Perth Glory have appointed WA soccer legend Stan Lazaridis as the club’s football director.

During his 17-year playing career, the Greek Australian made over 250 appearances for West Ham United and Birmingham City in England.

He spent two seasons in the A-League for Glory and represented Australia 60 times.

Before all that he got his start at Greek based soccer clubs – Olympic Kingsway as a junior, then Floreat Athena for the start of his senior career.

Prior to earning his move to Europe, he played 73 games over three seasons for West Adelaide in the A-League’s predecessor NLS.

Since hanging up his boots in 2008, he has remained immersed in the game.

Now he is looking forward to using his wealth of experience and knowledge to drive his hometown club forward.

“For me personally, there’s unfinished business at the club,” he said in a club media release.

“I feel that when I left, I needed to give something back and this is just the right time to do that.

“My motive for coming back is simply that I want this club to be better.”

Lazaridis made 13 appearances for Glory, but some controversy involving a positive drug test to a prescription alopecia medication.

He was suspended for 12-months and then in 2008 he was cut from the A-League roster, prompting him to retire.

“I want us to achieve things again, to be competitive, for fans to come back through the turnstiles and The Shed to be electric again.

“I’m going to work my damnedest to make this club great again and the board have given me full trust.

“I think when that trust is given to someone, you want to protect it and work even harder.”

He said the top priority is the playing squad which he admits is quite thin.

“I’ll be looking at how we can strengthen for next season, looking at players whose contracts are running out, speaking to them individually and seeing where their minds are at in terms of whether they want to still be here or whether they want to move on.”

Earlier this year Melbourne property developer Ross Pelligra was revealed to be the new owner of the once Greek owned club.

Pelligra is now club chairman and he said Lazaridis’ experience and expertise will prove to be invaluable assets for the club.

“I could see that he had that leadership in him and as I got to know him more, I realised that we need a person like Stan in our club; someone who understands football, knows football, has lived football and can help the next generation of kids come through.”

“That’s why we decided, at board level, to bring Stan on board.”