Thursday 6 August: Canberra United has today announced the reappointment of Antoni Jagarinec as Head Coach of the Ninja A-League Women side.
The current Ninja A-League Coach Of The Year, Jagarinec will continue at the helm of Canberra United for a further two seasons under new owners Australian Sports Group (ASG), building on two seasons as Head Coach and a long-standing association with the Club.
After taking on the Head Coach role ahead of the 2024/25 season, Jagarinec has helped build Canberra United into a competitive force in the Ninja A-League Women. He earned multiple Coach of the Month honours before being named the 2025/26 Coach of the Year, after guiding Canberra United to third place last season, and two consecutive Finals Series.
Commenting on the appointment, Theo Fotopoulos, Australian Sports Group CEO, said: “Antoni has earned this opportunity through the work he has done with Canberra United over a number of years, and particularly through the results and progress he has delivered as Head Coach over the past two seasons.”
“He understands this Club, this playing group and the Canberra football community, and importantly, he shares our ambition for where Canberra United can go next. His commitment to developing players, building a strong team culture and creating an environment for sustained success aligns closely with the football program we want to build.”
“As new owners, we have been clear that we want to build on the strong foundations that already exist at Canberra United while investing in the people and pathways that can take the Club forward. Antoni’s two year appointment gives us important continuity, but also an opportunity to raise our expectations and continue building a program capable of competing consistently at the top of the Ninja A-League.”
Antoni Jagarinec, Canberra United Head Coach, added: “I’m incredibly grateful to Theo, Morris and the new ownership group for the trust they’ve shown in me and for the opportunity to continue leading Canberra United into this next chapter. There is a real sense of excitement around the Club and I’m looking forward to building on the foundations we’ve established over the past two seasons.”
“Our immediate priority is getting the football program ready for the new season – building the squad, bringing the right people into the environment and making sure we are prepared to hit the ground running. We want to create a team that our players, members and the Canberra community can be proud of.”
“Our ambitions are high. We want to be competing at the top end of the Ninja A-League and challenging for silverware. We know the work that will take, but with the support of the new ownership group, there is a genuine opportunity to keep building this program and take Canberra United forward.”
Jagarinec will continue preparations for the 2026/27 season, with an immediate focus on building the playing squad and football program under the Club’s new ownership.
The appointment is one of the first major football decisions under Canberra United’s new ownership, following the Australian Professional Leagues’ announcement in July that Australian Sports Group had acquired the club.
Jagarinec will lead Canberra United into the 2026/27 Ninja A-League Women season, with further announcements regarding the club’s playing squad and football program to be made in the coming weeks.
The Ninja A-League Women 2026/27 season will kick off on Saturday 17 October, 2026, with the full season fixtures to be released in the coming weeks.
