All eleven Hyundai A-League clubs now have men at the helm and are ready for their shot at glory.
The full line up of coaches around the competition was confirmed on Friday with Melbourne Victory appointing ex-Adelaide United boss Marco Kurz as their new man.
Who else will be in charge during the 2019/20 campaign? Let's take a look.
Gertjan Verbeek – Adelaide United
The Dutchman inked a two-year deal with the Reds in May, taking over from the departed Marco Kurz.
Verbeek, 56, has worked at clubs like Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar during his time in the Eredivisie, while also winning the 2013 KNVB Cup Final with Alkmaar, edging out PSV Eindhoven 2-1.
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“I like to play offensive football and when you lose the ball, get it back as soon as possible – keep the ball, that’s the basic idea,” Verbeek said at his first Adelaide United press conference.
“Maybe you have seen Ajax playing this year, or Barcelona? I don’t think we have the same quality [as those clubs], but the way they play football.”
Robbie Fowler – Brisbane Roar
The Queensland club turned to the man known as ‘God’ throughout his playing career to try and turn their fortunes around.
Fowler, 44, was confirmed as Roar’s new boss in April on a two-year deal in his first full-time coaching role, aside from a brief stint as player-coach at Thai outfit Muangthong United in 2011/12.
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It’s a return to the Hyundai A-League for the Liverpool legend, having played for North Queensland Fury (in 2009/10) and Perth Glory (2010/11), scoring 18 goals (nine for each club).
He wasted little time stamping his authority on the squad, releasing 14 players after the 2018/19 campaign, with nine new faces joining the club this week.
Alen Stajcic – Central Coast Mariners
An improved end to the 2018/19 Season for the Gosford club saw Stajcic handed the reigns on a three-year deal in May.
The former Westfield Matildas boss came in as the Mariners’ caretaker coach in March following the sacking of Mike Mulvey.
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He took charge of six games, with the Mariners winning two of those - including the crazy 3-2 F3 Derby triumph over the Newcastle Jets - in his very first match at the helm.
Erick Mombaerts – Melbourne City
The man who played a key role in developing several of France's FIFA World Cup-winning side in 2018 has been thrust into the hot seat at Melbourne City.
City confirmed on June 27 that experienced Frenchman Erick Mombaerts was their new head coach, filling the vacancy left by Englishman Warren Joyce.
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Among Mombaerts' list of career achievements are stints in charge of France's U-18's and U-21's, where he coached 2018 World Cup winners Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann.
The 64-year-old has also managed French giants PSG and had three seasons in Japan including, guiding Yokohama F. Marinos to an Emperor’s Cup final in 2017.
Marco Kurz – Melbourne Victory
The last of the 11 coaches for the 2019/20 Season to be confirmed was German mentor Marco Kurz at Victory on June 28.
The 50-year-old signed a two-year deal with Victory after spending the last two seasons with their Hyundai A-League rivals Adelaide United.
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Kurz faces a big job at the four-time Hyundai A-League Champions replacing legend Kevin Muscat who had 14 years at the club as a player, assistant coach and head coach.
He also needs to reshape a squad which is reeling from the departures of Keisuke Honda (released), Carl Valeri (retired), Georg Niedermeier (released) and Kosta Barbarouses (Sydney FC).
Ernie Merrick – Newcastle Jets
It is as you were in the Hunter Vallery with Ernie Merrick remaining as Jets boss for a third-straight season.
After making the Grand Final in his maiden campaign at the helm, the Jets failed to make the finals in 2018/19.
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But the Scotsman is one of the competition's canniest operators, and his knowledge of the league and its players make Newcastle a dangerous proposition for the new season.
The Jets have some exciting young talent coming through their ranks, while Merrick is expected to start announcing some new signings shortly.
Tony Popovic – Perth Glory
Popovic’s first season in the west delivered immediate results, with the club winning their first piece of Hyundai A-League silverware by taking out the Premiership.
Unfortunately for Glory, they fell short of completing the double, losing the Grand Final on penalties against Sydney FC.
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Still, Popovic has two more years to go at Perth after signing a three-year deal in May 2018, with their formidable squad again likely to challenge for major honours in 2019/20 - especially with Bruno Fornaroli to join the likes of Andy Keogh, Diego Castro and Chris Ikonomidis in attack.
Steve Corica – Sydney FC
Following on from one the most successful era in Sydney FC's history could have been a poisoned chalice for rookie boss Steve Corica.
But the man known as 'Bimbi' handled his first season as Sky Blues boss - and Graham Arnold's successor - with class and consummate ease.
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Sydney were edged by Adelaide and Perth in the 2018 FFA Cup Final and Premiership race respectively, but that didn't stop Corica from landing the Hyundai A-League Championship in his very first attempt as coach.
It will be a different Sky Blues squad in 2019/20 but Corica has shown he has the nous and temperament to keep his side near the top of the tree.
Ufuk Talay – Wellington Phoenix
Ex-boss Mark Rudan decided to move back to Australia after just one season in Wellington, and Phoenix acted quickly to appoint Talay in early May.
The former Galatasaray and Sydney FC play-maker heads across the ditch after working as an assistant to Steve Corica at the title-winning Sky Blues.
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While it is his first Hyundai A-League coaching role, Talay has spent two years as coach of Australia’s U-20 team.
With a number of Wellington’s stars departing – like Roy Krishna, David Williams and Andrew Durante – Talay will need to hit the ground running if Phoenix are to make back to back Finals Series appearances.
Markus Babbel – Western Sydney Wanderers
The former German international is heading into the second season of his three-year deal at the Wanderers.
Babbel's maiden season in charge was a roller-coaster at best, with the club finishing in eighth position, but there is plenty of optimism building ahead of the next campaign.
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The Wanderers are heading back to their spiritual Parramatta home - the new Bankwest Stadium - while Babbel's impressive squad overhaul has so far included the captures of ex-Bundesliga midfielder Pirmin Schwegler and Polish sensation Radoslaw Majewski.
Mark Rudan – Western United FC
Mark Rudan did wonders at Wellington Phoenix in his first season as a Hyundai A-League coach.
Next up for the 43-year-old? Lead Western United in their inaugural 2019/20 season, an opportunity the former Sydney FC great said was too good to pass up.
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Rudan, 43, was given the reins on a three-year deal back in May, having guided Phoenix to a sixth-place finish last season.
The ex-defender and Western United have underlined their lofty ambitions in the off-season, and fans are eager to see what Rudan can achieve with a blank slate.
