Recently retired A-Leagues veteran Andrew Durante will return to Western United in the newly created role of Player Welfare and Development Manager.
Durante will work in tandem with Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) to ensure Western United players across all programs, including men’s, women’s and youth teams, will have the necessary support and guidance to achieve their football and non-football goals.
“Having a strong connection to the Club from my playing days, it really feels fitting for me to return to the place where my playing career ended, to now start my next chapter with Western United,” Durante said.
“I’m really excited to get started in this new role. The Club is full of fantastic people and I’m looking forward to being a part of it and furthering my growth as a person, as well as the growth of the Club.
“I’m passionate about helping develop talent on and off the pitch, and I’m really determined to support all the Western United athletes to become the best versions of themselves.”
Durante will also take up a development coach role in Western United’s Academy program, working alongside Academy Director Anthony Frost and his existing staff.
Western United General Manager of Football Mal Impiombato welcomed back the Club favourite.
“As a foundation player of the club, we are delighted to have someone of Andrew’s ilk join our football department,” he said.
“Andrew’s experience in the A-League is unrivalled and he will add extraordinary value to our program in this newly created role.
“With an exceptional football CV under his belt, we are thrilled that Andrew will lead this program and continue to drive the Club’s values and behaviours that are fundamental to our Club culture.”
Durante made 45 of his 358 A-League Men appearances for Western United and played 416 Australian men’s national league games, the sixth highest figure all-time.
The former Newcastle Jets, Wellington Phoenix and New Zealand international player will now make his first foray into life behind on the other side of the white line, and seek to impart some of his wisdom on the young players in the West.
