Family, Football, and Ambition: Manny Spanoudakis’ Return to St George City FA

Manny Spanoudakis is a name synonymous with success in NSW football, both as a player and a manager. Now, he’s returning to familiar territory as the new head coach of St George City FA, a club he first led during their inaugural season nine years ago.

Recently, Spanoudakis served as an Assistant Coach and Technical Analyst at Marconi, working alongside Manager Peter Tsekenis and Assistant Peter Papoythis—a unique role for him, as it marked his first coaching stint outside of a managerial position. His time with the Stallions ended on a high, securing a dominant 3-0 victory over Rockdale llinden in the 2024 NPL Grand Final.

Now at St George City, Spanoudakis reunites not only with the club but also with his son James, who will be the assistant coach under his guidance. James has honed his coaching skills under some great names at St George, including experienced football director Aytek Genc.

In an interview with Soccerscene, Spanoudakis reflects on his recent experience at Marconi, his unique father-son coaching dynamic with James, and his ambitions as the new manager of St George City FA in the NSW NPL1.

 

Manny and his squad celebrate the premiership and promotion.

Theo Athans 

Having just completed your stint at Marconi and it ending with great success after a grand final win, what was it like working under experienced coaches and what was your highlight?

Manny Spanoudakis

My tenure at Marconi was the first time ever in my coaching career where I wasn’t the head coach. I was very appreciative of the opportunity presented to me by Peter Tsekenis and embraced the project, using it as a platform to enhance my own leadership. The thought process being that ultimately, when I go back to being a head coach, I will have lived life through the lens of a staff coach.

My experience at Marconi was very enjoyable, there was a very good bond and a mutual respect with the head coach (Peter Tsekenis), I had known him and the assistant Peter Papoythis very well, add that to my history and successes as a head coach, we had a real instant connection with a common goal and that goal was to win a trophy for the club.

It was very good to go to a club in that capacity (as a staff coach) and also great to work at such an iconic club like Marconi, what I call a proper football club. I believe Marconi is one of the biggest in the country when it comes to infrastructure and resources that the club has.

Many highlights during my time but you can’t go past winning the Grand Final this year to cap off what was a really enjoyable stint at the club.

T.A.

You’re joining your son James at St George City, it’s a very unique father/son coaching story. How exciting is this opportunity for you but also how has James’ coaching journey been like since he stopped playing?

M.S.

It is unique and that uniqueness was a key component of me making the decision to accept the offer at St George City FA. I did have other offers in NPL1 but ultimately, I have a connection with the club, we started the club in 2016 when Aytek Genc, the Head of Football, called me this time nine years ago and said, ‘I’m working on a new project, please don’t accept an NPL1 job until I run you through it.’

He shared with me a vision of St George City FA and that vision was what has happened right now, the club has spent the last two seasons in NPL1. I’m very proud of my role in the foundational years of the club, my objective was to get the club from NPL4 to NPL2 as quick as possible and I was very lucky to be able to do that within three seasons, winning two trebles along the way.

On that journey my son James was a player. I had limited interaction with him three years prior to that when I had won the treble in NPL2 with St George FC. James was a young player and he did earn a few 1st grade caps under me during that season.

So as a player he has been a part of the teams I have coached and won championships in NPL2, 3 and 4. Unfortunately James suffered very bad knee injuries, had multiple surgeries and was told at 25 or 26 years of age that his knee won’t be able to hold up playing football.

Manny and James share a special moment after a goal.

One thing my dad told me all those years ago when I was playing in the National League was focus on your education so you have a contingency plan and James took our advice and finished a business degree majoring in sports management but at the same time started all his coaching badges.

He made a soft transition at St George City FA and thanks to Aytek’s mentorship, James has developed a very astute football brain. He has coached u16’s into the 18’s into the 20’s and this year was the 1st Grade assistant coach working closely with Mirko Jurilj. At the same time, the club has been supporting him and he’s finishing his A licence next month so he’s on the right trajectory to be, with a little bit of luck, a very good football manager in the future.

