.jpg) Zdrilic in 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | David Allen Zdrilic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1974-04-13)13 April 1974 (age 51) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Sydney, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Greenwich | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| King Tomislav Sydney | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patrician Brothers' College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sutherland Sharks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| –1993 | St George Saints | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993 | St George Saints | 20 | (8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1997 | Sydney United | 114 | (39) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1998 | Aarau | 25 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–2000 | SSV Ulm | 55 | (18) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2002 | SpVgg Unterhaching | 23 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | Walsall | 24 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | Aberdeen | 31 | (8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Eintracht Trier | 11 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2008 | Sydney FC | 59 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | Sydney United | 33 | (9) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 395 | (95) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–2005 | Australia[2] | 30 | (20) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Australia (beach soccer) | 11 | (21) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | Maccabi Hakoah | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Sydney United | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Sydney FC U20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Sydney FC (interim) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | Perth Glory | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
David Allen Zdrilić (Croatian:[ˈzdrilitɕ]; born 13 April 1974) is an Australianassociation football coach and former player, who was most recently the head coach ofA-League Men clubPerth Glory. Zdrilic is also a football presenter on theSpecial Broadcasting Service (SBS), Most recently he was a key figure in SBS's coverage of the2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Zdrilic played on 30 occasions for theAustralia national soccer team, having once scored eight goals in a single match – the second highest recorded for any Australian player, behind Socceroos teammateArchie Thompson, who scored 13 goals in the same game. He was also a member of theAustralia national beach soccer team, theBeach Socceroos, having captained the side. He previously played forSydney FC in theA-League after forging a professional career in Switzerland, Germany, England and Scotland.
As a football presenter on theSpecial Broadcasting Service (SBS), Zdrilic hosted the2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil which won aLogie Award for Most Outstanding Sport Coverage as well as SBS's Friday Night A-League coverage. He has hosted games from the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, various international cup competitions and the football entertainment showThursday FC onSBS2.
Over the last few years, Zdrilic served in a variety of coaching roles in Germany, Belgium and Italy and theMLS. In early 2022, he became an assistant at Serie A club Genoa - the first Australian to coach in Serie A - after turning down the offer of coaching Australia at the 2024 Olympic Games.[3]
Zdrilic attendedPatrician Brothers' College, Fairfield andSt Patrick's College, Sutherland during his time as a teenage schoolboy he featured prominently in all teams including the A Grade squad. He had the opportunity as a child to pursue a tennis career, receiving coaching and playing in tournaments, but chose football instead.[4] After playing through the youth ranks forSt George Saints he broke into the senior side in 1993 at the age of 19. Mid-way through theNSW Super League year he signed toSydney United for the comingNational Soccer League season. He made an immediate impact shortly after joining the club, scoring four goals in four games in a preseason cup competition.[5] However, he played most of his first NSL season playing as fullback, netting only once for the year. Zdrilic's versatility meant he was often used in different positions and during the 1994/95 and 1995/96 seasons, he was more often among the goal scorers. It was in the 1996/97 season that for the first time Zdrilic was used as an out and out striker and eventually took out the Golden Boot scoring 21 goals in 26 games. During this time he combined studied a law degree atSydney University, working full-time at a Western Sydney Law Firm with his footballing duties.[6] It was not until this 1996/97 NSL season that his footballing career rose to the next level.
Zdrilic's first call-up to the national team came in January 1997. After the appointment ofTerry Venables as the newSocceroos coach, Australia hosted the Optus Cup, a four-team tournament including an Australian squad of domestic-based players.[7] In forming the squad, Venables had asked "who's the leading scorer in the NSL?", the answer being Zdrilic (having scored 12 goals in as many games), and he played all three matches.[8] He continued his scoring ways in the NSL to win the Golden Boot for that season with 21 goals, United topping the table before losing the grand final toBrisbane.
His position atop the Australian league attracted attention in Europe, particularly in Switzerland with an offer to joinGrasshoppers accepted, where he would initially be loaned out toAarau. After one season at Aarau, he moved to German sideSSV Ulm 1846, newly promoted to thesecond division. Ulm's strong1998–99 season with Zdrilic a regular starter and scoring 12 goals for the season saw them promoted again into theBundesliga, the club's first appearance in the top flight.[9]
Now playing in a top European league, he earned a recall to national side in early 2000 for a tournament in Chile.[10] Zdrilic was injured as a result of a bad tackle in the final minutes of Australia's game against Bulgaria and he returned to Ulm injured. He again rejoined the side in June as Australia hosted a three match series againstParaguay, which he scored his first international goal in a 2–1 win. Zdrilic remained with the side for the2000 OFC Nations Cup, adding to his goal tally twice againstCook Islands.
