Arthur Papas arrives with broad local and international experience as he takes up the head-coaching reins at Green Gully Soccer Club for 2016.
Papas will lead the Cavaliers through the club’s National Premier League and FFA Cup campaigns.
The 35-year-old has previously been assistant coach of the Australian national under-17 side, and with A-league club Newcastle Jets he was head coach of the youth league team and assistant coach of the firsts.
Papas has also led the Indian under-23 national side and Indian Football League Club Pailan Arrows.
Most recently, he guided the Oakleigh Cannons to a quarter-final finish in the 2015 FFA Cup.
Green Gully secretary Raymond Mamo said the club was excited to have someone with Papas’s experience on board.
“Arthur is pretty decorated with the coaching experience he’s had over the years. That’s obviously a big part of the board deciding to employ him,” Mamo said.
“Over the past few years, we’ve had a number of coaches. We’re looking for stability and, hopefully, Arthur can bring that to the club.”
After a horror start to its 2015 NPL campaign – the Cavaliers won just four of their first 16 matches – Green Gully was able to turn the corner late in the season.
The club climbed from 11th to seventh on the ladder, thanks in part to some key signings. Evan Christodoulou, Liam Boland and Simon Tolli joined the Cavaliers during the transfer window, helping them win seven of their past 11 games.
Mamo says the trio will return to the club next season.
Green Gully has also confirmed the appointment of former senior player Andy Vargas as coach of the under-13s and under-20s. Vargas was a three-time national underage representative, two- time state representative, and played in four winning grand final teams with the Gully. He was also a part of the Cavaliers’ 2013 Dockerty Cup championship.
“We’ve always tried to get ex-senior players involved at the club in junior levels,” Mamo said. “I think that’s really important, that senior players can give something back like that to clubs.
“Andy obviously has been there and done that. It’s very important to have good-quality players who have been through the system and have an ample amount of experience that our kids will be able to learn from.”