So when the opportunity was presented to me to go back to a club I helped start and had an emotional connection to, and the opportunity to do something I had spoken to my father about before he passed in April which is to work with my son in a coaching capacity, it made the decision very easy for me and I accepted the offer from Aytek.

T.A.

What are your ambitions with St George City FA and how special would it be to win a trophy with them?

M.S.

Aytek and I worked together over 20 years ago in the NSW NPL when I was head coach at St George Saints FC. He was my assistant, and we only had one ambition and that was to win trophies. As much as we all want to win things, we want to build a football program that leaves a legacy and underpins success into the future. When you think of clubs in NSW like Blacktown City, they’re always contenders every year.

We don’t have the financial resources of other clubs so we need to build our football program and the next evolution of that program, or at least that’s what I have been charged with, to make us a contender.

There’s no magic wand or multi-millionaire president so there’s a process we’re going to go through and that process hopefully will allow us to build on the really good work that the club has done in the first two years in NPL1. As a community club, our aim is to build something that’s sustainable and can grow organically particularly now with rule changes around grassroots and home-grown players.

We need to leverage the foundation we already have at the club, add to that, evolve, and then build a football program that has us as a top 2 or top 4 contender every year. That’s the ultimate goal, for St George City FA to be recognised as a ‘club of choice’ for aspiring players. The club has built a strong reputation and a brand that allows us to attract really good young talent, take them through the development pathway and deliver them as first team players, ultimately putting them on the shopfront for A-League and beyond.

And if we can win trophies along the way, that’s fantastic!

Previous ArticleNext Article

PFA issues legal threat to Premier League over new financial rules

The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has issued a legal threat to the Premier League, warning of potential legal action if new financial rules are passed without union consultation and approval.

The PFA alleges that the league and its clubs have deliberately withheld critical information about the proposed squad cost rules (SCR) and top-to-bottom anchoring (TBA). These changes, according to the union, could severely impact player wages and club finances.

Legal Warning Over SCR and TBA

The Premier League and its 20 clubs voted on the proposed rules during a meeting on 13 February. In a letter addressed to the league and its stakeholders, the PFA’s legal team stated they “anticipate being instructed to commence legal proceedings” if the rules are approved without adequate consultation with the union.

The union has demanded a written guarantee from the league by 4 pm on 11 February, confirming its intention to fully consult the PFA on the matter. Failure to do so will also trigger legal action.

The PFA described the proposed squad cost rules and top-to-bottom anchoring system as “fundamentally flawed” and expressed deep concerns about their potential consequences for players and clubs alike.

What Are the SCR and TBA?

The squad cost rules (SCR) would limit clubs to spending a maximum of 85 per cent of their revenue on squad-related expenses, aligning with similar rules introduced by UEFA. From next season, UEFA plans to reduce its revenue-to-spending cap to 70 per cent for clubs involved in its competitions.

The top-to-bottom anchoring (TBA) system, however, is more contentious. It would enforce a strict cap on how much a club can spend on squad costs, calculated as five times the amount received by the club earning the least from central Premier League funds.

Critics, including the PFA, argue that TBA effectively introduces an indirect cap on player salaries. Some clubs, such as Manchester United and Manchester City, have also expressed opposition to the proposal, fearing it would weaken their ability to compete with elite European teams.

Accusations of Withholding Information

The PFA has accused the Premier League of failing to follow proper consultation protocols, which are required for any matters impacting player wages or conditions.

Under the rules, the Premier League and English Football League (EFL) must consult with the PFA through the Professional Game Negotiating and Consultative Committee (PFNCC). Any changes that affect players cannot proceed without the union’s agreement.

However, the PFA’s lawyers, Mills and Reeve, claim the Premier League missed its own deadline to provide an updated version of the SCR before Christmas. Instead, clubs received the document on 9 January—too late for meaningful discussions during a PFNCC meeting held on 8 January.

