Stan Lazaridis – Taking Perth Back to the Glory Days

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Images provided by Perth Glory FC. Top photo credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

In March 2024, Perth Glory made a significant personnel decision by appointing former Socceroo great, Stan Lazaridis, as its Football Director.

After a challenging season in 2023/24 when Glory was placed in administration, the cobwebs were removed with the purchase of the club by the Pelligra Group.

It was none other than Harry Redknapp, the legendary West Ham manager, who witnessed the talents of the flying wingback on a preseason tour Downunder in May, 1995 and immediately penned Lazaridis’ signature.

A distinguished career followed from 1995 to 2006 when he played 260 league matches for West Ham and Birmingham City, while becoming a crowd favourite with his brilliant and penetrating runs out of defence which made even the toughest opponents cringe with fear.

Lazaridis was also a mainstay for the Socceroos, appearing in 60 internationals from 1993-2006 and fulfilling his greatest moment as part of the squad which qualified for the World Cup Finals in West Germany after a 32-year absence.

However, Stan Lazaridis faces a new challenge in his new role at Perth Glory after their rock bottom performance last season.

Nevertheless, if anybody can make it happen, it’s the mild mannered and creative thinker who knows how critical this season is for A-League football in Perth.

In this interview with Roger Sleeman, Stan Lazaridis talks about his new role, the patient rebuilding of the club under the watchful eye of new owner Ross Pelligra and the dawn of a new era for the once great club.

Stan Lazaridis addresses the media as Football Director. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

ROGER SLEEMAN

What is your feeling after coming back into the game after an absence of 11 years?

STAN LAZARIDIS

It feels Iike I’m starting all over again when I was a player because I never thought I’d ever get another opportunity again in Perth.

I was almost resigned to this impasse but after meeting the new Board and owners, it just fell into place.

When you’re out of the game you miss it so much and you wonder to yourself how your approach could’ve been different.

I can really thank Marco Bresciano and Vince Grella but also the director, Jason Bon Tempo, who played a major part in my appointment.

It was Bon Tempo who facilitated my introduction to Ross Pelligra and after our first meeting, the new owner remarked it’s almost like I know you well and know all about you.

Significantly, Pelligra is trusting me with his money and granted me the power to achieve the best outcomes for the club.

Marco Bresciano and Stan Lazaridis after the 2-2 draw in the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Group F match between Croatia and the Socceroos. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

R.S.

What is Ross Pelligra’s commitment to the club?

S.L.

He’s a very passionate man and a winner. He started business at a young age when he was pouring concrete at 13, so he earned money the hard way and learned to value it more.

Apart from his investment in real estate, his company owns basketball and ice hockey clubs, but he saw the opportunity to acquire Perth Glory and turn its fortunes around.

Pelligra knows the club’s potential, particularly in light of the success of Tony Popovic at the club and in previous seasons.

Also, he knows how hard it is to beat the team in Perth after you’ve travelled five hours and have to confront that special kind of atmosphere when there’s a full stadium.

R.S.

How hard will it be to restore the wonder days of Perth Glory in the NSL under the ownership of Nick Tanna?

S.L.

You have to go back to why it was successful when it was an honest and entertaining system of play.

The players were heroes which has been lacking and we now have players like Faisal who is being compared to Mohamed Salah and is getting more hits than Taylor Swift.

Adam Bugharia is like an old fashioned Hristo Stoichkov who the fans can identify with and can hit the ball on target from distance with considerable power.

Nathanael Blair, an old fashioned striker, is over 1.9 metres tall and is strong as an ox with speed to boot and the Vietnamese striker Khoa Ngo has the skills of a Maradona.

I firmly believe these players will create great atmosphere this season.

Stan Lazaridis in action for the Socceroos in 2005, during the Australia v Iraq international friendly match. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

R.S.

How does the club erase the disappointing season of 23/24 in terms of overcoming financial problems and a better place in the A-League?

S.L.

This is why I was brought in and we released 15 players. Everything is new with my team, new owner, new staff and the signing of 17 players.