Returning to club duties, with Zdrilic out injured for much of the season due to the knee injury he sustained on international duty, Ulm had been relegated back to the second division and Zdrilic sought to remain in the top league. Despite the injury Zdrilic scored 6 goals in 13 Bundesliga starts for Ulm and moved toSpVgg Unterhaching. The club struggled for consistency through the2000–01 season and was eventually relegated, Zdrilic remaining with the club on its return to2. Bundesliga. Haching continued to struggle for results in the2001–02 season, relegated again at the end of the year. In contrast to club fortunes, Zdrilic was achieving greater success at international level throughout this time. Becoming a regular inclusion in an Australian side underFrank Farina, he was recalled for a friendly against Scotland to replace the injured Mark Viduka scoring in a memorable 2–0 victory at Hamden Park. He retained his place in the squad for theOceania World Cup qualifiers. In Australia's second match of the tournament, he scored eight goals in a world record31–0 win overAmerican Samoa. He and his strike partnerArchie Thompson, who scored 13 goals, broke the record for most goals scored in a senior international match. He remained in the team for the2001 FIFA Confederations Cup, taking part in the Socceroos memorable victories overMexico andBrazil.
With Unterhaching in financial trouble, Zdrilic gained a release and signed on toEnglish First Division sideWalsall,[11] where he was soon joined by fellow AustralianSteve Corica. In a season restricted by acalf injury,[12] he made 29 appearances in the league and cup scoring five goals including the only goal againstWimbledon in theFA Cup fourth round.[13] In May 2003 he parted from the club[14] and after interest from other English sides and Norwegian sideBrann, he signed toScottish Premier League clubAberdeen on a one-year deal, making an immediate impact with a goal 80 seconds into his debut in a pre-season friendly against Liverpool, and then again against Rangers in the league.[15] Zdrilic went on to score eight goals in all competitions, including the winner in a memorable win over Celtic, which ended Celtic's unbeaten home run of 78 games.[16][17] After being linked with Belgian clubsLierse andGent, as well as1860 Munich, he returned to 2. Bundesliga withEintracht Trier.
While facing difficulties at Aberdeen, his elevation back to the top flight of a European league returned him to national team contention. He was selected for a number of friendly matches and rejoined the squad in May for the2004 OFC Nations Cup, which also doubled as qualifiers for the2006 FIFA World Cup. After a goal againstTahiti, he made two more appearances againstFiji andVanuatu.
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His stay at Trier was short-lived, and returned to Australia with the launch of theA-League in 2005 to be part of the inauguralSydney FC squad, signing a three-year deal.[18][19] Now back in Australia, he was included in a Socceroos side for a match on 29 March 2005 againstIndonesia to benefit victims of theBoxing Day tsunami, scoring Australia's third goal in what many have tipped as his last international match. He took part in 19 of Sydney's matches in their first season, mostly as a substitute, scoring once. In the second season he found more game time underTerry Butcher, scoring four goals from 20 appearances.
Zdrilic remained at Sydney for theA-League 2007–08 season, in the final year of his original three-year contract. A number of matches saw him being deployed in the backline and midfield.[20] Many Sydney FC fans became critical of his performances, after netting just five goals in his first two years at the club.[21] Despite his clear intentions to add to his tally in the 2007–08 season, Zdrilic failed to score in any competitive matches all year and was released by Sydney at the end of the season.[22] The end of his stay with Sydney FC effectively marked the end of his career.
In 2009, Zdrilic was approached by former teammate Ante Milicic to sign with his first professional clubSydney United, who play in theNSW Premier League. The team finished on the top of the table in the regular season but bowed out in semi-final. Zdrilic finished the season with eight goals and announced his decision to retire after 15 years as a professional footballer.
While playing at Sydney United, Zdrilic took up his first coaching role coaching with former NSL champions,Hakoah Sydney City East. In his maiden season as manager, Zdrilic guided the side to a semi-final berth, but declined the club's offer to extend his contract for a second season.
The departure ofAnte Milicic to A-League expansion clubMelbourne Heart opened the opportunity for Zdrilic to become the player/manager at Sydney United. He spent one season in charge of the club before announcing his retirement as a player.
Despite enjoying more success as manager – taking United deep into the finals series in his first season at Edensor Park – Zdrilic left the club to concentrate on his growing media career. He was succeeded at the club byJean-Paul de Marigny, returning for his second stint in charge.
Whilst away from the dugout, Zdrilic undertook a succession of coaching study tours in Europe, spending time at clubs suchBayern Munich,TSG Hoffenheim,Hajduk Split andDinamo Zagreb.
In 2015, Zdrilic returned to the coaching ranks after being approached by Sydney FC to become the assistant coach of both the NSW NPL2 first team, NYL team and the under-20 side. Both sides won their respective leagues in August 2016, meaning the club will participate in the New South Wales NPL1 in 2017 for the first time. The following season saw Zdrilic take over the NPL1 U20 side as head coach whilst still remaining assistant coach to Robbie Stanton's NPL1 first team.
In July 2017, he accepted an offer from reigningBundesliga runners-upRB Leipzig to become the assistant coach of the club's under-17 team, currently led by formerVfB Stuttgart andTSG Hoffenheim strikerAlexander Blessin. After a successful year with the U17s, the pair moved up to the U19s which is the club's reserve team feeding directly into the club's 1st team Bundesliga side.
