Marrickville FC has announced former Socceroo and Australian football icon Jim Patikas as the club’s Men’s Premier League coach for the 2026 season.
Patikas, who was coached by legends such as Sir Alex Ferguson (Aberdeen) and Tommy Docherty (Sydney Olympic), brings a wealth of experience from both his international and domestic playing and coaching career.
He was inducted into the Football Canterbury Association Hall of Fame in 2022 and received the CEC Barlow Award in 2016.
As a player, Patikas was the first established Australian signed by a European professional club, capped 27 times for the Socceroos, and earned accolades including Australian Player of the Year (1985) and Greek League MVP with AEK Athens.
He was also the first Socceroo to play in the UEFA Champions League and the first Australian goal scorer at the Sydney Football Stadium.
In coaching, Patikas led the Inner West Hawks (NPL League Two, 2024) to fourth place, previously served as Technical Director and U20s Head Coach at Sydney Olympic (2021-2023), and has extensive experience across youth development, Premier League, Super League, and futsal programs.
He has nurtured players now active in the NPL, A-League, and Young Socceroos.
Marrickville FC praised Patikas for bringing “international and local experience, expertise, a winning philosophy, and a proven track record of developing young talent” to the club.
