The Football Coaching Life with Alen Stajcic: “I knew that I had more to give back to the sport”

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Alen Stajcic

Football Coaches Australia is delighted to present the latest episode of the ‘Football Coaching Life Podcast’, with Gary Cole interviewing former Australia Women’s National Team and Central Coast Mariners A-League Men’s coach Alen Stajcic.

Alen is currently Head Coach of the Philippines Women’s National Team. The side, nicknamed the Malditas (yes that’s correct!), are being prepared for the 2022 AFC Asian Cup held in India. The Philippines will play in a group with Indonesia, Thailand and of course Australia (the Matildas).

Alen’s Serbian background led him to Bonnyrigg White Eagles in Sydney’s west, but a knee injury shortened his playing career and as a teacher he began coaching.

Staj has had a remarkable coaching journey that began at the Hills Sports High School and at New South Wales Institute of Sport, coaching the Sapphires in the Women’s National Soccer League. Both of these institutions saw teams achieve repeated successes with championship wins, but Alen learned that success comes in many ways.

He had an early taste of coaching the Matildas in an Assistant Coach role with the Young Matildas at the 2006 World Cup in Russia, before becoming the inaugural Head Coach at Sydney FC Women, which saw them win two championships and two premierships, as well as third place at the FIFA International Women’s Club Championship.

Then followed five fantastic years as Head Coach of the Matildas, during which they beat Brazil and World Champions USA for the first time, changing the belief of the players and achieving successes at the Asian Cup, Olympic Games and World Cup.

Alen’s ‘One Piece of Wisdom’ was: ‘It’s got to be fun; you’ve got to enjoy it because it’s a tough job. Coaching can be a lonely experience, so you’ve really got to find the enjoyment, fun and reward and the connection to what it is you want to achieve. If it’s not fun it’s just too tough a job!’

Please join us in sharing Alen Stajcic’s Football Coaching Life.

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Off the Pitch Podcast: Chris Shen on Martial Arts and Mental Strength

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Image Credit: Christopher Shen Consulting

On Episode 14 of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch Podcast, sports psychologist and martial arts master Chris Shen explored the topics of mental health in athletes, his long martial arts journey and the psychology behind returning from injuries or a mistake in a particular match.

In what was an incredibly fun and insightful discussion, Shen spoke about Martial Arts and its connection with sports psychology, and explaining its importance particularly for footballers.

“Martial Arts and psychology bundle together really wonderfully. There are so many mental health benefits when practicing the Martial Arts but specifically for athletes there are so many both physical and spiritual benefits that come with it,” he said on the podcast.

“Whilst professional football sometimes prevents pro footballers from practicing so-called dangerous pursuits like rock climbing and mountain bike riding to prevent injury, I highly recommend footballers practicing martial arts of any kind.”

Combat sports have a role to play in the community as well as in the sporting realm and Shen explained this in more detail.

“Combats sports provide the opportunity for individuals to be able to really lead a life of virtue. You can take people off the streets, enrol them in a combat sport or martial art and as long as there is a good leader and a good culture, that individual comes out a better person than before.”

“It can lead people away from pursuits such as crime or even being a bad person in the community because of the rigorous practice, the camaraderie, and the virtues.”

Martial Arts has many benefits and purposes for athletes already engaged in another sport, particularly football, where discipline and a good mental state are keys to success on the pitch.

Click hear the full interview with Chris Shen, on Episode 14 of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch Podcast – available on all major podcasting platforms.

George Cross FC Make Coaching Deal With DF Football

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Image Credit: DF Football

Caroline Springs George Cross Football Club have announced a collaboration with advanced coaching group, DF Academy for the 2026 season.

DF Academy (aka DF Football) is specialist football training group with programs run professional ex-footballer, Western United coach and Pro Licence Coach, Diogo Ferreira.

The deal will see DF Football players enter the DF group and participate in George Cross’ Youth Premier League program in the 2027 season.

Also, George Cross FC will also gain access to coaching resources and assistance from Pro Licence/A-League coaches to enrich the club’s players’ development, and coaching standards across all levels.

DF Football Founder and Head Coach, Diogo Ferreira decided to collaborate with George Cross FC as he comes from the area the football club called home.

“The type of coaching we do is similar to what goes into professional level football,” he said to Soccerscene.

Diogo Ferreira has an extensive career in football, with roles in present and past professional football which he translates into his coaching and training of players from junior to senior to professional football.

DF Football are offering programs as young as U8s all the way to U14s for young footballers to attempt to enter DF Football, and U18s for some programs, however, not every footballer who receives training will transfer to the DF Football team.

DF Football and Sydenham Park Soccer Club have an exclusive partnership where they train junior footballers across the country.

The DF Football Academy Program

The DF Football Academy Program offers young football players weekly training set during the school terms, providing professional training based on skill level.

The program is designed to let footballers express themselves while in a challenging environment to achieve the best conditions for personal development, advertised on the DF Football website.

Players will develop their strength and speed on-field, ball manipulation, injury prevention, movement and mobility in each session with an hour dedicated to a specific aspect of the game per week.

The final term of the year of the Academy Program has already begun and will end in mid-December.

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