Brisbane coach Ruben Zadkovich confident he has support from Roar officials

Should Brisbane lose on Saturday to fellow strugglers Perth, it could prove disastrous for Roar coach Ruben Zadkovich.

Embattled Brisbane coach Ruben Zadkovich is adamant he has the backing of the Roar board despite the club’s shocking start to the A-League season.

Having only picked up two points from a possible 18 this season and won just three matches from 20 in all competitions since taking charge of Brisbane, Zadkovich is under immense pressure heading into his team’s Suncorp Stadium battle on Saturday against fellow strugglers Perth Glory.

If the Roar lose in the match between the competition’s two worst teams, Zadkovich is unlikely to survive.

A draw against the Glory, who Zadkovich coached to just eight wins in 36 A-League matches between March 2022 and April 2023, also might not be enough to save the former Socceroos midfielder from the coaching axe.

However, Zakovich on Wednesday said the Roar as a club was “really together”.

“We’ve got a clear vision and a clear pathway, and the board and the management and the owners know that,” he told Network 10.

“You know this part was always going to be the tricky part for us. We know it’s going to take time but there’s some signs there that it’s starting to come together.”

Ruben Zadkovich and his Brisbane Roar side are desperate for a win this weekend. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Former Roar star Besart Berisha has been touted as a possible replacement for Zadkovich, and has made no secret of his desire to coach an A-League club.

Ex-Socceroos striker Scott McDonald, former Brisbane championship-winning captain Matt Smith and the club’s current NPL coach Karl Dodd have also been linked to the position.

Roar chief executive officer Kaz Patafta and the club’s head of football Zac Anderson continue to refuse to publicly comment on Zadkovich’s future.

Zadkovich also defended the Roar’s questionable tactics in the second-half of their 2-2 draw with the Western Sydney Wanderers last Saturday night at CommBank Stadium.

The Brisbane coach has been widely panned for allegedly encouraging his players to waste time, and settling for a draw rather than trying to win the game.

“My job is to try and pick up as many points as I can for this club, and it’s important that we understand we are in a difficult period as a club,” Zadkovich said.

“We can’t shy away from it. We can’t pretend that there isn’t a lot of work to be done.

“You’re going to end up in some sticky moments like we were last week where you’re fighting tooth and nail to get a point.

“We were trying to win ... but in the end we had to settle for fighting for a point and we took that home with us, and that’s a positive outcome.”

Prepared for Perth Glory at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday 👊#BRIvPER tickets 🎟 https://t.co/rf5cNrBYJSpic.twitter.com/Kvx8nqKegV

— Brisbane Roar FC (@brisbaneroar) December 17, 2024

Glory coach David Zdrilic, who is also under pressure after his team’s horror start to the season, expected a “fight” on Saturday.

“They’re fighting for their lives like we are,” said Zdrilic, whose side also has only two points.

“We expect them to come out at us and pose a very strong challenge. We need to be very aggressive and very confident.”

Originally published as Brisbane coach Ruben Zadkovich confident he has support from Roar officials