Western Sydney Wanderers 2024/25 season preview: Can Mata and Stajcic awake the sleeping giant?
Christian Montegan 
Western Sydney Wanderers 2024/25 A-League season preview. Photo: Poletti. Design: Round Ball Australia
One of five clubs still waiting on an elusive A-League championship, it is fair to say that the Western Sydney Wanderers have been a hit-and-miss since Tony Popovic’s departure seven years ago.
There were times throughout Marko Rudan’s tenure when an identity was apparent to build a promising future, but other times, off-field issues such as reports of losing the dressing room and Rudan’s controversial comments dragged the club down.
Now, former Central Coast Mariners and Perth Glory boss Alen Stajcic has come into the fold, ready to leave his mark and compete for silverware once again.
“The opportunity to come home and represent the area where I’ve grown up, where I belong and where I’ve lived my whole life doesn’t come along very often. For me personally, it’s a little bit of a spiritual homecoming,” Stajcic said during a recent press conference.
“I think the club should be the best club in Australia. There’s no other club that has the pillars for me to be the best club in the country.”
Those are strong words, but they highlight his demanding expectations and belief in the organisation which can only ingrain a healthy attitude.
Headlined by star signing Juan Mata, can the squad mould a winning formula with a mixture of experience and youth?
The Manager: Alen Stajcic
It is hard to think of another coach who has experienced so much undeserved misfortune over the years.
From his controversial sacking at the helm of the Matildas to working with a Perth Glory side who were a shambles off-field concerning ownership issues, Stajcic has rarely been handed the opportunity to thrive.
That narrative may change in an environment that possesses some of the best resources in the league to flourish and compete at the top.
Wanderers can expect Stajcic to be extremely flexible and adaptable with his tactics and not afraid to revert away from plan A depending on the opposition.
Last season during his time at Perth, the 50-year-old set his team out with three different formations during various stages of the season – a standard 4-4-2, 3-5-2, or 5-3-2.
Wingbacks will be heavily relied upon when opting for the latter two setups, with left-back Jack Clisby an integral part of Stajcic’s plans last season, who has joined the Wanderers.
During the Wanderers’ recent Australia Cup run, a disappointing exit in the quarter-final stage against Adelaide United was met with a 5-3-2 variation which became a 3-5-2 and 4-2-3-1 at times during attacks.
Expect free-flowing football, but also calculated risks. Stajcic is a manager who can read a game impeccably well and make swift changes thanks to his adaptability.
His tenure at the Mariners and the Philippines national women’s team are examples of how Stajcic can squeeze every inch of potential with what he has at his disposal – only this time – he is managing arguably the best club squad of his coaching career.
The Squad
Regarding acquisitions, Mata is undoubtedly the pick of the bunch and is expected to become one of the best marquee signings in the competition’s 20-year history, arriving on a free transfer, 10 months after the expiry of his Vissel Kobe contract.
“I’m very lucky to have the career I’ve had but I’m still hungry for more. To keep enjoying football, to keep winning trophies with this club now,” he said during his inaugural Wanderers press conference.
“I feel ready to come back. Really eager to be on the pitch. I’m really looking forward to touch the ball again, to train with my new teammates.”
While it is true that the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League winning superstar will see an increase in bums on seats and be the face of endless marketing campaigns, the 36-year-old is not here for a holiday.
The Spaniard’s vision and creativity should have the likes of Brandon Borrello and Zac Sapsford licking their lips – filling the void left behind by the departing Miloš Ninković.
One signing that has flown under the radar is Bulgaria’s Bozhidar Kraev who joins from Giancarlo Italiano’s Wellington Phoenix. The attacking midfielder was involved in eight-goal contributions last season, but the question remains how the 27-year-old will fit in the starting line-up alongside Mata.
South Korean centre-back Tae-wook Jeong will replace the experienced Marcelo in the backline on a season-long loan from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
James Temelkovski, Dean Pelekanos, Jordan Holmes and Ben Holliday are four players who signed contracts from National Premier League (NPL) clubs, highlighting the competition’s shift in focusing on NPL talent.
Although wholesale changes are expected when a new manager walks through the door, the Wanderers’ 16 departures in the off-season per Transfermarkt perhaps surprised many.
19-year-old Marcus Younis is one of the most promising players in terms of youth who has departed for Jong PSV in Holland on loan, while the Wanderers could feel the pinch with midfielders Jorrit Hendrix and Oliver Bozanic leaving the club with a void in experience.
As stated previously about Stajcic’s tactical variations, winger Nicolas Milanovic is a huge shout to be the Wanderers’ most important player.
The 22-year-old can also cover the wide midfield positions and track back defensively to accommodate Stajcic’s balanced system.
Off-Field: Derby hype
Round one. Saturday night prime time. Sydney Derby. Could you ask for any better?
In a fixture that has surpassed the Melbourne derby as the biggest and most anticipated contest in the competition, another layer of anticipation will be added with the Juan Mata v Douglas Costa tag.
Known in the past to be fiery affairs, the hype around this clash heading into the opening round is something the APL can pat themselves on the back for as they opted not to wait for potential outs to star players – instead – hit the ground running.
Not since the days of Alessandro Del Piero and Shinji Ono has the Sydney derby occupied world-class names in their respective squads to get fans and neutrals tuning in.
From the pre-match tifos to the colour and exhilarating atmosphere from both sets of supporters, the upcoming derby set to be hosted at CommBank Stadium should be a fantastic advert for the league and Australian football.
Expectations
Another A-League side who will commence with a new coach, it is difficult to pinpoint where exactly the expectations fall for this Wanderers outfit so desperate for success.
At a bare minimum, finals football should be the realistic goal that Stajcic and his men aspire towards in the hope of going one better than last season.
In saying that, Stajcic is known to implement his philosophy and approach earlier than the average tactician – and that could prove vital in an environment that demands the very best.
A win in the finals would be a step in the right direction for a club seeking a new direction, but it should be a stepping stone for a massive 2025/26 campaign with the right foundations laid.
Off-field, Sydney’s red and black third are in a comfortable position. On-field is where past uncertainties about not knowing what to expect on the pitch need to turn into a consistent identity.
Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory are being touted as the two front runners for the championship, but don’t sleep on the Wanderers so early.