New Brighton coach Dario Vidosic unafraid of pressure in aim for top-four WSL finish

New Brighton head coach Dario Vidosic has dismissed any pressure that might come with the club’s ambition to break into the Women’s Super League’s top four next season and instead backed his own ‘successful’ ways of playing.

The 37-year-old will stay at the Seagulls until 2027 and joins fresh from leading A-League club Melbourne City to title success. Upon his appointment, technical director David Weir wasn’t shy in proclaiming how he believes Vidosic will help the club make “a significant step towards our vision of being a top four WSL club”.

Speaking at his first press conference at Brighton’s training ground last week, Vidosic told 90min: “I don’t mind pressure. I have my ideas and the way I like to play, and I think those ways are successful. I’ve had success in Australia implementing that style of play and I’ll look to do similar here.”

During the 2023/24 campaign, Brighton finished ninth, four points behind Everton. When asked how he intends to make such quick and drastic improvements next season, Visodic said: “It’s about the mentality at the start to win every single game we play in, whether it’s a friendly, competitive, or a cup game.

“Every team should aim to be a champion. We all start at the same place, you don’t get a 1-0 advantage depending on what badge you are wearing. It’s fair. We’ll never approach a game thinking ‘let’s just play for a draw’, it’s not in my nature. It’s about preparing correctly.

“Winning is never guaranteed, that’s the beauty of football. You can be the best team on the park and walk away without a win. We’ll do everything to try and get three points every single matchday.”

The former Australia men’s international will be joined by new assistant head coach Chris Roberts, who comes from Everton after being at the club since 2018 in the same role. Vidosic boasts both coaching and playing experience and spent time in Australia with Brisbane Roar, Melbourne City and Adelaide United, as well as spells in Germany and New Zealand.

Vidosic went on to reveal he is “really excited” about the prospect of becoming Brighton’s head coach when he was approached and described the role as being “one of the best challenges in the world, in one of the best leagues in the world”.

The Seagulls are having a busy summer as they prepare to begin the 2024/25 season in September. Alongside a new manager, they’ve also already announced a whole host of new signings to help them climb the table.

They include WSL legend Fran Kirby, defenders Marisa Olislagers, Marit Auee and Rachel McLauchlan, midfielder Bex Rayner, goalkeeper Hannah Poulter, forward Aisha Masaka and striker Kiko Seike.

The club are most certainly strengthening in every aspect but all eyes will be on them at the start of the season to see if they can perform and generate the right results.