Alen Stajcic Unveils His Vision for the Wanderers: The Next Move is Clear

aleagues.com.au reflects on a season of advancement for the Western Sydney Wanderers under the leadership of Alen Stajcic.

As the full-time whistle blew on Saturday evening, disbelief was etched on the faces of both the Western Sydney Wanderers players and their supporters.

This wasn’t the outcome everyone had anticipated.

After reaching the Isuzu UTE A-League Semi-Final for the first time since their runner-up finish in 2015-16, the Wanderers, amidst their most impressive run in 12 years, fell to rivals Melbourne Victory at CommBank Stadium.

The visible pain and frustration were widespread in the Western Sydney community, yet there remains much to celebrate from the Wanderers’ season.

With Alen Stajcic at the forefront in his inaugural season, the Wanderers appear rejuvenated. Witness the crowd of over 16,000 fans on Saturday night, or the enthusiastic supporters who travelled to matches in Campbelltown and Gosford earlier this season.

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The former CommBank Matildas coach has energised the fan base and the region, especially during a 12-game winning streak that was finally halted over the weekend.

The on-pitch performance during the 2024-25 season spoke volumes. The team netted a league-high 58 goals, driven by an exhilarating attacking trio that includes sought-after star Nicolas Milanovic, Socceroo Brandon Borrello, and Zac Sapsford. Additionally, the rise of the league’s new thrilling centre-back pair, youthful talents Alex Bonetig and Anthony Pantazopoulos, added to the excitement.

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“There’s obviously a lot to anticipate and much to be proud of,” Stajcic remarked after the 2-1 defeat against Victory. “I’m proud of my staff. I believe I have the best staff in the league, and possibly the best I’ve ever had.

“We have an extraordinary football staff and an amazing group of players, from one to 25 – everyone is working diligently for their place. That’s a rarity in the football world.

“They form a cohesive football unit, united and aligned. I couldn’t be prouder of how they’ve handled themselves, whether they’re on the pitch, starting, coming off the bench, or not even in the squad.

“It’s just a fantastic group of individuals. From that perspective, it’s perhaps the saddest part that we can’t all celebrate a true victory together.

“We achieved a lot: the number of goals we scored, our winning streak, rekindling the crowd’s loyalty, re-engaging with our members – all fundamental to building the culture around the club. These are all significant milestones.

“However, in the end, success is defined by winning titles, and that’s the target we must continue to pursue to ensure this serves as a solid foundation for the future, building on that foundation.

“Hopefully, we’ll perform even better when it counts next year.”

Stajcic’s reflections reveal a blend of pride and melancholy, but the future appears promising for the 2014 AFC Champions League victors.

While the talented Milanovic, potentially a Socceroo, is said to be eyeing an overseas move, Stajcic has an exciting young core to work with.

Consider Pantazopoulos, Bonetig, Oscar Priestman, and Aydan Hammond. Not to mention Dylan Scicluna, a former Wolves youth talent who was in excellent form before a serious knee injury ended his breakthrough season. With the addition of the 20-year-old midfielder, the Wanderers look increasingly formidable for the 2025-26 season.

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There are also reports that gifted teen Marcus Younis may return to Wanderland following a successful loan stint with Dutch giants PSV, where he’s been shining for their reserve team.

A lengthy off-season looms for Western Sydney, but the foundational elements are firmly in place.

“I look at the Melbourne Storm in rugby league – they’ve remained at the pinnacle for 20 years with Craig Bellamy,” Stajcic remarked last week. “I observe the Penrith Panthers in rugby league.

“You can’t overlook what Manchester United achieved under Alex Ferguson. I’m not suggesting we’re comparable to them, but these teams established cultures and platforms for sustainable success.

“I believe this club has the potential to realise similar success. We are uniquely positioned to harness our junior academy, fee-free participation for children, a rich reserve of talent in this region, a dedicated fan base, and the appeal to young families in the western suburbs, in addition to the broader migrant community.

“I’ve long maintained that we’re ideally equipped to become the most successful club in the country, and it’s up to us to bring all of this together.”