Champions protect their coaches – Vesti online

The successes achieved by the clubs of the Serbian community in Australia this year did not leave anyone indifferent. The results of St. George from Brisbane and Melbourne, Serbia, which won the championship titles in their respective leagues and won promotion to a higher rank, had a particularly strong impact.

The management of both clubs recognized the importance of the expertise and knowledge of the coaches in these feats, so both offered an extension of cooperation to their coaches, which Dani Gnjidic and Željko Popović gladly accepted.

“We are delighted to announce that first team coach Dani Gnjidic will lead the Saints in our first season in the Queensland NPL. It will be Dani’s fourth season on the bench of our first team, and so far he can boast of impressive successes: three promotions to a higher rank, two Premier League titles and three grand finals,” announced the management of the Vilavong club on its official website.

After a successful playing career, which he built in clubs in Victoria, including Springvale White Eagles, Gnjidic began to deal with the coaching profession, and after moving with his family to Brisbane, he accepted the offer of the head of Saint George and, with brief interruptions, was one of the main drivers their successes in the last five or six years.

In the next season, he will lead them to the biggest challenge for this young Serbian club, the first participation in the NPL division, the strongest competition in the territory of Queensland.

On the other hand, Melbourne Serbia, with Željko Popović, won the title in the Second Premier League of Victoria this year, which it entered for a year also led by this expert born in Montenegro. In addition, Popović led Serbia to the round of 16 of the Australian Cup, which is the greatest success in the six decades of the club’s existence.

“We are delighted to announce that Željko Popović has agreed to continue as the coach of our first team in 2025! In two fantastic years so far, Željko has led our team to back-to-back promotions, first to VPL 2 and now to VPL 1. His commitment, strategy and leadership have been key to our success, and he is already preparing to face the exciting challenges that lie ahead. are before us. Congratulations, Zeljko! We are looking forward to another great season together”, the leaders of Melbourne Serbia said in a statement.

The dream of placement in the NPL

Next year, the Serbian community will be able to boast of two clubs in the strongest national divisions. For the third year in a row, Belgrade from Adelaide will play in the South Australian NPL, while Sveti Đorđe will make its debut in the Queensland NPL. Chances of reaching the same level, but in Western Australia, have the footballers of Daniel White Eagles.

As for Melbourne Serbia, which also won the Karađorđev Cup last weekend, there is no doubt that the biggest wish of everyone in the club will be to achieve another miracle in 2025 and enter the NPL of Victoria, in which they have not competed so far. The Bonnyrigg White Eagles in New South Wales will also have hopes of a place in the NPL.