Perth Glory can confirm that a number of key appointments have been made as part of a comprehensive restructuring of the club’s football department.
Ruben Zadkovich has been named Head Coach for the next two ISUZU UTE A-League seasons, with vastly-experienced former Wolverhampton Wanderers, Millwall and Portsmouth assistant Joe Gallen appointed as Senior Assistant Coach and Chris Coyne becoming Assistant Coach/NPL Coach.
Ex-Glory Head Coach Kenny Lowe will return to the fold as PGFC Academy Director on a long-term contract, while Mich d’Avray, who famously guided the club to two NSL Championships in the 2000s, also returns as Technical Consultant.
The new-look football department is completed by the club’s all-time record A-League appearances-holder and goalscorer, Andy Keogh, who has been appointed Head of Recruitment.
Perth Glory is confident that the restructuring will pave the way for the achievement of consistent growth and success on and off the field.
“I’m extremely excited to be spearheading this rebuild with so many quality people around me,” said Zadkovich.
“I have known Joe since he coached me as a 17-year-old at QPR, I also worked under Kenny and I played with both Chris and Andy, so I know exactly what they each bring to the table.
“The football department team we have assembled has all the ingredients required to drive this proud club forward.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Glory Owner and Chairman Tony Sage.
“The presence of Joe Gallen and Mich d’Avray will provide a wealth of experienced support around a young and dynamic Head Coach in Ruben Zadkovich,” he said, “while Kenny Lowe brings a track record for developing young WA players which is second to none.
“Chris Coyne is set to continue to play a versatile and vital role within the football department and Andy Keogh’s network of local, national and international contacts will prove invaluable as the club seeks to build a squad capable of challenging for silverware on a regular basis.
“Among the new-look coaching and recruitment team, there exists a deep-rooted passion for the club and an understanding of its proud history, along with a shared hunger and determination to help realise its huge potential.”
Both ex-Glory players and Socceroos, Zadkovich and Coyne stepped into the coaching breach towards the end of last season and oversaw a number of encouraging performances from a side largely made up of players fast-tracked from the PGFC Academy into senior football.
A former skipper of Newcastle Jets, Zadkovich was part of the Sydney FC side which claimed the inaugural A-League Championship and he also represented Queens Park Rangers, Derby County and Notts County in the UK, as well as being capped by Australia at Under-20, Under-23 and senior level.
Prior to returning to Glory in a coaching capacity, he worked as Assistant Coach with the Young Socceroos and guided Broadmeadow Magic to the NPL Northern NSW Championship in 2018.
Perth local Coyne also enjoyed an illustrious playing career, progressing through the youth ranks at West Ham United and subsequently making over 200 appearances for Luton Town with whom he won the League One title.
On the international stage, he represented Australia at Under-17, Under-23 and senior level and after ending his playing career with a three-year stint at Glory, he moved into coaching with Bayswater City whom he duly guided to a raft of trophies, including three Premierships and two Championships.
Gallen, meanwhile, has spent more than 20 years in coaching and player development and is renowned in the UK for playing a key role in the emergence of a host of future internationals including Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Conor Coady, Leigh Griffiths and Matt Doherty.
During his spells as Assistant Manager at Exeter City, Millwall, Wolves, Rotherham United, Portsmouth and Leyton Orient, he was involved in more than 750 EFL games and won promotion to the Championship on two occasions with Millwall and Wolves.
The 49-year-old gained his UEFA Pro Licence in 2012 and also holds a degree in Science of Sports Coaching.
Lowe and d’Avray have both featured very prominently in Glory’s history, with the former taking charge for over 120 A-League games between 2013 and 2018, during which time he also guided the club to two FFA Cup Finals.
Currently in charge of NPL WA side Perth RedStar, Lowe has also been a part of the Socceroos coaching staff since 2018 and has established a reputation as one of the finest exponents of youth development in the country.
d’Avray first arrived at Glory in 1998 as assistant to Bernd Stange and after replacing the German in 2001, he led the men in purple to three Grand Finals, winning two and firmly establishing the club as the best in the country.
Having made over 200 appearances for Ipswich Town during his playing days, he moved into coaching in 1991 in his native South Africa and had stints in charge of both Cape Town Spurs and Bloemfontein Celtic, as well as South Africa Under-23s.
Keogh brought the curtain down on an illustrious, 19-year playing career at the end of last season.
The 35-year-old former Republic of Ireland international signed for Glory in 2014 following successful stints at a number of UK clubs, including Wolverhampton Wanderers and Millwall.
He went on to play 155 A-League games in purple, scoring a remarkable 59 goals, 15 of which came in 2018-19 as Glory clinched its first ever A-League Premiership.
Keogh has already completed his UEFA Pro Licence and is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Sports Directorship through UEFA.
Further announcements regarding Glory’s squad for the 2022/23 campaign will be made shortly.
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