Central Coast Mariners head into the Isuzu UTE A-League season on the hunt for a new coach after Mark Jackson’s departure. aleagues.com.au looks at some possible options for the three-time champions.
Mark Jackson’s decision to pursue an opportunity abroad has left a void in Gosford.
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Central Coast Mariners enjoyed great success under Jackson, winning an historic treble in the Englishman’s debut 2023-24 season as the three-time champions swept the Premiership and Championship to go with an unprecedented AFC Cup crown.
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But the Mariners are now looking for a head coach heading into Sunday’s blockbuster Round 1 opener against F3 rivals and Australia Cup champions Newcastle Jets, with Jackson taking up an offer in Asia.
While an interim coach will step in for Jackson this week, Central Coast are busy trying to replace Jackson in 2025-26.
Here are some potential candidates who could be in the frame to take over at polytec Stadium.
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John Anastasiadis (Heidelberg United)
The talk of Australia, Anastasiadis’ stocks could not be higher after orchestrating a fairytale run in the Australia Cup.
Anastasiadis guided NPL giants Heidelberg United to the 2025 Australia Cup final, having upstaged Isuzu UTE A-League trio Western Sydney Wanderers, Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC.
The 57-year-old head coach also oversaw Heidelberg’s Grand Final triumph in NPLM VIC, having narrowly missed out on a treble via the Dockerty Cup.
Anastasiadis is also no stranger to the Isuzu UTE A-League, having worked as an assistant at Western United, where he spent four years part of the club’s coaching staff.
John Hutchinson (Unattached)
One of Central Coast’s favourite sons, Hutchinson is a free agent after leaving J2 League outfit Jubilo Iwata in Japan’s second tier.
Jubilo parted with the Mariners and A-Leagues legend last month as the team sat eighth in J2 – 10 points off the pace and two points outside of the top six following their relegation.
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Hutchinson was appointed following his interim stint in charge of Japanese side Yokohama F.Marinos, where he oversaw a ninth-placed finish after stepping up to replace Socceroos great Harry Kewell.
The 45-year-old has previously been an assistant at Central Coast in 2015-16 after making 228 Isuzu UTE A-League appearances and winning the 2013 Championship as captain.
Vincenzo Ierardo (Shanghai Port)
The former A-Leagues assistant is currently one of Kevin Muscat’s right-hand men at Chinese champions Shanghai Port.
Ierardo was lured to China by A-Leagues great Muscat at the start of 2024, linking up with the former Socceroo and ex-Adelaide United captain Ross Aloisi as Port made history en route to the CSL title and the defending champions are on track to retain their crown.
He is a familiar face in the Isuzu UTE A-League too. An inaugural member of Western’s football department, assistant Ierardo won the 2021-22 Isuzu UTE A-League Championship during his time as part of John Aloisi’s staff.
Ierardo had previously spent six years with Melbourne Victory, where he worked as an assistant coach in the youth NPL setup and another three years with the Ninja A-League side while Muscat was coaching the Melbourne-based outfit.
Patrick Kisnorbo (Unattached)
Could we see Kisnorbo back in the Isuzu UTE A-League?
Only six months into his tenure having replaced Tony Popovic and after just seven A-Leagues matches in charge of the four-time champions, the former Melbourne City and Troyes boss left Victory searching for a new boss over the busy Christmas period.
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The former Australia international, who led City to the 2021 Championship and a pair of Premierships, is a free agent again after departing Marinos in June.
David Perkovic (Sutherland Sharks)
Like Anastasiadis, Perkovic is another coach making waves in the NPL.
Perkovic made history last season after overseeing NWS Spirit’s first ever NPLM NSW Premiership while further establishing himself as “one of the most exciting managers in the country”.
He has since been appointed head coach of NPL NSW club Sutherland Sharks for the 2026 campaign.
Other possible candidates:
- Carl Veart – The current CommBank Joeys head coach after leaving Adelaide United at the end of 2024-25.
- Huss Skenredovic – Currently serving as one of Arthur Papas’ assistant coaches at J1 League club Cerezo Osaka.
- Ruben Zadkovich – The former midfielder is a free agent after his Brisbane Roar exit following the 2024-25 campaign.
- Tony Vidmar – The former Australia international and Central Coast defender is head coach of the CommBank Olyroos.
