Coach John Anastasiadis appears to be reaping the harvest of his efforts in the Victorian NPL.
The soccer player who spent the majority of his career playing for Greek club PAOK FC, has now been given the position of first assistant coach in one of the clubs that was recently given the license to the A-League – Western Melbourne.
The Tarneit-based club decision to put Anastasiadis could be part of an effort to show that they are committed to the grass roots level of football.
Anastasiadis began his footballing career at Heidelberg, before moving to PAOK, where he played for over ten years.
He then returned to Australia to become a member of South Melbourne.
It was the same club that allowed him to begin his coaching career in the NPL and, in his first season as coach, he managed to lead the club to third place and the preliminary final in the play-offs.
He remained with South until 2009, before moving to the Oakleigh Cannons. This partnership was to just last for a season after he accepted a new offer from Bentleigh early in 2011.
Since joining the Greens, Anastasiadis has helped the club win three titles, including the Dockerty Cup, the Victorian Premier League and the minor premiership.
Anastasiadis seemed elated upon accepting the post: “I’m grateful to Western Melbourne Group that I now have the opportunity to further my career at such an ambitious club. I’m Victorian through and through, always give 100 per cent and I desperately want to help make this club a success for the community of the west.”
Western Melbourne will join the A-League in the 2019/20, after their bid was approved by the Football Federation of Australia.
