After taking a major step forward in season one under Alen Stajcic, the Western Sydney Wanderers have retooled as they eye a title charge in 2025-26.
In season one, Alen Stajcic brought the atmosphere back to Wanderland.
In season two, he’s eyeing a trophy.
“We know we accomplished a lot, but the ultimate achievements were still missing and we must now work even harder to continue to grow the team and the fanbase to attain the results we all desire,” the Western Sydney Wanderers boss said as he signed on for another two years in charge of the red and black.
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Since finishing fourth – bringing finals football back to the club – and falling short in the Elimination Final, the Wanderers have seen some big changes to their playing squad.
Top scorers in the Isuzu UTE A-League this term, they’ve lost 46% of their league-leading 59 goals after the departures of Johnny Warren Medallist Nicolas Milanovic (Aberdeen), Zac Sapsford (Dundee United) and Marcus Antonsson (IFK Varnamo).
Add in Dean Pelekanos (Sabah FC), Alex Badolato (Newcastle Jets) Jeong Tae-wook (end of loan), Jack Clisby and Taiga Harper and it’s a new look squad coming back in 2025-26.
Already, Stajcic has begun to fill in the gaps, bringing significant Isuzu UTE A-League experience into the squad.
Between them, Kosta Barbarouses (350 matches), Steven Ugarkovic (245 matches), Phillip Cancar (55 matches) and Alou Kuol (83 matches) bring an additional 733 matches of experience to the club – crucial if you’re chasing a title.
According to Transfermarkt, only Perth Glory (80.37) boast more average appearances per player across their 2025-26 squad to date than the Wanderers (75.11).
As noted by the likes of Adelaide United and Melbourne City this season, a balance between youth and experience is key in order to compete for honours in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
The Wanderers now have seasoned campaigners in Barbarouses (35), Lawrence Thomas (33), Josh Brillante (32), Ugarkovic (30), Brandon Borrello (29), Alex Gersbach (28), Bozhidar Kraev (28) and Juan Mata, if the World Cup winner is retained for another year.
While there is youthful exuberance and possible transfer value in up and comers like Marcus Younis (20), back from loan at PSV Eindhoven), Dylan Scicluna (21), Aydan Hammond (21), Oscar Priestman (22), Anthony Pantazopoulos (22) and Alex Bonetig (22).
Borrello and Gabriel Cleur shouldered the bulk of the creative output last term, alongside Milanovic, with a combined 17 assists, but the question is who will put the ball in the net.
Stajcic will be hoping a large part of the answer has already arrived.
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Kuol was a treble winner with the Mariners, but he’s never really recaptured the scoring form that earned him a move to Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart, before returning to the Coast.
At 23, his best season in front of goal in the Isuzu UTE A-League remains his breakout 2020-21 campaign, where he netted seven times and provided two assists… under Stajcic.
“Alou’s a great fit for what we’re building here,” said Stajcic after Kuol’s arrival.
“He’s hardworking, eager to improve, and adds genuine quality in the final third. We believe this is the ideal environment for him to realise his full potential.”
Suddenly, the Wanderers possess serious depth.
The arrival of Isuzu UTE A-League champion Ugarkovic adds steel to the engine room; Cancar should help to shore up a defence who conceded the third most goals last term; the return of Marcus Younis is, in some ways, a like-for-like replacement for Milanovic, provided he can find his feet in senior football quickly.
There is still plenty of time remaining in the transfer window, but the Wanderers are already making moves that suggest they could be a force to be reckoned with again this season.