There’s no point dwelling in the past because we know we were well off the pace and we can’t place the blame on former coach Alen Stajic because he simply wasn’t given the tools to succeed.

Surviving the administration gave us a second chance to go out and get the people back by investing more and playing a brand of football which the fans will want too see and which will also inspire the kids.

After our recent Australia Cup match against Melbourne City, the fans stayed back and clapped for the performance for over 30 minutes.

Also, I believe we’re going to develop some young players who will eventually play for the Socceroos and that will be one of my legacies.

Goalkeeper Cameron Cook alongside Stan Lazaridis.

R.S.

What led to David Zdrilic’s appointment as head coach?

S.L.

After my first week in the job, I sat round the table with the CEO Anthony Radich and coach Alan Stajic, and they asked me which team do you like in the A-League and I replied Sydney FC.

It’s not just their playing group, there’s an energy and entertainment value which reminded me of past Glory outfits which I wanted to bring back to the club.

I started looking at young players who could play this high energy system and with four experienced players to complete the combination.

I told them we’re not fit and I expected fitness levels comparable with Sydney FC.

I started trying to recruit top players but with a seven million dollar debt, that wasn’t going to be easy.

After the disaster of the last five games in 2023/24  the situation had to be reversed. I remember clearly after one match we were trailing 4-0 and Ross Pelligra called me and told me to fix it because we can’t have his club with an image like this.

We conducted a review, and after Alan Stajic had received the offer from the Wanderers, I spoke to three or four coaches but it just didn’t click as there style of play didn’t register with me.

Co-incidentally, I bumped into David Zdrilic one day and we had a brief talk despite knowing he’d received offers from other clubs. He liked the idea of being able to start fresh with a new club and it just connected when we talked about players.

It was like the stars just suddenly lined up as we were remarkably on the same page.

Interestingly, Zdrilic was prepared to take a pay cut because he could see this opportunity and after I spoke to Kevin Muscat for two hours, he advised you have gut instinct, so trust that.

All those feelings came true with Zdrilic and fortunately he could be released by Sydney FC and the deal was done.

Stan Lazaridis (left) with David Zdrilic and Glory CEO Anthony Radich at the A-League Head Coach announcement. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

R.S.

Are you happy with the new signings and confident the squad can vastly improve from last year?

S.L.

I’ve picked players who will entertain and Abdul Faisal is a winger who takes players on but needs more coaching to know when to use his weapons.

Adam Bugarija as previously mentioned is a great talent, Taras Gomulka doesn’t know how good he is and Zach Lisolajski – who we call Alexander the Great – didn’t get a chance with Western United.

For Nathanael Blair, the sky is the limit and Lochie Barr from Adelaide is a great addition in defence.

Remember we also have Brandon O’Neill, David Williams and Adam Taggart who scored all those goals last year.

Fortunately, we have the luxury of virtually having two players in every position.

R.S.

How much have you tried to reconnect the former Perth Glory players with the club?

S.L.

I’ve reached out to Dino Djulbic and Bobby Despotovski and we must talk to people like Scott Miller and Gary Marocchi amongst others.

It’s not going to be a token gesture because we want them involved as much as possible.

Stan Lazaridis in action during Round 19 of the A-League between Perth Glory and Central Coast Mariners at Members Equity Stadium in 2008. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

R.S.

What is the general feeling about the Glory brand from the Perth football community?

S.L.

At first, there was a reaction to the signing of young players as there were question marks whether they could do the job.

We were asked; why weren’t we signing major names but after three or four matches the response has been unbelievable.

The talk around town is the style of play we’re playing and some older supporters are thanking me for it.

Even when you play from home you can still play attractive football.

However, we have the basics in place with our structure at the back.

Also, the pattern of play involving shape and pressing is a work in progress but it takes three to six months to perfect this.

R.S.

How do you rate the standard of the A-League?

S.L.

Overall, every team has three or four outstanding players and I want to see young players from every club given a chance and a pathway leading to a super Socceroos team.

