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Amini and Rigby confirmed as Glory captains for 2022/23 Season
Perth Glory is delighted to confirm that Mustafa Amini and Natasha Rigby will captain the club's respective ISUZU UTE A-League Men's and Liberty A-League Women's teams in the 2022/23 Season.
Experienced defender Rigby has led the side for the last three years, while Socceroos midfielder Amini will don the armband for the first time having signed for Glory during the off-season.
The latter is honoured to have been handed the role and is relishing the prospect of leading what is a new-look squad into the 2022/23 campaign which gets underway with a trip to Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday.
"I'm very happy and excited about being named captain of Perth Glory," he said.
"It's an exciting year with plenty of hard work ahead of us and this is a challenge not only for me, but the whole football club as we look to bring the good days back to Glory.
"It's a rebuilding phase, we know that, but we aren't shying away from the challenges ahead and although it's going to be tough, we will fight and give our all, that's for sure.
"I believe that our players and staff have what it takes to be competitive this season."
Men's Head Coach Ruben Zadkovich has no doubt that Amini will prove to be an effective leader for the group, ably assisted by Mark Beevers whom he confirmed has been appointed vice-captain.
"Musti is a unique personality and someone I've admired for a long time," he said.
"His infectious personality and strong mentality enable him to lead naturally and easily on the pitch.
"He has a deeply-embedded ruthless mindset to winning, but carries himself with a happy-go-lucky spirit off the pitch which makes him a real favourite among players and staff and with the Members and fans.
"He has all the attributes to grow into an extremely inspiring leader.
"Having Mark beside him as vice-captain, someone who skippered a number of his previous clubs, will help Musti grow into the role and I have no doubt that they will help develop a positive atmosphere and winning mentality within the group.
"Those two may have the titles to their names, but we’ve built a squad of men, with other leaders there alongside them to share the weight of this rebuild."
Like Amini, Rigby is thrilled to be skippering a squad she believes has the potential to enjoy a highly-successful ALW campaign.
"It's such an honour to captain this team and I'm so excited to lead our incredible squad for another season," she said.
"I am grateful to [Head Coach] Alex [Epakis] and the club for this opportunity and I have full faith that with the squad we have, we can compete with the best this season.
"We are looking forward to building on the collective spirit that we fostered last season as well as welcoming all our new players with open arms and hearts."
Epakis, meanwhile, was unstinting in his praise of his side's captain.
"Tash is a standout person and the best leader I have had the opportunity to work with," he said.
"More broadly, I believe we have a strong leadership group and this is led by Tash who plays a pivotal role in shaping it.
"She has a fantastic character which is underpinned by the perfect mix of humility and competitiveness.
"Tash embraces and actions our team identity and has an unwavering desire to serve her teammates through thick and thin.
"I am grateful to have her close by and deeply value her as a player and person.
"She is certainly focused and driven on having another standout year and guiding the team throughout the course of the season."
Glory's opening ALW fixture is an away clash with Canberra United on Saturday 19 November.
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Stynes and Timmins have contracts terminated by mutual consent
Perth Glory can confirm the departure of two members of its ISUZU UTE A-League squad.
Daniel Stynes has had his contract terminated by mutual consent to enable the attacking midfielder to explore another opportunity elsewhere.
Central midfielder Callum Timmins has also had his contract terminated by mutual consent.
23-year-old Stynes returned for a second spell at Glory in 2020 and over the course of the following two seasons, took his A-League appearances tally for the club to 36.
"We would like to thank Daniel for his service to the club," said Glory Head of Recruitment Andy Keogh.
"It was a difficult decision to part ways, but we feel that the club is going in a different direction with a different kind of player.
"Daniel has been an absolute credit to himself and the club since he walked in the door and we wish him all the very best for the future."
Like Stynes, 22-year-old Timmins began a second stint with Glory in 2020 and departs having played a total of 44 A-League games in purple.
"Unfortunately for the club, we have mutually terminated Callum’s deal," said Keogh.
"We offered him a new, two-year extension which was rejected a couple of weeks ago and Callum made his desire to move on clear after that.
"We wanted to keep him, but also did not want a disgruntled, unhappy player at the club.
"This is the business that we’re in today and which we will remain in until a domestic transfer system is put in place.
"We would like to thank Callum for his contribution and wish him the best of luck."
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Perth Glory is delighted to confirm that defender Jacob Young has signed a one-year scholarship contract with the club.
The 22-year-old joined Glory on a short-term deal midway through last season and made two appearances off the bench against Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 9 and Western United in Round 24.
Since the conclusion of the ISUZU UTE A-League season, the former Sunderland and Hoffenheim II youth player has been a regular starter for the PGFC Academy First Team in the NPL WA.
The opportunity to continue to emulate his father Stuart, who made 22 appearances for Glory between 2005 and 2007, is one which Young is determined to seize with both hands.
"I’m happy to have signed an extension for the coming season," he said.
"To be able to represent my home city and follow in my dad’s footsteps is something I have been looking forward to since being back in Australia.
