Kovacevic returns to Athena as Interim Coach

Kovacevic (front left) celebrating the team's night series title in 2011

Floreat Athena Football Club is excited to announce the appointment of Ante Kovacevic as interim Head Coach.

Kovacevic returns to the “blue and white” after serving the past four years in the A-League as Head of Football Operations at Adelaide United.

Kovacevic is no stranger to Litis Stadium after being part of Athena’s undefeated championship winning team in 2007.

Between 2010-2011 he took over the reigns as player/coach where Athena made the Cup Final and took out the 2011 Night Series title.

Originally from Melbourne, Kovacevic has played at the highest level in Australia, spending six years at the Melbourne Knights alongside Socceroo great Mark Viduka, where the team won back to back National Soccer League titles in 1995/96.

He then spent three seasons at Adelaide City, wearing the captain’s armband before spending a stint with South Melbourne Hellas and then a year with Malaysian Super League outfit Selangor FA.

He joined the Perth Glory Football Club at the inception of the A-League in 2005, spending two seasons with the current A-League champions, before retiring and taking a role with Glory’s football operations soon after.

Kovacevic said to be back in WA and at Athena, was like a second home coming.

“I am happy to be back in Perth and re-join my football family in Athena” Kovacevic said.

“I have carved many friendships at the club and have enjoyed winning silverware as both player and coach”.

“Football is in my veins and being given another opportunity to re-join Athena is something I want to embrace to the fullest.

“Athena is a great club, a big brand with a lot of history. But above all it’s good to be home amongst friends”, he added.

“We have a lot of good players in the squad. Everyone is fighting for spots and we will be expecting the best from each other”.

Kovacevic will assume all coaching responsibilities from this week, ably assisted by confidante and Assistant/Goalkeeping coach Vas Vujacic and reserves coaches Antony Benetti and Zak Morgan who guided the senior team to an impressive 3-0 win over Bayswater at the weekend in round two of the Football West night series.

Kovacevic has been appointed interim head coach after the club parted ways with former coaches, Garrett McDuling and Tim Cash.

Athena is the defending Night Series Champion and the team will be eyeing off its third win of the 2020 campaign when it hosts ECU Joondalup at E and D
Litis Stadium on Saturday night.

Kick-off is at 7pm.