Dario Vidošić appointed as new coach of Brighton in WSL.
After winning an A-League Women premiership in his first full season as coach of Melbourne City, Dario Vidošić has been tapped as the new boss of WSL side Brighton.
Another Australian is headed for the WSL, with Dario Vidošić set to depart Melbourne City to take up the head coaching role at Brighton and Hove on a three-year contract, as first reported by the BBC.
Vidošić led City to a breakthrough ALW premiership in his first full season as head coach, stealing the plate away from three-time defending premiers Sydney FC on a dramatic final day of the season. The Sky Blues would extract some level of vengeance in the grand final but in finishing top of the table, the 37-year-old ensured that his side secured a place in the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League.
First stepping into the role as an interim after his father, Rado, was shifted across to lead City’s men a week into the 2022-23 season, Vidošić accumulated a record of 23 wins, nine draws, and 11 defeats across his 43 games leading City’s women.
He becomes the second coach to move from the club to the ranks of the WSL, with Joe Montemurro previously moving to Arsenal in 2017 and commencing a European career that has since seen him take charge of Juventus and, his current role, French powers Lyon.
“It’s a bittersweet moment for me to embark on this exciting new challenge after the incredible two seasons I’ve shared with this team,” said Vidošić. “Winning the Premiers’ Plate this season and qualifying for the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League is something I will never forget.
“I leave behind a really special group of players and staff that I’m confident will continue to achieve great things.”
Unapologetic and unwavering in his commitment to playing a ball-dominant brand of football - and not shy in his belief that no side in the A-League Women played like his - Vidošić oversaw a group that handily the league in possession on its way to silverware this season, as well as expected goals and expected assists.
Across the campaign, however, this steadfastness in approach was tempered with the honing of his ability to tailor his approach for a young squad - maintaining an underlying philosophy while adjusting how this was communicated and implemented to get the best out of the group.
His success in 2023-24 came despite losing arguably the league’s best player Holly McNamara to a midseason ACL injury, as well as the transfer of Matildas utility Kaitlyn Torpey to the San Diego Wave and starting goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx to Bay FC in February – both for record-breaking outgoing transfer fees. Julia Grosso, Emina Ekić, and Daniela Galic – the latter earning a Young Player of the Year award last season and believed to be bound for continental Europe – have also departed the club for overseas opportunities since season’s end.
In the work for a number of weeks, Vidošić’s arrival becomes the latest signal of intent from the Seagulls ahead of the 2024-25 WSL season, coming days after the announcement that England forward Fran Kirby was signing with the club upon the expiry of her contract at Chelsea — arguably the biggest signing in the club’s history.
Japanese forward Kiko Seike is also set to join from Japanese champions Uwara Reds, while Dutch defenders Marisa Olislagers and Marit Auée have signed on free transfers from FC Twente. One-time Matilda Charlize Rule is also on the books, the 21-year-old making nine appearances, with three starts, in her first year in England.
Finishing ninth in 2023-24, the Seagulls sacked head coach Melissa Phillips in February, with Mikey Harris steering the side as an interim boss for the remainder of the campaign. The club has invested heavily in its women’s side in recent years, opening an elite facility for its women’s side, adjacent to the one for its Premier League team, in 2021.