Western United A-League Men Football Department Update

Western United can confirm assistant coach Vince Ierardo will depart the Club to pursue an overseas coaching opportunity.

Ierardo will join the coaching staff at Shanghai Port, linking up with fellow Australians Kevin Muscat and Ross Aloisi who were recently announced as head coach and assistant coach respectively of the reigning Chinese Super League champions.

While disappointed to see him depart, Western United offers its full support and encouragement to Ierardo as he moves forward in his coaching journey and the Club is delighted to have played a significant part in his development.

An inaugural member of Western United’s Isuzu UTE A-League Men football department, Ierardo departs as the Club’s longest-serving coaching staff member having had an impact across multiple areas of the Club’s football operations.

While doing the bulk of his work as Lead Performance Analyst, Ierardo moved into a dual-role as an assistant coach at the start of this season. Ierardo was also the assistant coach of United’s inaugural Under 18’s side in 2023 and has supported the Club’s women’s pathway at Calder United.

Ierardo expressed his gratitude to the Club and recalled fond memories of his time with the Green and Black.

“Reflecting on my time at Western United, I can’t emphasise enough how much the Club, the people and its values mean to me,” he said.

“Being an inaugural staff member for a brand new club and contributing to the Club’s foundation is an experience I’ll cherish forever. Winning the championship together with the coaches, the staff, players and supporters is something I’ll never forget.

“In my tenure here, both as a coach and as an individual, I’ve undergone significant development. Departing from this fantastic family club is bittersweet, but there is excitement, of course, as I firmly believe that I’m prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

Western United General Manager of Football Mal Impiombato spoke glowingly of Ierardo’s effect on the Club, both on and off the pitch.

“Vince has been an integral part of our football department since our inaugural season and I would like to thank him for his years of commitment and excellence in our program,” he said.

“As a professional, his expertise helped us to two finals campaigns and an Isuzu UTE A-League Championship, and he has also had a fantastic impact on the next generation of Western United players through our Academy.

“But more importantly, Vince’s strength as a person has made our Club a better place and helped shape a thriving and positive club culture.

“You will be hard pressed to find a more universally respected football professional than Vince, and we thank him for his outstanding contribution and wish him every success in his future endeavours.”

Western United promotes talent from within to continue evolving its coaching department

Following Ierardo’s departure, Western United has moved swiftly to recognise talented coaches from within the current program to continue delivering the highest level of expertise.

Andrew Durante and Diogo Ferreira have both been elevated to the role of A-League Men Assistant and Development Coach, continuing to deliver on their current work at the Club.

As a foundation player, Durante remains and integral part of Western United’s fabric across first-team and Academy environments, and will continue to elevate his personal coaching journey with the Club.

Ferreira has impressed from the minute he joined the Western United Academy, initially as Under 23’s assistant coach in 2022 before taking over the side as head coach last year.

*Diogo Ferreira and Andrew Durante will step into the first-team space after their work with Western United’s Under 23’s*

A former Isuzu UTE A-League player himself, Ferreira’s knowledge of working with talented young players will be invaluable to the Green and Black’s promising core of talent.

Alongside Durante and Ferreira, Harry Reading will also step into the full-time role of Performance Analyst, having performed similar roles in the Academy and Liberty A-League Women sides over the years.

A talented young football mind, Reading has also worked in Australian national team environments and will add a high level of detail and acumen to the role.

Western United is proud to provide its coaches with the best opportunities to develop and will continue in pursuit of the highest expertise possible in its football department.