving as caretaker for one match.

After a heart-breaking 2-1 loss to Hume City, the Cavaliers are sitting 10th on the NPL Victoria ladder.

Falzon didn’t foresee any major changes, believing there was already a strong foundation in place.

Mid-season changes always bring a lot of uncertainties and uncertainties tend to be distractions come game day,” Falzon told club media.

“With the players I’m looking for a smooth transition, so no major changes, we’re only looking for improvement because I think there’s a strong foundation.

“From the games I’ve watched, several times the boys were leading 1-0, missed a second chance and ended up dropping points, so I think there’s a good foundation to build on.

“Our objective is to push higher up the standings.

“I’ve been told by several people, even before moving to Melbourne, Green Gully is one of the more serious and well-run clubs.

“The philosophy is always to maximise our opportunities and came away with a win, in terms of the style it might vary, but the objective is always the three points.”

Falzon’s first game in change will come on Saturday when Gully travels to Pettys Reserve to tackle Manningham United.

The new manager will have several big names at his disposal, including Josh Hope, Taylor Schrijvers, Gianluca Iannuci, Jalil Regague and Adolph Koudakpo.

Although he will be without Luca Tevere for the next three weeks and Jamie Latham for one week due to suspension.

Falzon’s history in youth development is also seen as a major benefit with young gun Shifa Ahmed bursting onto the scene this season and Gully’s under-23s sitting on top of the ladder.

“In my last job at Perth we focused a lot on youth development,” he said.

“The under-23s, 18s become a very important stepping stone to prepare players to come into the first team environment.

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“We will prioritise, as much as possible, if there are youngsters that are developing nicely we give them the opportunity.

“At Perth we managed to debut a few players every season, some moved over east, some abroad and some stayed committed and loyal to the club and I definitely think Green Gully has that reputations of giving opportunities to youngsters.”

Falzon will be joined at Gully Reserve by assistants Adrian Mazzarella and Steven Pavlidis also arriving at Green Gully.

Mazzarella in particular comes with a distinguished CV that includes time at Chelsea and Crystal Palace, Football Victoria and Football Australia’s Future Matildas Program.