The Melbourne Knights have confirmed former Port Melbourne manager Eric Vassiliadis as their new head coach following the departure of Andrew Marth earlier this week.
The 42-year-old was previously in charge of Port Melbourne, having been appointed as player-manager of the club in 2010 when the Sharks were languishing in State League 2.
He immediately helped the club gain promotion to the second tier and, in 2012, his first year post-playing retirement, steered the club back into the top-flight after a 10-year absence.
Vassiliadis also took the two-time VPL Premiers to the Dockerty Cup final in 2012, losing the match on penalties to the all-conquering Dandenong Thunder – who won a treble that year.
The Sharks first year in the top flight ended with a modest sixth place finish, narrowly missing out on a finals berth, with a late season loss at home to South Melbourne proving costly.
The club then made a shaky transition into the NPL having escaped relegation in the final seconds of the 2014 season following an injury time equaliser against Werribee City.
Modest but unspectacular eighth and tenth placed finishes followed, with Port being knocked out of the FFA Cup last year by the Knights in the final eight of the state competition.
During his playing days, the central midfielder made his senior debut with Northcote City as a teenager in 1994 before joining Heidelberg United in their final NSL season of 1994/95.
He made his national league debut for the Bergers in a 4-1 defeat to rivals South Melbourne in the opening round of the campaign in what was the last ever game at the old Middle Park.
Vassiliadis spent the rest of his playing career in the VPL, spending five years at the Fawkner Blues and a further six back at Heidelberg United, which included Championship success in 2001.
A season at the Moreland Zebras (then Whittlesea Zebras) in 2007 followed, with the veteran a major force in midfield as Peter Ollerton’s men surprised many by reaching the Grand Final.
He ended his top-flight career back at Olympic Village, spending a further two years playing for Heidelberg under George Katsakis before arriving at JL Murphy Reserve in 2010.
One of the most credentialed young coaches in the state, he will be hoping to steer the Knights out of a relegation dogfight which was made easier following the side’s 1-0 win over Hume on Friday night. Veteran English defender Ben Surey was caretaker coach on the evening.
Vassiliadis is expected to be on the touchline as the 10th place Knights take on 8th placed Pascoe Vale next Friday night, with the new man in charge spotted at Elcho Park yesterday assessing Vitale Ferrante’s men.