Zwaanswijk appointed Manly United Head Coach for 2023 season

NPL NSW Men’s Grand Finalists Manly United have announced that Patrick Zwaanswijk has been appointed Head Coach of the men’s first grade side for the 2023 season.

Zwaanswijk has previously coached at the Central Coast Mariners (youth team) and Hills United in the League One Men’s competition before a stint with the Western Sydney Wanderers (NPL and A-League).

The 47-year-old joins Manly United after current Coach Adam Griffiths earlier this season signaled he would be leaving the club to work with Mark Rudan with the Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League.

As a player he enjoyed a decorated career that saw him play 407 games in the Dutch Eredivisie for FC Utrecht and NAC Breda and two seasons in the J-League before he moved to Australia and played 99 games for the Mariners, scoring a goal in the Club’s 2013 A-League Grand Final win.

He was also named in the PFA A-League Team of the Century (2005-2015) alongside the likes of Archie Thompson, Besart Berisha, Kevin Muscat, Thomas Brioch and Alessandro De Piero.

‘We are thrilled to have Patrick join Manly United for the 2023 season as Head Coach,” said Manly United CEO David Mason.

“He comes to Cromer Park with good coaching pedigree and enormous respect within the game.

“The Board was looking for a replacement for Adam Griffiths who had similar coaching principles and character and we are thrilled Patrick will be steering the ship in 2023.

“His coaching philosophies match well with Manly United and what he has achieved as a player will resonate well with our first grade squad who appreciated the knowledge former coach Adam Griffiths could impart on the team from his playing days at a high level.

“Alongside the new Technical Director Ian Crook, Patrick’s arrival shows Manly United’s intentions to continue as one of the leading clubs in NSW, giving players on the Northern Beaches a strong club where they can be the best players and people they can be.”

Zwaansjiik will take control of the Men’s first grade side from the start of pre season for the 2023 season but before hitting the training pitch is playing an active role in assembling the squad for next year.

“While Patrick does not officially start for a short period, he has already been working with the Manly United football committee, current Technical Director Sam Gallagher and incoming Technical Director Ian Crook to shape the squad and pre season.”