https://football360.com.au/australi...h-melbourne-nakhon-ratchasima-details-latest/
‘Australian Championship’s greatest story’ ends with exciting transfer abroad: ‘I owe them everything’
Summary
- South Melbourne have announced the departure of Manny Aguek after he led the club to victory in the Australian Championship.
- Aguek is heading to Thailand to join bottom-placed side Nakhon Ratchasima.
- He was arguably the best story to come out of the inaugural edition of Australia’s second tier.
South Melbourne have announced the departure of Australian Championship star Manny Aguek, with the 25-year-old sealing a move to Thailand.
Aguek lit up Australia’s second tier after returning home to Hellas, where he played junior football, scoring five goals in six matches as he led the club to the inaugural title with a goal in the Grand Final victory over Marconi Stallions.
However, he will not be a part of South’s squad for the OFC Pro League, instead joining Thai Premier League side Nakhon Ratchasima FC.
“The Australian Championship’s greatest story in its Inaugural Championship of 2025, South Melbourne’s Manny Aguek, who scored crucial goals to set up his team’s victory is signing for Thai Premier league team Nakhon Ratchasima F.C,” a South Melbourne statement read.
“Manny will be leaving his boyhood club a Championship winner and leaves with a heavy heart knowing he left an indelible mark on his second stint at Hellas.”
Aguek said: “Hellas gave me the opportunity on the National stage where I excelled, I owe them everything, they will always be in my heart.
“I would like to thank the whole club for believing in me and in particular Co- President Andrew Mesourouni, Football Director Peter Kokotis and Senior Coach Sinisa Cohadzic for their role in bringing me back home.”
The club’s Senior Football Director Peter Kokotis added: “Manny Aguek is a great Hellas story.
“A boy that grew up at our club, became a star on the National stage and is now moving on to a big Asian league.
“We wish him well and know that he may one day again wear the famous blue and white shirt.“
2025 was a huge year for Aguek, who scored 14 goals in 25 matches in NPL Victoria for Victorian premiers Avondale FC – and added six goals and two assists in four matches en route to the semi-finals of the Australia Cup – before making the move back to South Melbourne.
He’ll now try his hand at playing football abroad for a second time, having spent a short stint with Maltese side Balzan FC back in 2023-24.
Nakhon Ratchasima will be hoping the forward can make an immediate and significant impact in Thailand, with the club sitting bottom of the Thai Premier League, having won just one of their first 15 matches this term.
That victory came in the second round of the season and has been followed by 13 straight losses.