We have some great local coaches in Zdrilic, Sterjovski, Corica and Stanton who all have their own style of play which bodes well for the League.

However, financial considerations are centre stage, especially in light of the reduction in funding to the clubs from the APL.

Stan Lazaridis in Perth Glory’s boot room.

R.S.

How is your Academy progressing?

S.L.

We’re reshaping it because it needs work and it’s a work in progress.

However, it’s part of the overall revival of the club which will take time, remembering I’ve only been in the job since March.

R.S.

Can the glory days of the club be relived?

S.L.

I think they can if we reconnect with the fans and business community, while showcasing a good brand of football and achieving favourable results.

We have a great Board and competent staff and I’ve witnessed nothing but strong unity since I started the job.

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Melbourne Victory commits to player wellbeing with P3 Recovery

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Image credit: FiledIMAGE / Shutterstock.com

In an announcement made yesterday, Victory revealed that P3 Recovery will become the club’s Official Recovery Partner.

 

Maximised recovery, guaranteed results

As a nationwide organisation specialising in recovery, performance and wellbeing, P3 Recovery’s alliance with Melbourne Victory promises to be hugely beneficial for players and members alike.

“As industry leaders, serving to inspire through the world’s game, very edge matters, and partnering with P3 Recovery provides a new dynamic to the support afforded to our players,” explained Melbourne Victory Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie.

“Melbourne Victory looks forward to seeing a positive uplift in recovery through this partnership.”

Indeed, with an extensive range of recovery methods on offer – from infrared saunas to hyperbaric oxygen therapy and more – P3 Recovery stands as a valubale partner for players looking to maximise performance and recovery during the season.

Although the partnership is new, P3’s Richmond location already provides team recovery sessions and injury rehabilitation. Their commitment to Victory’s physical and mental wellbeing is unquestionable, so it is not surprising why P3 Recovery are the latest local business to join the Victory family.

Supporting professionals and public

While P3 Recovery will help Victory’s A-league Men’s and A-League Women’s team with physical recovery, the alliance will bring many benefits to locals seeking guidance on health and lifestyle choices.

“We’re passionate about helping people take control of their health through expert-led therapies, everyday performance tools and a welcoming space designed to help you feel better, move better and live better,” said P3 Franchisee, Naum Sekulovski.

“Whether you’re managing injury, chasing a goal or just need to reset, P3 is where recovery becomes a lifestyle.”

And with sport and physical activity such a huge factor in the lives of so many Melburnians, a partnership with Victory shows the entire city that when it comes to optimal recovery and service, P3 is there to support everyone in their sporting or personal goals.

Beyond the Pitch: Miyuki Kobayashi on the Real Challenges Facing Japan’s Women’s Game

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Image credit: JEF United

Last week, Soccerscene spoke to pioneer of women’s football in Japan, Miyuki Kobayashi, about the game’s development in Japan and the intersection between sporting and social change in the country.

 

Talent, quality and recent silverware

After Japan’s recent AFC Women’s Asian Cup victory in the final against Australia, the women’s national team solidified its standing as the No.1 team in Asia.

Throughout the last 15 years, Japan’s women’s national team has grown into a formidable opponent, boasting a World Cup trophy, an Olympic silver medal, as well as three AFC Women’s Asian Cups.

The talent is undeniable. The quality is unwavering. And the team shows no signs of slowing down.

But these victories and trophies on the world stage wouldn’t be possible without the leaders behind the scenes – none more so than Miyuki Kobayashi, former WE League Board Member and current JEF United Ladies Scout and Academy Chief.

 

Laying the foundations

Kobayashi has led the charge for women’s football in Japan, promoting not only a sport which values success, but one which empowers female footballers across the nation.

“At university, not many girls were playing and we didn’t have an official team. I went to the US and the environment was so different,” Kobayashi explained.

“That opened my eyes – women can play. That’s how I started the women’s soccer league when I came back: to make an environment for girls to play.”

