Avondale FC Appoints Ljuban Palinic as new Director of Football

Ljuban Palinic has recently joined Avondale FC as the Director of Football, where he oversees the club’s football program with a strong focus on high performance, player development, and building clear footballing pathways across all levels—for both boys and girls.

Ljuban currently holds an AFC “A” License and is in the process of applying for his AFC Pro License.
Most recently, he served as Director of Football at Dandenong City SC, where he led a comprehensive development program across all age groups and built out the club’s entire football structure. Prior to that, he spent four years at Melbourne Victory FC within the Youth Academy as a Head Coach, working under the guidance of former FFA National Technical Director Rob Sherman and Drew Sherman, Head of National Academies at the Football Association of Wales.
Ljuban also served as Senior Assistant Coach at Bentleigh Greens SC, where he helped lead the team to an NPL Victoria Championship and a Dockerty Cup victory.
In addition to his club roles, Ljuban continues to contribute to the game through leadership positions in several school-based football programs. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Psychiatric Nursing.

Known for his collaborative leadership style, Ljuban excels at building aligned, high-performing teams grounded in a clear football vision and philosophy. He is passionate about creating professional football environments that foster growth for clubs, players, and staff alike.
Notable achievements include:
• Guiding all four teams at his previous club into Tier 1 competitions for the first time in club history
• Leading the U19–U23s to their highest league position, currently sitting top
• Supporting more than 15 players into A-League pathways over the past four years
• Establishing school partnerships that allow players to pursue their football ambitions alongside their education

Ljuban is excited to be part of Avondale FC, recognising it as a club with real ambition and a strong vision for lifting its football program to a professional level. He looks forward to working alongside passionate, like-minded individuals to help grow the club and ensure a strong future across its senior men’s and women’s teams and youth programs.

Ljuban is always open to connecting and sharing ideas with others in the football community.