Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Former Socceroos defender Dean Heffernan has been appointed coach of the Central Mariners’ A-League women’s team.
The appointment marks a homecoming for the 46-year-old ex-Western Sydney Wanderers women’s coach, a foundation Mariners player who made 83 appearances in all competitions for the Gosford-based club.
“I had some of the best years of my playing career here, and I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to create some special memories again, this time as a coach,” said Heffernan, who replaces former Mariners women’s coach Kory Babington, who was informed in June that his services would no longer be required.
At that time, the future of the Mariners’ women’s program was in doubt, with the club’s new owners, Total Soccer Growth Holdings, having only bought the club’s men’s team and academy.
However, the women’s arm of the Mariners was secured earlier this month through investment frorn the Holman Barnes Group in conjunction with NPL NSW club APIA Leichhardt.
“I saw the incredible response from the Central Coast community when the future of the women’s program was uncertain,” Heffernan said.
“Now that the future is clear with the support of HBG, we want to build something the whole Coast can get behind.”
Mariners director of women’s football Matteo Maiorana said Heffernan was a “fantastic coach”.
“From the moment we first connected, we quickly established that we were on the same page with the type of football we wanted the team to play and, most importantly, the type of player we wanted representing the club,” Maiorana said.
Heffernan’s coaching staff will include another former Mariners star and ex-Socceroo, Oliver Bozanic.
“I’m very proud and excited that not only do we have two wonderful coaches with great football minds and pedigree, but more importantly, two coaches who know the club intimately,” Maiorana said.
The Mariners start their 2026-27 A-League women’s season with an away game against Brisbane Roar on October 17.
