Rookie VPL coach of the year Arthur Papas has continued his meteoric rise from obscurity to secure the position of head youth coach and senior assistant coach with A-League franchise Newcastle Jets.
Papas set off last Tuesday this week for his new life at Newcastle Jets and was quickly tying up loose ends with Melbourne Heart and finalising personal matters before catching a plane.
The position was offered through new Jets head coach Gary Van Egmond who became acquainted with Papas working together at the AIS in 2009 and 2010. Van Egmond, a former A-League championship coach with the Jets in 2008, offered the position to the young Victorian in a strong move to stamp his own mark and proclaim a new era in his second stint at the club. The rise of Papas’ career is quite staggering considering only 12 months ago people in the VPL were asking, “Arthur who?” when he was appointed as a rookie coach by Oakleigh Cannons.
In the proceeding season, 30- year-old Papas led the club to its highest position in its history by making the Grand Final, narrowly missing out to Green Gully after leading 2-1 at half time. This result and a strong run in the Mirabella Cup led Papas to the VPL coach of the year award and he quickly took a position at Melbourne Heart as assistant to John Aloisi in the youth team. He performed this role for only a few months before the position at the Jets was offered late last week leaving Melbourne Heart to reluctantly release him from his contract.
Oakleigh Cannons had also prepared for 2012 with Arthur Papas as their senior coach, but after one season they had to say goodbye to their coach. Football Manager Aki Ionnas was proud and happy to release Papas and had this to say about the move, “We let Arthur go with our blessing and whilst we would love to keep him it was evident early on that Arthur was destined for bigger things. “We thank him for the work he performed at our club and he made a significant contribution in the short time he spent here.
“The doors at Oakleigh Cannons will always be open for Arthur. We wish him all the best in his career wherever it may take him.” Papas was equally complimentary to Oakleigh Cannons, “I thank Oakleigh for giving me the opportunity to start my career and I will always be appreciative that they took a risk on a rookie coach.
“I leave with many friends and I give a special thank you to Stan the President and Aki the Football Manager who were instrumental in me coming here. “I also thank Neos Kosmos who have supported me thus far with some excellent articles.”
The journey has just begun for me, I have so much more to learn and the work is just beginning.” Football is an amazing industry and Papas is an example that one can break the mould through hard work, dedication to craft and a strong commitment to chasing your dream. At only 31, and with no previous playing profile, Papas has managed to defy the odds and secure a professional coaching contract at an age where players are still playing football. Postecoglou may be the best coach in Australia at the moment but one man will definitely leave no stone unturned to knock him off his perch, and that man’s name is Arthur Papas.
*Oakleigh Cannons have apponited Huss Skederovitch as their senior coach for the 2012 season.