Canberra United head coach Antoni Jagarinec said his team are “very confident” they will climb the Ninja A-League standings “very quickly” in 2024-25.
It is a new era in Canberra, where Jagarinec steps up from his role as assistant to his first head coaching position in the A-Leagues following the departure of Njegosh Popovich.
The capital club have gone three Ninja A-League campaigns without a Finals appearance, having finished second from bottom in 2023-24.
Jagarinec will be tasked with overseeing a period of transition at Canberra, who have already lost three star players in Vesna Milivojevic, Chloe Lincoln and Sasha Grove, but have retained legendary striker Michelle Heyman.
Canberra are set to kick off their campaign against Brisbane Roar at McKellar Park on November 2 and when asked what his hopes are for season 2024-25, Jagarinec told reporters: “Be competitive and more.
“We’re itching to go and show what it’s all been about, and all the hard work and see what we can do from there.”
Sally James, Elizabeth Anton, Aideen Keane, Jynaya Dos Santos, Darcey Malone, Bethany Gordon, Maja Markovski, Emma Robers and Jaya Bowman are the new faces at Canberra.
While Canberra have re-signed Ruby Nathan, Hayley Taylor-Young, Sofia Christopherson, Michelle Heyman, Holly Murray, Mary Stanic-Floody, Tegan Bertolissio, Lillian Skelly.
“Extremely hard but we’re very happy with what we’ve done,” said Jagarinec after being asked about the difficulties around building his squad.
