Dandenong Thunder manager Huss Skenderovic has been appointed as the new Head of Youth Development and Women’s Football at Adelaide United.
The 44-year-old was on holiday in Dubai but reported to Adelaide this week where he will take over the position left vacant by current Newcastle Jets boss Mark Jones.
The Reds NPL side finished ninth from 12 teams in the top flight of South Australian football this term under Jones with Skenderovic set to take over that role.
A former striker with the St Albans Saints, Skenderovic began his ascent into coaching over a decade ago and was an assistant to both Phil Stubbins and Mike Chatzitrifonas at Richmond, helping the Eagles claim the 2010 VPL Premiership before losing the Grand Final to Green Gully.
Subsequent managerial roles with the Western Suburbs and Oakleigh Cannons followed in 2011 and 2012 respectively, before a shock mid-season sacking saw him depart for the United Arab Emirates.
He spent three years in the Persian Gulf where he occupied the role of technical director at UAE Pro League club Ajman, while also working as an assistant coach to Brazilian legend Zico at Indian Super League club FC Goa, alongside good friend and current Green Gully manager Arthur Papas.
He returned to Melbourne in 2015 and was announced as the Dandenong Thunder manager in October of last year as the club prepared for life in the second tier of Victorian football.
Despite leading the NPL2 East competition ladder for the majority of the season, a late season slump in form saw the Thunder miss out on automatic promotion to rivals Kingston City.
A 4-1 defeat at the hands of the North Geelong Warriors saw their promotion hopes ended with Skenderovic’s overall record at the club seeing him guide the 2012 VPL Champions to 22 wins, two draws and five defeats in his 29 league games in charge of the club.
The move makes him the third Victorian-based coach in recent months to take up a role with an A-League club after former Moreland Zebras manager and Melbourne City assistant coach Ivan Jolic became part of Paul Okon’s backroom staff at the Central Coast Mariners, while ex-Ballarat Red Devils boss James Robinson was appointed Brisbane Roar youth coach last month.
Skenderovic was approached for the vacant position by former St Albans Saints teammate Ante Kovacevic who last season succeeded Michael Petrillo as the Reds general manager of football.
The move leaves Dandenong Thunder in search of a new manager with assistant Aaron Symons also confirming his departure from the club in order to take up a coaching role in the United States.