Kyrgios commits to Alamein through 2028
Alamein FC has confirmed Senior Head Coach John Kyrgios will remain at the club through 2028, with the AFC A Licence coach signing a new two-year agreement to lead the NPLW program across the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
The extension will take Kyrgios into a fourth season at Alamein and provides continuity at the top of the club's football pathway as Alamein looks to build on the progress of the past two years.
Kyrgios joined Alamein ahead of the 2025 season, bringing more than three decades of coaching experience and an extensive record in Victorian women's football, with a challenge to build a Senior team capable of competing consistently against the strongest clubs in NPLW Victoria.
“For me, it was imperative that we brought in capable footballers who could step up to NPLW level, but equally important that we brought in people with the right character,” he says.
“That helped us create a friendly environment and, over time, a really strong culture. We now have a strong foundation, great camaraderie within the team and much more synergy across the club.”
Kyrgios’ first season at Dorothy Laver saw Alamein emerge as a genuine contender in the NPLW competition, sitting second midway through the campaign after an eighth-place finish the previous year. Football Victoria described the side at the time as "reinvigorated" under Kyrgios.
Now, with a further two seasons secured, the focus turns to what Alamein can build next.
A proven record in Victorian women's football
Photography credit: Centre Circle Photography
Kyrgios holds an AFC A Licence and has coached across Victorian football since the early 1990s, with senior women's appointments including Heidelberg United, Box Hill United and Boroondara Eagles before arriving at Alamein. His broader experience also includes Technical Director roles and coaching within men's and boys' NPL programs.
In 2014, Kyrgios was named Football Victoria's WPL Coach of the Year while Head Coach of Heidelberg United, an award voted by his fellow WPL coaches.
He later took charge of Boroondara Eagles during a significant rebuild of its women's program, leading the club to the State League 1 South-East title in 2016. Kyrgios returned to Boroondara as Senior Women's Head Coach for the club's return to NPLW in 2023. In their first season following promotion, the Eagles finished second on the NPLW ladder and reached the semi-finals, where they were eliminated by eventual champions South Melbourne. Boroondara subsequently recorded the result as the highest finish by a newly promoted team.
That season also saw Kyrgios selected as Head Coach of the Victorian Women's Representative Team for the Battle of the States. Featuring players selected from across the NPLW competition, Victoria defeated Queensland 2-1 at the Home of the Matildas.
Building at Alamein FC
“As a coach, there is a real sense of reward when you can see your vision for how the game should be played out on the pitch, and the team understands and executes the game plan. I’ve felt very proud watching that happen many times over the past two seasons,” says Kyrgios.
“I’m proud of the way this group fights for each other and for their teammates until the final whistle. They don’t give in. Where we still need to improve is our ability to finish the opportunities we create. We’ve created chances consistently across both seasons, and becoming more clinical is certainly an area we need to take forward.”
His time at the club has also coincided with a growing connection between Alamein's junior, U20 and Senior programs. Several members of the 2026 U20 squad made their Senior debuts in the 2026 season, while players including Mila Ralph and Ella Kerrigan have now reached Senior football after first joining Alamein at U13 level.
For a club built around a complete female pathway, creating opportunities for emerging players while maintaining the standards required to compete at NPLW level will remain central to the Senior program. Kyrgios regularly invites U20 players into Senior training so they can get a taste of what senior football demands.
When asked what a young player needed to develop before stepping into a Senior environment, he listed technical ability was important, understanding the game plan, positioning on and off the ball, and developing the mental and physical strength required at that level.
But, “The Senior players around them are also pivotal to their development,” Kyrgios continues. “They need to be positive and encouraging, rather than critical when mistakes are made. Giving young players the confidence and experience to adapt to a higher level of competition is imperative.”
Two more years: a clear direction
Photography credit: Centre Circle Photography
Photography credit: Centre Circle Photography
Kyrgios' new agreement takes him through to the end of the 2028 season, giving the club and coach the opportunity to build beyond a single campaign.
Alamein FC President Kathy Stamatopoulos says the decision to make a two-year commitment reflects the club's confidence in both Kyrgios and the direction of the Senior program.
“Making a two-year commitment to John reflects the confidence we have in the foundations he has established across his first two seasons. He has brought strong leadership, clear standards and a consistent football philosophy to our Senior program, while continuing to strengthen the connection between our emerging players and senior football,” she says.
“Stability and continuity are critical to sustained success, and this commitment gives John, the players and the broader football department the opportunity to keep building with clarity and purpose. Alamein FC is ambitious about the future, and we remain focused on raising the standard of our Senior program both on and off the pitch.”
For Kyrgios, that means continuing to develop the team's football identity while building a Senior squad capable of competing consistently at the top end of NPLW.
“Over the next two seasons, we want to continue progressing our football vision and philosophy,” he says. “We want to be a possession-based team that can play through the lines with confidence and create scoring opportunities, but we also need to be adaptable. If there is an opportunity to play directly and create a chance, we need to recognise that early and take advantage of it.
“Off the ball, we want to be compact and very difficult to break down. By the end of 2028, I also want to see more of our young players coming through the pathway and establishing themselves within the Senior environment.
“I want Alamein’s Senior team to be known for its team spirit, its strength, and the commitment the players show every time they cross the line. We want to be strong on and off the ball, but also known for the sportsmanship of our players.
“We are a very competitive team, and I want every team that faces Alamein to know they are going to be in for a hard game. By 2028, we want to have developed the squad further, introduced more home-grown players from our U17 and U20 programs, and established ourselves as a regular finals team fighting for the ultimate prize.”
Photography credit: Centre Circle Photography
