Five years packed with passion, commitment and graft have come to a close, as Kingston City gaffer Kostas Tagkalakis called time on his stint with the Greek community club down in Melbourne’s Clayton South.
Tagkalakis took the reins at Kingston City FC back in 2020, when the club were scrambling to find their feet after dropping out of the NPL. Drawing on his nous from stints at South Melbourne Hellas and Oakleigh Cannons, the boss brought a pro mindset and team spirit, building a squad that stood out for its grit in the VPL1 comp.
His work in the academies—handing debuts to young guns and letting them shine in the first XI—left a lasting mark.
We caught up with the seasoned tactician, who had nothing but good words for the historic outfit.
“I joined the club during a proper rough patch. The initial deal was to stick around short-term and help them navigate the big issues they were facing. In the end, I stayed for a full five years. Five years full of highs and some proper lows. COVID did us over big time and set back all the hard yards we’d put in. I want to thank the board for always having my back.”
During his time on the red-and-white touchline, Tagkalakis unearthed a stack of young talents.
“In my five years at Kingston City, we managed to blood quite a few young lads. The snag was keeping hold of them. You know, one of the thorns in local footy’s side is that players chase the cash instead of focusing on their own development, and it puts the brakes on their careers. They jump ship for an extra 100 or 200 bucks, without thinking if the next club will actually help them level up.”
The gaffer hasn’t decided yet if he’ll be back in the dugout next season.
“I need a bit of a breather first. I’ve got offers from four clubs—sides in VPL1 and VPL2. Truth is, though, I haven’t made up my mind. I’ve been grinding in footy for 15 straight years now. The thought of a spell has crossed my mind, but like I said, no decisions yet. I’ll chat with the interested clubs, weigh it all up, and then plot my next move.”
The club’s board, in a heartfelt statement, showed their gratitude:
“After five years of dedication and loyalty, Con Tangalakis, Kingston City FC Senior Coach has informed the Club that he has resigned his position.
Through the Club’s challenging times, Con’s professional experience and leadership, brought stability, culture an inclusive environment and always strived to develop footballer’s from juniors through to seniors.
We sincerely thank Con for his loyalty and his positive attitude over the past five years and wish him all the best at any new future role.
Con will always have a place in the Kingston City FC family.”
His departure leaves the club with mixed feelings, as Kingston City prep for next season in VPL2. The Greek community in Melbourne, who’ve backed the side with fire since 1974, are called on to rally round again, while the board hunts for the next boss to carry on Tagkalakis’ legacy.