"I spent a month at RB Leipzig last year on a study tour watching how they did things as well as learning from Ralf Rangnick and the other coaches," Zdrilic said. "I highlighted that I would like the opportunity to one day move over to Europe to coach. They were aware of my role with Sydney FC and my previous coaching and playing experience which played a big part in Leipzig offering me the position."[23]
In January 2020, Zdrilic accepted an offer fromChicago Fire to become the assistant coach, where was credited with reforming the team's approach into a more pressing-oriented style.
Zdrilic was linked with a move to then-English Premier League club Sheffield United, but ultimately stayed with Chicago.[24]
In mid-2021, Zdrilic returned to Europe after accepting an offer to reunite withAlexander Blessin - who he coached under atRB Leipzig - to become the assistant coach at Belgian sideOostende.
After impressing with their high-tempo style in Belgium, Blessin and Zdrilic were then poached by ItalianSerie A clubGenoa in January 2022, replacing the outgoingAndriy Shevchenko. The move made Zdrilic the first Australian to hold a coaching position at a Serie A side.[25]
In August 2023, he returned toSydney FC, re-joining the club as an assistant coach toSteve Corica.[26]
In June 2024, Zdrilic was announced as the new head coach of A-League clubPerth Glory.[27] In October 2025, Zdrilic was relieved of his duties with immediate effect.[28]
After being released from Sydney FC, Zdrilic started working as a football pundit for bothFox Sports andESPN, as well as featuring onSBS and writing a column formX. He also took on a role as Player Relations Officer forProfessional Footballers Australia.
Zdrilic continued to work in the media and co-hosted the now-discontinuedWorld Football News onOne, and was a core part of the2010 FIFA World Cup coverage on SBS, appearing regularly as an analyst. He then joined SBS exclusively, which sees him continuing his analytical role, as well as co-hosting the football entertainment showThursday FC.
Zdrilic soon moved into the hosting role full-time and began presenting the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and International Cup Competitions. He then hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil which won a Logie for Most Outstanding Sports Coverage. He was also the host of SBS's 4-year coverage of the A-League between 2014 and 2017.
In 2018, Zdrilic was again a key figure in SBS's coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia where he presented live from matches around the country as well as expert analysis alongside Craig Foster and Lucy Zelic from SBS's Moscow studio.
Since retiring, Zdrilic is a keen advocate for Beach Soccer and is a member of the Beach Socceroos. He has also captained the side. The Beach Socceroos travelled to Qatar in January 2013 for the Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifiers. Despite having no lead up practice matches and never before played together as a team, the Beach Socceroos narrowly missed out on a World Cup place finishing 4th out of 16 teams, only three World Cup spots were on offer. Zdrilic finished the tournament with 4 goals in 4 games.Zdrilic is an Ambassador for one of the country's biggest International Tournaments, the Australia Beach Soccer Cup, played annually in Wollongong. In the last tournament, Zdrilic scored 8 goals in 3 games including 6 goals in a 7–5 win over China. Australia won the tournament.
| Club | Season | League[a] | Cup | Continental[b] | Other[c] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sydney FC | 2005–06 | A-League | 19 | 1 | — | 5 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 30 | 10 | |
| 2006–07 | A-League | 20 | 4 | — | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 31 | 4 | ||
| 2007–08 | A-League | 12 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |||
| Total | 51 | 5 | — | 11 | 9 | 16 | 0 | 78 | 14 | |||
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 June 2000 | Olympic Park Stadium,Melbourne, Australia |  Paraguay | 2–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 2 | 19 June 2000 | Stade Pater,Papeete,Tahiti |  Cook Islands | 5–0 | 17–0 | 2000 OFC Nations Cup |
| 3 | 11–0 | |||||
| 4 | 15 November 2000 | Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland |  Scotland | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 5 | 9 April 2001 | BCU International Stadium,Coffs Harbour, Australia |  Tonga | 17–0 | 22–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 6 | 22–0 | |||||
| 7 | 11 April 2001 | BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia |  American Samoa | 3–0 | 31–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8 | 7–0 | |||||
| 9 | 9–0 | |||||
| 10 | 13–0 | |||||
| 11 | 21–0 | |||||
| 12 | 24–0 | |||||
| 13 | 25–0 | |||||
| 14 | 31–0 | |||||
| 15 | 16 April 2001 | BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia |  Samoa | 2–0 | 11–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 16 | 6–0 | |||||
| 17 | 24 June 2001 | Stadium Australia, Sydney |  New Zealand | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 18 | 4–1 | |||||
| 19 | 31 May 2004 | Hindmarsh Stadium,Adelaide, Australia |  Tahiti | 8–0 | 9–0 | 2004 OFC Nations Cup |
| 20 | 29 March 2005 | Subiaco Oval,Perth, Australia |  Indonesia | 3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | ||||
| Perth Glory |  | 1 July 2024 | 28 October 2025 | 29 | 6 | 5 | 18 | 32 | 65 | −33 | 020.69 |
| Career Total | 29 | 6 | 5 | 18 | 32 | 65 | −33 | 020.69 | |||
Sydney FC
Australia
Individual
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)Australia squads | |||||||||||||||||||
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