"I’ve had a small taste of A-League football and now earning minutes and playing as many games as possible are my individual goals for the season.
"After a hectic last season, it will be good to have some normality back and to play in front of the home crowd.
"I’ve had a brief conversation with [Head Coach] Ruben [Zadkovich] and I know his ambitions for myself and the team are high.
"He’s a winner and will instil a winning mentality within the group."
Zadkovich, meanwhile, was quick to praise both the centre-back’s ability and mentality.
"Jacob is a very talented young defender whom I believe has a huge amount of unfulfilled potential," he said.
"Top attitude. Top professional. Top person.
"He has really knuckled down and focused on getting his body right and this year’s pre-season will give him the chance to continue his growth and really excel at the next level."
Glory Head of Recruitment, Andy Keogh, is similarly excited by Young’s potential.
"It’s fantastic to be able to add Jacob to our squad this season,” he said.
"He has had it tough the last few years, but even in the most uncomfortable circumstances, remained infectiously positive among his team mates.
"We’re really looking forward to a settled season for Jacob and seeing how he develops in this great club."
Young played his early football with Cockburn City before joining Sunderland in 2016 where he featured regularly for the club’s Under-18 and Under-23 sides.
A move to Germany followed three years later for the rangy, left-footed centre-back who joined highly-regarded outfit, Hoffenheim II.
After returning to Australia, he was signed by Glory in February of this year and in addition to his two A-League appearances for the club, has now also featured in 11 NPL WA games.
Further signing announcements will be made shortly.
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Perth Glory is delighted to confirm that exciting young attacking midfielder Keegan Jelacic has signed a two-year contract with the club.
The 19-year-old, who has been capped by New Zealand at Under-17 level, was promoted from the Brisbane Roar NPL Academy side into the club’s ISUZU UTE A-League squad during the 2020/21 season and duly made his senior debut in a 5-2 win over Melbourne Victory.
This year, he has been a standout performer for Olympic FC in the NPL Queensland, scoring a remarkable nine goals in ten appearances.
Jelacic, who played much of his youth football with another leading Queensland club, Lions FC, is thrilled to have been handed a second opportunity to showcase his undoubted talents at A-League level.
"I’m excited to sign my first pro contract," he said, "and honoured that Perth Glory have given me this opportunity.
"I’d love to play as much football as possible next season and contribute to the team as much as I can.
"I can’t wait to get started!"
Olympic FC Head Coach Ben Cahn, meanwhile, is confident that the teenager has what it takes to make a major contribution for Glory over the next two seasons.
"I’m delighted for Keegan," he said.
"He’s worked exceptionally hard over the last six months to take his game to another level.
"He’s got everything needed to succeed in the A-League, he’s got a great family behind him and I’m confident he’ll have a great impact at Perth Glory.
"Keegan will certainly be missed at Olympic, but we’re very proud of the part we’ve played in his recent growth and we’re all excited to see him go on and achieve great things."
Those sentiments were echoed by Glory’s Head of Recruitment, Andy Keogh.
"Keegan is another young player with bags of potential and we are delighted to welcome him to our great club," he said.
"His ability to go either way and glide past players is a fantastic attribute to possess and we know there is a lot of improvement still in him.
"With the right plan and development programme in place, he will become a valuable asset to PGFC going forward.
"Olympic FC must be given a lot of credit for getting him ready to make the step up into a professional environment again under the guidance of Ben Cahn."
Further squad announcements will be made shortly.
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Glory swoop for exciting young forward
Perth Glory is delighted to confirm that exciting young forward Stefan Colakovski has signed a two-year deal with the club.
The 22-year-old has spent his entire senior career to date at Melbourne City, where he was part of the squad which claimed two Premierships and one Championship.
In addition to making 46 ISUZU UTE A-League appearances for City, Colakovski also featured and scored for the club in the AFC Champions League and has been capped by North Macedonia at Under-21 level.
Glory’s new recruit is excited at the prospect of opening a new chapter in his football career here in the West.
"I’m delighted to sign for Perth Glory," he said.
"The moment I knew there was interest, I knew it was the right move for me.
"Glory have a rich history and are one of the most well-respected clubs in Australia.
"I can’t wait to put on the purple kit on and play in front of all the Members and fans."
Glory Head of Recruitment, Andy Keogh, is confident that Colakovski will make a major contribution over the next two seasons.
"We welcome Stefan to what is the start of a rebuild here at PGFC," he said.
"He’s a fantastic young talent who fits a key strategy of the club in developing young Australian players for the future.
"Stefan will bring a winning mentality to our club having previously been part of a fantastic club in Melbourne City."
Born in Melbourne, Colakovski played his junior football with NPL Victoria outfit Pascoe Vale before joining City’s youth ranks and featuring regularly for their NPL side.
He duly made his A-League debut against Wellington Phoenix in November 2019, signed his first senior deal three months later and claimed his maiden A-League goal during a memorable 6-0 derby win over Melbourne Victory in March 2021.
2021 also saw Glory’s new recruit make his debut for North Macedonia Under-21s.
Further squad announcements will be made shortly.
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