Season preview: South Melbourne
Last season: After a poor start to the 2013 Victorian Premier League (VPL) season, South Melbourne sacked coach Peter Tsolakis and brought in VPL premiership coach Chris Taylor from Dandenong Thunder. It took a while for South Melbourne to click under Taylor, but it surged home to reach a preliminary final, where it was beaten by eventual champion Northcote City.
NPL 2014 squad: Jason Saldaris (GK), Shpetim Mala, Andrew Mullett, Michael Eagar (captain), Dimitri Tsiaras, Nick Epifano, Matthew Theodore, Milos Lujic, Tyson Holmes, Brad Norton, Iqbal Jawadi, James Musa, Kobbie Boahene, James Reed, Slaven Vranesevic, Christopher Maynard (GK), Andy Kecojevic, Leigh Minopoulos
Key signings: Milos Lujic (Northcote City), Michael Eagar (Northcote City), Andrew Mullett (Oakleigh Cannons), James Reed (Chester Football Club, England), Leigh Minopoulos (Werribee City), Slaven Vranesevic (Springvale White Eagles)
Key departures: Trent Rixon (Northcote City), Bryan Bran (FC Chabab, Netherlands), Peter Gavalas (retired)
The gaffer: Chris Taylor is one of the revered coaches of the NPL, having won the 2012 VPL title with Dandenong Thunder in a season which also saw him crowned 2012 VPL Coach of the Year. Taylor departed Dandenong Thunder for South Melbourne in the early stages of last season and if his finish to that campaign is anything to go by, South Melbourne could be set for a dominant 2014.
One to watch: 2013 VPL Golden Boot winner Milos Lujic joins South Melbourne from Northcote City. The striker was rewarded for a brilliant 2013 with a two-week contract at A-League club Wellington Phoenix and is arguably the perfect replacement for Trent Rixon, South Melbourne’s leading goalscorer last season who has returned to former club Northcote City.
“We are quite excited with the addition of Milos (Lujic) to the squad. Milos is someone who we have admired and followed his progress for a while now. He had an extraordinary season at Northcote City where he played a leading role in their championship season, and will further strengthen our attacking options” – South Melbourne football director Nicholas Maikousis.
Fellow ex-Northcote City player, Michael Eagar, is another key signing who will fill the void left by the departure of star centre-back Bryan Bran.
Pictured: New signing Milos Lujic in action for South Melbourne during pre-season (image credit: Cindy Nitsos)
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