The union further alleges it only received the full 87-page SCR manual after an ad-hoc PFNCC meeting on 20 January, despite indications that clubs had access to the document as early as July last year.

PFA’s Position on the Financial Rules

The PFA remains firmly opposed to the introduction of TBA, stating it imposes an unnecessary cap on player wages under the guise of financial regulation.

The union believes such measures are not only unfair to players but also risk undermining the competitiveness of Premier League clubs on the international stage.

In their letter to the Premier League’s legal team at Linklaters, the PFA’s lawyers described the handling of the proposed financial rules as “flagrant breaches” of the league’s obligations to consult with the union.

As the 13 February vote has taken place, the tension between the PFA and the Premier League appears to be escalating, with the prospect of legal proceedings looming should the union’s demands for consultation remain unmet.

Australian Championship set to revolutionise domestic football

Football Australia has unveiled the “Australian Championship,” a groundbreaking new competition that promises to reshape the nation’s football landscape.

Officially launching in October 2025, the Championship will serve as a vital bridge between state-based competitions and the Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s system, bringing clubs, players, and communities closer together.

This announcement comes on the heels of the October confirmation of the National Second Tier (NST) format, marking a significant milestone in Australian football.

The Australian Championship will provide a national platform for clubs and players to showcase their talent while fostering stronger connections with fans and communities across the country.

Competition Format and Vision

The Australian Championship will feature 16 teams competing in a dynamic format designed to balance competitive integrity and fan engagement. The competition will include:

Group Stage: Four groups of four teams playing home-and-away fixtures.

Elimination Finals: The top two teams from each group advancing to knockout rounds.

Grand Final: The inaugural champion to be crowned in December 2025.

This structure highlights Football Australia’s ambition to create an inclusive, exciting, and commercially sustainable competition that celebrates the depth of Australian football talent.

Football Australia Chief Executive Officer James Johnson spoke on the importance of this announcement for the future of Australian football.

“The Australian Championship is much more than a competition – it’s a national celebration of football; uniting proud historic clubs, emerging talent, and inter-generational community connection. It reflects the core values of Australian football: authenticity, opportunity, and ambition,” Johnson said in the press release.

“This competition will complement the A-League, NPL, and Hahn Australia Cup, providing a connected, meaningful pathway for players and fans alike. Today’s brand launch is a statement of our commitment to grow domestic football in Australia and unlock its full potential.”

Founding Clubs and National Representation

The competition will include eight Foundation Clubs with storied histories, such as APIA Leichhardt FC (NSW), Avondale FC (VIC), Marconi Stallions FC (NSW), Preston Lions FC (VIC), South Melbourne FC (VIC), Sydney Olympic FC (NSW), Sydney United 58 FC (NSW), and Wollongong Wolves FC (NSW), representing some of the strongest footballing traditions in the country.

Joining them will be eight Member Federation clubs drawn from the National Premier Leagues (NPL) across all states and territories.

This model ensures representation from every corner of the national football community, giving grassroots and state-level clubs an opportunity to compete on a larger stage.

Core Pillars of the Australian Championship

The Australian Championship aims to unite Australian football under the following key values:

Authenticity: Honouring historic clubs, iconic venues, and long-standing rivalries.

Discovery: Showcasing emerging talent and rising stars from across the nation.

Connection: Strengthening ties between grassroots, state competitions, and professional pathways.

Pride and Belonging: Celebrating football’s ability to bring players, fans, and communities together.

A New Era for Australian Football

With its launch, the Australian Championship is set to redefine the country’s domestic football ecosystem, creating new opportunities for players, clubs, and fans. Football Australia’s initiative reflects a commitment to building a thriving national competition while staying true to the rich heritage and passion that underpin Australian football.

As October 2025 approaches, anticipation will only grow for what promises to be a transformative moment in the nation’s sporting history.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend