Springvale White Eagles FC

Springvale White Eagles

Full name	Springvale White Eagles Football Club
Nickname(s)	Beli Orlovi, Eagles
Founded	1975;49 years ago (1975)
Ground	Serbian Sports Centre
Capacity	5000 (400 Seated)
Chairman	Zivko Milovanovic
Manager	Andrew Skledar
League	Victoria Premier League 2
2024	2nd of 12 (Promoted) Victorian State League 1 South–East
Website	Official website
Home colours Away colours

Springvale White Eagles Football Club is a semi-professional Australian soccer club based in Melbourne, Victoria currently playing in the Victorian Premier League 2. Founded by Serbian Australians, they play at the Serbian Sports Centre in Keysborough, Victoria.

They were founded in 1975 and were in the Victorian Premier League from 1997 to 1999, 2007 and 2011. ^[1]

History

Springvale White Eagles Club was formed in 1975 as Springvale United, ^[2] and have been known by their current name since 1995.

In 2002 White Eagles got into the State League Cup Final, losing 4–2 to Westvale.

In June 2007, the coach Leon Gardikiotis resigned less than a month after replacing from Zoran Trajceski. ^[3] The club president Zoran Stojanovic also resigned. In 2008, Springvale White Eagles appointed former Frankston Pines coach Stan Webster, who experienced little success at the club.

The club was promoted to the Victorian Premier League in 2010, but suffered relegation in their first season in the top flight in the following year. ^[4]

In 2012 Springvale were relegated from State League 1, having finished bottom of the league with just 1 win in 22 league games. − ^[5] They took out the State League 2 South-East title the following season, pipping Dandenong City SC by one point. ^[6]

National Premier Leagues Victoria (2014–present)

The club entered the NPL Victoria 2 division for the 2014 season, the new second tier of soccer in Victoria. The club finished the season in 12th place in the 14 team league, just avoiding the relegation playoffs. ^[7]

In 2015, the NPL 2 was split into an East and West division with the White Eagles competing in the East division, finishing in nineteenth place overall in the NPL1 league system. ^[8] Late in October 2015, head manager Zlatko Mihajlović resigned from his position. ^[9] Shortly after, Mihajlović was replaced by Boyan Mitkov as the new senior head coach. ^[10] Springvale then lost key player Šimo Jovanović to Kingston City. Jovanović had spent his entire career with the White Eagles, progressing through the youth system to eventually become the club's captain. ^[11] On 12 April 2016, it was announced that Mitkov and his assistant Gus Caminos (who were winless in their first seven league games in the NPL2 season) had resigned from their positions, with former White Eagles player Nik Kovacevic announced as the replacement. ^[12] Springvale subsequently finished the season in 6th place in the NPL2 East, its second best-ever finish in the NPL2 competition. ^[13] In November 2016, head coach Kovacevic departed the club to return to Pascoe Vale as a senior assistant coach. ^[14]

Springvale White Eagles appointed former Altona Magic coach Vlado Tortevski as their new manager for the 2017 NPL2 season. ^[15] Despite winning three of their opening four NPL2 league games, Tortevski's side then won just one of the following ten, leading to the departure of the head coach in May 2017. ^[16] The White Eagles finished the season in 7th place. ^[17]

For the 2018 season, Springvale reappointed former club coach Nik Kovacevic to lead the team, and had a total of 7 key signings in the off-season. This included the experienced central defensive partnership of Pavle Durkic (formerly at Whittlesea Ranges FC) and Milos Tošić (formerly at West Adelaide SC). Also adding to the squad were Andy Kecojević, Marcus Dimanche, Delarno Pharoe, Slaven Vranešević and Englishmen Luke Barrow. With the mid-season loss of Captain Dejan Erakovic the Eagles brought in other key signings to its squad, including Bonel Obradović, Nemanja Lojanica and Nenad Nikolic. The Eagles finished the 2018 campaign in fourth place in the NPL2 East, its best finish since the inception of the NPL in 2014.

In 2019 the club finished in last place, with just four wins in 28 games, and were relegated to NPL3 for the 2020 season. ^[18] Head coach Nebojsa Vukosavljevic resigned after the club's relegation, with Springvale appointing former Socceroo John Markovski for the 2020 NPL3 campaign.

Achievements

League

Division	Champions	Runners Up
VIC State League 1st Division	(x2) 1996, 2010	(x2) 2006, 2024
VIC State League 2nd Division SE	(x1) 2005
VIC State League 2nd Division	(x1) 1995
VIC State League 3rd Division	(x1) 1992
VIC Metropolitan League Division 4	(x1) 1984
VIC Buffalo Provisional League Division 3		(x1) 1983
VIC Provisional League Division 4		(x1) 1982
VIC District League Division 3		(x1) 1981

Cup

Cup	Champions	Runners Up
Victorian State League Cup	–	(x1) 2002
Karadjordje Cup	(x8) 1999, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2019, 2023	(x5) 2000, 2006, 2012, 2016, 2022

Victorian Premier League/NPL Victoria

• Highest finish: 6th in 1997
• Season Appearances: 5 Seasons
• Greatest home win: 8–2 against Melton Reds in 1997
• Greatest away win: 6–0 against Westvale in 1999

Notable current and former international players

•   Australia Vince Grella
•   Australia Rodrigo Vargas
•   Australia U20 Ricky Diaco
•   Australia U20 Miloš Lujić
•   Australia U20 Zlatko Mihajlović
•   Australia U20 Bonel Obradović
•   Bosnia and Herzegovina Nebojša Pejić
•   South Sudan Kenny Athiu
•   South Sudan Taban Makoii

Individual awards

Bill Fleming Medal – Media voted VPL Player of the Year

• 1999 – Zlatko Mihajlović

Club Top Goal Scorers

• 2023 - Nashir Hussainy - 6
• 2022 - Nashir Hussainy - 12
• 2021 - Andy Kecojevic - 5
• 2020 - Cancelled due to COVID-19
• 2019 - Taban Makoii - 7
• 2018 - Damir Stoilovic - 9
• 2017 - Damir Stoilovic - 10
• 2016 - Damir Stoilovic - 16
• 2015 – Hernan de Rito – 6
• 2014 – Vojislav Milojević – 11
• 2013 – Stephane Leblond – 15
• 2012 – Philip Ajao – 5
• 2011 – Goran Zoric – 8
• 2010 – Nenad Pavasovic – 8
• 2009 – Zoran Vukas – 6
• 2008 – Grujo Mrdić – 7
• 2007 – Goran Zorić – 5
• 2006 – Nikolaos Papadopoulos – 11
• 2005 – Sastre Teyedor Juan – 11
• 2004 – Zlatko Mihajlović – 9
• 2003 – Ricky Diaco – 12
• 2002 – Eric Styczen – 9
• 2001 – Nebojsa Kozlica – 6
• 2000 – Eric Styczen – 6
• 1999 – Zlatko Mihajlović – 10
• 1998 – Sasha Nikolić – 4
• 1997 – Danny Gnjidić – 14
• 1996 – Zlatko Mihajlović – 16
• 1995 – Micheal Michalakopoulos – 14
• 1994 – Zlatko Mihajlović – 7
• 1993 – Zlatko Mihaljović – 11
• 1992 – Zlatko Mihaljović – 12
• 1991 – Ian Kerezovic – 9

Rivalries

Dandenong Thunder

The teams both situated 6 km apart, the rivalry between the clubs is immense.

On 11 February 2017 The White Eagles hosted The Thunder in the Second Round of the 2017 NPL Victoria 2 competition. In front of a healthy contingent of local fans, the White Eagles got off to a perfect start early in the second half with new signing Cody Martindale gaining the lead for the Eagles. With a fiery clash on and off the field referee Alessandro Arbizzani was not holding back on the cautions. With Springvale leading the contest 1–0 in the 60th minute, a brawl erupted in the stands which escalated, forcing the referee to halt proceedings for approximately 10 minutes. In the final stages of the game the Eagles capitalised on a counterattack with goal scorer Tapiwanashe Munyanyiwa finishing a great move by the Eagles. Late in the game there was drama, with Springvale Player Nebojsa Pejić putting one in his own net bringing back the game to 2–1. The Eagles hung on for a vital three points, winning its first two games off the 2017 season under Vlado Tortevski. They later faced Dandenong at George Andrews Reserve in Round 17 losing 4–0.

Melbourne Knights

The teams were both in the Victorian Premier League in the 2007 and 2011 seasons.

St Albans Saints

These 2 clubs first met in the Victorian Premier league on 22 March 1997. The game was played in the Serbian Sports Centre where White Eagles recorded a 3–1 win. In that match, St Albans took the lead in the 43 minutes with a goal by Idriz Peja. White Eagles Jim Gacovski levelled the score in the 83rd minute. Anthony Burlak scored in the 89th minute and Nick Kovacevic in the 90th minute to give White Eagles a memorable 3–1 victory.

In Round 12 on 12 May 2019 in the NPL 2 season the eagles travelled to Churchill Reserve & took all three points back to White Eagles Stadium in a thrilling 2–1 win with goals to Taban Makoii from the penalty spot (19th minute) and Gerry Kavadas (21st minute). A win for the Eagles after a long unsuccessful period at Churchill Reserve in over 7 years.

North Sunshine Eagles

The teams were first met on 16 April 2021 in NPL Victoria 3 competition.

Stadium

White Eagles play at the Serbian Sports Centre (Srpski Sportski Centar).

• 

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   AUS George Tzamouranis 3 DF   AUS Nenad Nikolić 4 DF   AUS Stefan Karac 5 DF   AUS Nemanja Lojanica 6 DF   AUS Thomas Podaridis 7 MF   AUS Brady Quinn 8 FW   AUS Alexandar Vranešević 9 FW   AUS Miloš Lujić 10 FW   AUS Nashir Hussainy 11 FW   AUS Alex Kubenko 12 GK   AUS Shah Zahidi

No. Pos. Nation Player 15 MF   AUS Gervais Nkondogoro 16 DF   AUS Ohisa Paulino 17 DF   AUS Slavko Grujić 19 DF   AUS George Latsis 20 MF   AUS Desire Nkondogoro 23 MF   AUS Andy Kecojević(Captain) 24 MF   AUS Godwill Benjamin 25 MF   AUS Joseph Manual 48 DF   AUS Adrian Sekulovski

Squad correct at 9 May 2022.

Competition timeline

Season	League										Top scorer		Dockerty Cup
	Division	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	+/-	Pts	Position	Player(s)	Goals
1982	Div4	26	20	1	5	75	23	52	43	2nd
1983	Div3	26	23	2	1	95	21	74	48	1st			Runner up
1984	Div4	26	16	5	5	61	34	27	37	2nd
1985	Div3	26	14	5	7	54	37	17	33	5th
1986	Div3	26	10	4	12	59	51	8	24	9th
1987	Div3	24	11	4	9	40	45	−5	26	4th
1988	Div3	26	14	3	9	62	40	22	31	6th
1989	Div3	26	6	8	12	31	66	−25	20	11th
1990	Div3	26	7	4	15	28	58	−30	18	12th
1991	Div3	26	7	8	11	25	36	−11	31	11th	Ian Kerezovic	9
1992	Div3	28	19	0	0	67	23	44	47	1st	Zlatko Mihaljović	12
1993	Div2	26	16	5	5	47	17	30	37	3rd	Zlatko Mihaljović	11
1994	Div2	26	11	7	8	41	32	9	29	5th	Zlatko Mihaljović	7
1995	Div2	26	18	5	3	56	29	27	59	1st	Micheal Michalakopoulos	14
1996	Div1	26	17	4	5	56	27	29	55	1st	Zlatko Mihaljović	16
1997	VPL	26	11	8	7	43	37	6	41	6th	Danny Gnjidić	14
1998	VPL	26	8	6	12	27	42	−15	30	11th	Sasha Nikolić	4
1999	VPL	26	8	6	12	37	40	−3	30	11th	Zlatko Mihaljović	10
2000	Div1	22	6	4	12	26	36	−10	22	9th	Eric Styczen	6
2001	Div1	22	8	6	8	27	37	−10	30	8th	Nebojsa Kozlica	6
2002	Div1	22	5	5	12	34	57	−23	20	11th	Eric Styczen	9	Runner up
2003	SL2SE	22	10	4	8	34	32	2	34	5th	Ricky Diaco	12
2004	SL2SE	22	4	8	10	25	45	−20	20	10th	Zlatko Mihaljović	9
2005	SL2	22	14	4	4	50	25	25	46	1st	Sastre Teyedor Juan	11
2006	SL1	22	11	6	5	30	22	8	39	2nd	Nikolaos Papadopoulos	11
2007	VPL	26	1	2	23	17	77	−60	5	16th	Goran Zorić	5	No cup
2008	SL1	22	5	6	11	25	38	−13	21	9th	Grujo Mrdić	7
2009	SL1	22	4	5	13	31	41	−10	17	10th	Zoran Vukas	6
2010	SL1	22	12	3	7	45	34	11	39	2nd	Nenad Pavasovic	8
2011	VPL	24	3	6	15	24	62	38	15	11th	Goran Zoric	8	Quarter final
2012	SL1	22	1	5	16	19	69	−49	8	12th	Philip Ajao	5	Zone final
2013	SL2	22	13	5	4	33	24	9	44	1st	Stephane Leblond	14	4th round
2014	NPL 2	26	7	3	16	44	63	19	24	12th	Vojislav Milojević	11	6th round
2015	NPL 2	28	4	5	19	24	54	30	17	9th	Hernan de Rito	6	5th round
2016	NPL 2	28	12	4	12	52	43	+9	40	6th	Damir Stoilovic	16	4th round
2017	NPL 2	28	10	4	14	44	58	14	32	7th	Damir Stoilovic	10	4th round
2018	NPL 2	28	11	6	11	41	47	6	39	4th	Damir Stoilovic	9	4th round
2019	NPL 2	28	4	7	17	26	70	−44	19	10th	Taban Makoii	7	2nd round
2020	NPL 3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia
2021	NPL 3	14	2	3	9	19	37	−18	9	Cancelled	Andrija Kecojevic	5	Cancelled
2022	NPL 3	22	6	1	15	35	60	-25	18	11th	Nashir Hussainy	12
2023	SL1	22	4	5	13	17	35	-18	17	10th	Nashir Hussainy	6

Managerial history

• Gus MacLeod (1987–1996)
• Dušan Kalezić (1997–1998)
• John Gardiner (1998)
• Miloš Nasić (1999)
• Bobby McLaughlin (1999)
• Zoran Trajčevski (2006–2007)
• Vlado Zorić (2007)
• / Leon Gardikiotis (2007)
• James Sid (2007)
• Stan Webster (2008)
• / Zlatko Mihajlović (2008–2011)
• / Bojo Jevdjevic (2012)
• / Zlatko Mihajlović (2013–2015)
• / Boyan Mitkov (2015–2016)
• / Nik Kovačević (2016)
• / Vlado Tortevski (2017)
• / Nik Kovačević (2018–2019)
• / Nebojša Vukosavljević (2019)
• / John Markovski (2020)
• / Artour Kirichian (2021–2022)
• / Darko Djurić (2022-2023)

• Andrew Skledar (2024)

External links

• Official website (archived)
• Football Federation Victoria Official website
• Serbian Sports Centre – official website (archived)

References

1. "Springvale White Eagles Divisional History". ozfootball.net. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
2. "Map 94 - Springvale White Eagles FC". digitised-collections.unimelb.edu.au.
3. "Springvale coach Gardikiotis resigns". www.heraldsun.com.au/. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
4. "2011 Victorian Premier League – Final Table". ozfootball.net. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
5. "Ladder for Men's State League Div 1 – FOX SPORTS PULSE". foxsportspulse.com. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
6. "Ladder for Men's State League 2 South-East – FOX SPORTS PULSE". foxsportspulse.com. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
7. "Summary – Victoria Division One – Australia – Results, fixtures, tables and news – Soccerway". au.soccerway.com. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
8. "Summary – Victoria Division One – Australia – Results, fixtures, tables and news – Soccerway". au.soccerway.com. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
9. "Mihajlovic departs White Eagles – The Corner Flag". cornerflag.com.au. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
10. "White Eagles add Mitkov, Caminos to coaching structure – The Corner Flag". cornerflag.com.au. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
11. Kulas, Damir. "Jovanovic departs childhood club for Kingston". The Corner Flag. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
12. "Mitkov and Caminos depart White Eagles, Kovacevic joins". The Corner Flag. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
13. "Summary - State Leagues - Australia - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway".
14. "Kovacevic departs White Eagles, takes up Paco role". The Corner Flag. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
15. Kulas, Damir. "White Eagles appoint former Altona championship winner Tortevski". The Corner Flag. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
16. Kulas, Damir. "Tortevski and White Eagles part ways". The Corner Flag. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
17. "Ladder for PS4 NPL2 East VIC Men". SportsTG. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
18. "Ladder for NPL2 East VIC Men". SportsTG. Retrieved 10 September 2019.