Ruben Zadkovich has resigned as manager of Perth Glory’s Isuzu UTE A-League side, with the club stating he has been granted an early release to “pursue opportunities elsewhere”.
Zadkovich departs the club after initially stepping in as senior head coach on an interim basis in March 2022, before taking over on a permanent basis for the 2022/23 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Prior to taking over as head coach, Zadkovich represented the club as a player and then as the club’s Academy Manager and coach, before taking on a role as an assistant coach.
The 37-year-old led the team to a ninth-place finish this season, contending for a finals spot up until the last round.
Zadkovich thanked Glory chairman Tony Sage for giving him his first senior A-Leagues coaching role, but confirmed his intention to pursue opportunities elsewhere.
“Firstly, I’d like to thank the chairman… for entrusting me with the role of head coach of Perth Glory,” Zadkovich said in a statement.
“To be given the responsibility of rebuilding the club’s football department into a competitive side again has been a very rewarding process.
“This has undoubtedly been a very challenging time for the club, but we have shown a huge improvement over the last twelve months in many facets of the club’s operations and I believe that key foundations for the club’s future success have been laid.
“I’d also like to thank the club for granting me an early release to pursue opportunities elsewhere. This was a difficult decision for me to make.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with a wonderful group of players who have given their all to this rebuild.
“It has been an absolute privilege to have mentored and developed so many young, Perth-based players, to give them their debuts at professional level, helping them grow into A-League players and achieve selection in youth-level national teams.
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“I’d like to thank the very dedicated group of staff members for their constant support and their amazing work ethic during my time in charge.
“Most importantly, I’d like to thank the heartbeat of the club; the members and fans. Perth Glory has some of the best supporters in the country in my eyes.
“To wear the purple shirt as a player in past times and then to coach and manage the club has been an honour and one that I’ll always cherish.
“I wish the club and everyone involved all the very best in the future.”
Glory CEO Anthony Radich thanked Zadkovich for his service, amidst “an extremely tough period” for Glory.
“On behalf of everyone associated with Perth Glory, I would like to sincerely thank Ruben for all of his hard work, commitment and professionalism, both in the academy and first team space, during what has been a very challenging couple of years for everyone involved at the club,” he said.
“We accept and support his decision to explore and pursue new career opportunities and wish him and his family all the very best in their future endeavours.
“Coming out of what has been an extremely tough period for the club, we are now on the cusp of entering a transitional phase.
“Whilst this will come with its own unique challenges, it is something that all Perth Glory supporters should look forward to and feel very optimistic about in the long term.
“The prospect of being able to reinvigorate the brand and strategically invest into the foundations that we have all worked so hard to rebuild this year, will help to propel the club forward and unlock its huge potential both on and off the field.
“Looking forward, the recruitment of a new, well-credentialled head coach is an exciting opportunity and a key component in our steadfast commitment to delivering the success that our members and fans crave and so richly deserve.”
Glory said they will make further coaching announcements in due course, but won’t be issuing any further comment at this time.
