Image: Mark Avellino
The Preston Lions have acted swiftly in replacing outgoing manager Zeljko Popovic by naming former Hume City boss Lou Acevski as his successor.
The 39-year-old returns to BT Connor Reserve having enjoyed three separate playing stints at the Lions, with the last of those coming in 2008 during the club’s penultimate season in the VPL before relegation.
Acevski replaces Popovic who had been charge of the club since 2015, having managed to steer the club away from a struggling State League One outfit to title contenders the following campaign.
The 2007 VPL Champions were tipped to be one of the clubs chasing promotion from the third tier this term but have begun the season poorly and are winless from their three opening matches.
A 4-2 opening round defeat away to rivals Geelong was followed by a 2-2 draw at home to Banyule City before losing 1-0 to Keilor Park on Sunday afternoon.
Club president Zac Gruevski took to social media to thank Popovic for his services over the course of the last two years while expressing his admiration for the Serbian-coach born.
“The club would like to sincerely thank Zeljko for the attitude, professional and work ethic he has shown and we wish him every success in the future,” Gruevski said.
Acevski returns to the managerial hotseat after parting ways with Hume City last July following four successful years at ABD Stadium, with the highlight of his stint in Broadmeadows being the club’s run to the FFA Cup semi-finals in 2015 in addition to their FFA Cup qualification in 2016.
A goalkeeper during his playing times, Acevski began his career in the mid-1990s with the St Albans Saints before spending three seasons at Preston in the latter end of the decade.
64 NSL appearances between the sticks for the Melbourne Knights, Northern Spirit and Adelaide City followed for Acevski prior to his return to VPL football in 2005 with Heidelberg United.
A grand finalist with the Bergers that year, he moved back to Preston in 2007 but missed out on the club’s 2007 championship success, having accepted a professional European contract with Czech side Banik Most – making a total of 7 appearances in the Czech top flight.
A return to Melbourne saw the vastly experienced shot-stopper spend one more season at his beloved Preston as well as briefly joining the Melbourne Victory as an injury replacement.
Acevski spent his final three seasons of senior football at Hume City under former Preston coach Goran Lozanovski and ex-Heidelberg teammate Andrew Vlahos before taking over the coaching reins in 2012.
His first game in charge of Preston in 2017 could not be any bigger with the Lions facing fierce rivals the North Sunshine Eagles in Round 5 action of the FFA Cup. The fixture takes place at the neutral venue of George Andrews Reserve this evening.