Thus, accessibility and opportunity became driving factors behind Kobayashi’s work, not only for those on the pitch, but for those in the dugout.

“I got involved at the JFA (Japanese Football Association) to promote women’s football. We wanted to create the opportunity for women to be coaches.”

“They are coached by men all the time, so even when the top players leave the football world, they never think to be involved.”

Furthermore, as a former coach of JEF United Ladies Youth and General Manager, Kobayashi was intent on employing as many female coaches as possible. It was not merely a personel change, but a challenge to widespread social attitudes.

“When I started to employ female coaches, the girls’ parents asked why the coach wasn’t a man. But gradually, we started to make it equal – they didn’t talk about the gender, but about the quality of the coach.”

 

The mission to empower

In 2011, the same year Japan’s women won the World Cup, the domestic league was yet to become professional. Known as the Nadeshiko League, players would work during the day and train in the evenings.

The transition from an amateur to the current professional league required time, resilience and a change in perspective.

“The sports world in Japan is more traditional – it is dominated by men,” said Kobayashi.

“If you want to make the environment even, or (want) more women to come into the (football) world, you can change the mind of the players.”

Since 2021, the WE League has embodied a sense of growth and positive change for the women’s game. In name and nature, it looks to empower players, coaches and all involved in the industry.

“I was in charge of mission achievement for women’s empowerment. We wanted to educate the players, to inspire girls and women who watch the game.”

However, the drive to empower women in football was not without backlash and challenges.

“Some people don’t like that word: ’empowerment’. It’s too strong for them. Some women really appreciate it, but it’s not easy to change the mind of society through football,” Kobayashi admitted.

 

Growing and attracting talent

Although WE League clubs are accelerating youth development and expanding pathways across U15, U18 and first team football, Kobayashi acknowledged that the overall product must improve to bring foreign players to Japan and entice homegrown talent to stay.

“Most of the national team players go to Europe or North America. I don’t say it’s a problem, but from a young age, girls who can play in the WE League want to go abroad,” Kobayashi outlined.

Indeed, when looking at the starting XI in last month’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup final, only one player – Hana Takahashi – plays in the WE League.

But the key to attracting domestic and international players to the WE League, is aligning financial investment and industry attitudes.

“The reason why women’s football has developed in European countries is the social thinking – you have to be equal and have the same opportunities as men in football. The Japanese way of thinking, especially in the football world, is not that at all,” Kobayashi continued.

“When I speak to people at Spanish clubs, women’s football is not a charity, but an investment.”

“We have assets. We have good, young players, but we’re exporting them, so we need to import too.”

Indeed, Spain is a perfect example of what can happen when investment becomes intentional, not optional. Back-to-back UEFA Women’s Nations League titles, 90% television viewership increase since 2016, and record-breaking crowd numbers reflect what can happen when the industry aligns in vision and commitment.

Japan has the players to compete against any nation in the world. Purposeful investment, combined with its overall quality of players and style, could transform the WE League into a true, global powerhouse.

 

The vision for the future

Moving forward, Kobayashi hopes that girls progressing through JEF United’s academies develop confidence and resilience, whether as players or people.

“We want to make the girls – even if they aren’t in JEF United – continue playing football and continue to be leaders,” Kobayashi said.

“Some of them have a dream to be a coach or a leader off the field too, so that’s one of the attributes we want to develop.”

This resilience, reflected by the club’s ‘never give up’ philosophy, is testament to the vision of empowerment championed by Kobayashi across the women’s game.

Even in the face of social obstacles and a lack of financial investment, perseverance and hard work is at the bedrock of women’s football in Japan. It is not just that these values exist, but that they are consistently manifested on and off the pitch, which can show future generations that football is a sport for all – men and women alike.

 

Final thoughts

There is no limit to what the WE League and the national team can achieve if given the resources it deserves. All the ingredients are there: individual quality, a distinct playing style, football philosophy and ambitions to grow.

By following the example of industry leaders like Kobayashi, women’s football in Japan can hopefully continue to make waves of impact – in the sporting landscape and society as a whole.

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