Manly United Appoints Vladimir Knezevic as New Men’s First Grade Head Coach
Manly United Football Club have announced the appointment of Vladimir (Vlado) Knezevic as the new Men’s First Grade Head Coach ahead of the 2026 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season.
With more than a decade of coaching experience across all levels of football, including a spell with Football Club Rad in Serbia’s top-tier SuperLiga, Vlado brings a wealth of international expertise and a proven ability to develop talent. Throughout his career, he has coached more than 40 players who have gone on to play professionally across Europe.
Vlado holds both a UEFA A Licence (Senior) and a UEFA Elite Youth A Licence — the highest youth coaching qualification in world football. He is also a qualified fitness coach, combining technical expertise with a strong understanding of player development and high-performance preparation.
Since relocating to Australia in 2023 with his young family and settling on the Northern Beaches, Vlado has become a respected figure within the local football community, including time coaching in Manly United’s youth system. His professionalism, passion, and player-first approach have impressed all at the club, making him an exciting appointment to lead Manly United’s senior men’s program into a new chapter.
Knezevic will be joined by Assistant Coach Daniel Petkovski, a former A-League and NPL NSW Men’s player who brings extensive experience and leadership to the role. Petkovski’s playing career included time with Sydney FC, APIA Leichhardt, and a successful period at Rockdale Ilinden, where he was part of the club’s 2020 Premiership-winning squad. More recently, Petkovski was involved with Hills United FC and currently serves as the Head of Football at St Luke’s Grammar School, as well as a Manly United youth coach.
Manly United Technical Director Jason Bennett said the appointment of Vlado and Dan have further strengthened the club’s senior coaching structure.
“I have worked with Vlado for the past three years and his experience working with players in our development phase has been invaluable. He brings a wealth of knowledge and professionalism to our coaching staff.
“Dan is an outstanding addition to our First Grade program. He understands what it takes to perform consistently at NPL level and has a genuine passion for developing players within a professional and positive environment.”
Preparations for the new season are already underway, with pre-season training set to commence in the coming weeks.
