Perth Glory are on the hunt for a new head coach after two rounds of the Isuzu UTE A-League season following David Zdrilic’s departure. aleagues.com.au looks at some possible options for the 2019 Premiers.

Who next for Perth Glory? That is the question after parting ways with head coach David Zdrilic ahead of Friday night’s Round 3 showdown against Melbourne Victory.

Zdrilic departs the Glory two games into the second season of a three-year contract as Glory head coach, following a 4-0 loss to reigning Isuzu UTE A-League Champions Melbourne City in Round 2 that left the two-time runners-up bottom of the standings with one point.

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Under the guidance of former RB Leipzig youth coach Zdrilic, Perth finished bottom of the table in 2024-25, having collected just 17 points from 26 games (four wins, five draws, 17 losses) and conceding a league-high 56 goals.

While members of the existing support staff will take charge against Victory on Friday, Perth are busy trying to replace Zdrilic.

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Here are some potential candidates who could be in the frame to take over at HBF Park.

*Note: John Aloisi is contracted to Western United after they were placed into conditional hibernation for season 2025-26.

John Anastasiadis (Heidelberg United)

The talk of Australia, Anastasiadis’ stocks could not be higher after orchestrating a fairytale run in the Australia Cup.

Anastasiadis guided NPL giants Heidelberg United to the 2025 Australia Cup final, having upstaged Isuzu UTE A-League trio Western Sydney Wanderers, Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC.

The 57-year-old head coach also oversaw Heidelberg’s Grand Final triumph in NPLM VIC, having narrowly missed out on a treble via the Dockerty Cup.

Anastasiadis is also no stranger to the Isuzu UTE A-League, having worked as an assistant at Western United, where he spent four years part of the club’s coaching staff.

Nick Montgomery (Unattached)

Could Perth try to lure Montgomery back to the Isuzu UTE A-League?

The A-Leagues great is a free agent after leaving Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest alongside trailblazer Ange Postecoglou, Mile Jedinak and Sergio Raimundo.

He teamed up with Postecoglou last season as Tottenham claimed a drought-ending UEFA Europa League triumph at the expense of Manchester United – ending a 41-year wait.

The former Hibernian boss has been an assistant in his past two roles in the Premier League, having enjoyed great success as a head coach in the Isuzu UTE A-League, transforming Central Coast Mariners into champions in 2022-23.

John Hutchinson (Unattached)

Hutchinson is a free agent after leaving J2 League outfit Jubilo Iwata in Japan’s second tier.

Jubilo parted with the Mariners and A-Leagues legend last month as the team sat eighth in J2 – 10 points off the pace and two points outside of the top six following their relegation.

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Hutchinson was appointed following his interim stint in charge of Japanese side Yokohama F.Marinos, where he oversaw a ninth-placed finish after stepping up to replace Socceroos great Harry Kewell.

The 45-year-old has previously been an assistant at Central Coast Mariners in 2015-16 after making 228 Isuzu UTE A-League appearances and winning the 2013 Championship as captain for the Gosford club.

Patrick Kisnorbo (Unattached)

Could we see Kisnorbo back in the Isuzu UTE A-League?

Kisnorbo’s decision to leave Melbourne Victory for the assistant role at Yokohama F.Marinos sent shockwaves through the Isuzu UTE A-League last season.

Only six months into his tenure having replaced Tony Popovic and after just seven A-Leagues matches in charge of the four-time champions, the former Melbourne City and Troyes boss left Victory searching for a new boss over the busy Christmas period.

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The former Australia international, who led City to the 2021 Championship and a pair of Premierships, is a free agent again after departing Marinos in June.

Jon Brady

A less likely option could be Brady, who has earned quite the reputation in the UK.

Brady has called the UK home for 33 years, during that time the Newcastle-born Aussie has almost experienced it all, including a sensational promotion to League One with Northampton Town in 2022-23.

The 50-year-old, who previously trialled as a player in the Isuzu UTE A-League, resigned as Northampton head coach in December last year with the club in the third tier of English football.

Other possible candidates:

Vincenzo Ierardo – Current assistant coach at Kevin Muscat’s Shanghai Port in the Chinese Super League after being lured from the Isuzu UTE A-League at the start of 2024.

Ross Aloisi – Current assistant coach at Kevin Muscat’s Shanghai Port in the Chinese Super League, having previously led Brisbane Roar in the Isuzu UTE A-League.

Carl Veart – Current CommBank Joeys head coach after leaving Adelaide United at the end of 2024-25.

Huss Skenredovic – Currently serving as one of Arthur Papas’ assistant coaches at J1 League club Cerezo Osaka.

Tony Vidmar – The former Australia international and Central Coast defender is head coach of the CommBank Olyroos.