Macarthur FC has wasted no time in appointing a new head coach following Dwight Yorke’s shock departure on Saturday.

Former Socceroos star Mile Sterjovski will take charge and was unveiled to the A-League squad at Monday’s training session. His first game will be on Saturday afternoon, against Western United at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

Sterjovski joined the club in its inaugural season in 2020, taking charge of the club’s youth team in the NSW NPL1, as well as working as an assistant to former A-League head coach Ante Milicic between 2020 and 2022.

“Having been part of the Bulls set-up since the inaugural season, it’s a great honour to now be given the opportunity to lead this club in the A-League,” Sterjovski said. “I want to thank the chairman Gino Marra and CEO Sam Krslovic for their confidence and support since I joined the club.”

“Since day one with this club, I have worked with the NPL side to help the talented youngsters achieve their goal of becoming professional players. The players are still my top priority in this new role and I will do everything to help them reach their potential.”

A member of the famed Golden Generation of the Australian national team, Sterjovski made 43 appearances for the Socceroos between 2000 and 2010, scoring eight goals. Notably, he started in three of the Socceroos’ games at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, including the round of 16 clash against Italy.

Sterjovski had a decorated career as a player, playing abroad with Derby County in England, Swiss giants Basel and Ligue 1 club Lille. He has a Swiss league title to his name, as well as an A-League title and a National Soccer League premiership.

“Mile has been part of our club since the beginning and it gives us great pride to have one of our own progress to the head coaching position,” Macarthur FC chief executive Sam Krslovic said.

“Although he’s only just started as our A-League head coach, our senior team has already been heavily influenced by Mile’s important work within the youth department with five players graduating from the Bulls FC Academy into the senior squad this season.”

Sterjovski said that he wants to build on what the club has started this season, “and there won’t be any change to our objective of playing finals football.”

“We look forward to the start of a successful era under the guidance of Mile and we believe Bulls fans will be excited by the football they see at Campbelltown Sports Stadium,” Krslovic said.