rebelliousfeminist974 said:

BRISBANE ROAR SIGN GERMAN ATTACKER MARKO ILIC

Brisbane Roar Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of German attacker Marko Ilic on a 2-year deal ahead of the 2026/27 Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s season. The 27-year-old winger arrives at the Roar following a positive spell in...

brisbaneroar.com.au

Brisbane Roar have signed 27-year-old German winger Marko Ilic from 3. Liga club TSV Havelse ahead of A-League Men season 2026-27 on a two-year deal through the end of season 2027-28, and have assigned him the number 11 jersey.

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Sounds good to me.

I can't say that there isn't a young left sided winger in the Australian system who could offer similar benefits, but it feels like it is a step up from our youthful left sided forwards and Vrakas playing there.

I have no problem with us mixing in experience with our youth to make us more competitive rather than just a developing marketplace.

Without knowing, I expect someone coming in from German football would be more inclined to work with players like McGarry rather than competing with them. Very broad German football generalisation there!

rebelliousfeminist974 said:

James McGarry was released by Brisbane Roar last week and has since made the move to Wellington Phoenix ahead of A-League Men season 2026-27 getting underway.

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Bloody hell.

Not a word from the club. That's unusual these days.

I guess because it was so recent they haven't had a chance to tell us yet - but that's a shame. McGarry with Ilic in front of him sounded really good.

I am sorry to see McGarry go - especially released by mutual consent to another frigging aleagues team.

AUFC_Fan said:

They did announce it?

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Not to me by email.

Not being on social media (this forum is it for me) I only tend to hear what they tell me and they have been quite diligent with news by email since the Kaz and Zac era started - so I say it is unusual.

Just odd.

Still sorry we lost him though.

Roar News:
Brisbane Roar Football Club can today confirm that long-serving A-League Men’s player Jay O’Shea will depart at the conclusion of his contract, concluding a seven-year chapter in orange that stands among the most loyal individual careers in Club history.

O’Shea arrived in Brisbane from Bury FC in June 2019, signing alongside the appointment of Head Coach Robbie Fowler. What followed was a tenure defined by consistency, loyalty and an unmistakable desire to help the team win, qualities that saw the Irishman, now an Australian citizen, grow from new arrival to Club Captain.


Across Jay’s time at the Club, he:

• Made over 150 A-League appearances for Brisbane Roar, one of only eight players in Club history to reach that milestone and ranking fourth in all-time Roar appearances.

• Won the Gary Wilkins Medal (Club Champion) on three occasions, equal with Thomas Broich for the most in Club history.

• Claimed the Players’ Player award six times.

• Was twice awarded the Club’s Golden Boot.

• Was named in the PFA A-League Team of the Season for 2020-21 and 2022-23.

• Represented the Isuzu UTE A-League as an All Star on two occasions.

Brisbane Roar Chairman and CEO Kaz Patafta said O’Shea’s impact on the Club extended well beyond the record books.

“Jay arrived in Brisbane as a quality footballer and leaves as a genuine Brisbane Roar great,” Patafta said. “Three Gary Wilkins Medals, six Players’ Player awards and the captaincy of this football club, numbers that speak for themselves, but they don’t capture everything Jay has given us. His professionalism, his standards and the way he’s led this group, on and off the field, have shaped a new generation of players who’ve come through our club.

“On behalf of everyone at Brisbane Roar, I want to sincerely thank Jay for everything he has given us. We hope to have the opportunity at a home game in the 2026/27 season to recognise his contribution and give him the send-off he deserves in front of our members and fans.”

Brisbane Roar COO Zac Anderson echoed Patafta’s sentiments, praising O’Shea’s leadership and influence on the Club.”Every day in training, every game, Jay set the standard. Our younger players have learned what it means to be a professional by watching how Jay conducts himself. I want to thank Jay for his commitment to this Club and to this team, and for example he has set for everyone who wears our jersey,” Anderson said.

Brisbane Roar looks forward to celebrating Jay’s career in orange in the 2026/27 A-League season.

RIMB said:

Roar News:
Brisbane Roar Football Club can today confirm that long-serving A-League Men’s player Jay O’Shea will depart at the conclusion of his contract, concluding a seven-year chapter in orange that stands among the most loyal individual careers in Club history.

O’Shea arrived in Brisbane from Bury FC in June 2019, signing alongside the appointment of Head Coach Robbie Fowler. What followed was a tenure defined by consistency, loyalty and an unmistakable desire to help the team win, qualities that saw the Irishman, now an Australian citizen, grow from new arrival to Club Captain.

Across Jay’s time at the Club, he:

• Made over 150 A-League appearances for Brisbane Roar, one of only eight players in Club history to reach that milestone and ranking fourth in all-time Roar appearances.

• Won the Gary Wilkins Medal (Club Champion) on three occasions, equal with Thomas Broich for the most in Club history.

• Claimed the Players’ Player award six times.

• Was twice awarded the Club’s Golden Boot.

• Was named in the PFA A-League Team of the Season for 2020-21 and 2022-23.

• Represented the Isuzu UTE A-League as an All Star on two occasions.

Brisbane Roar Chairman and CEO Kaz Patafta said O’Shea’s impact on the Club extended well beyond the record books.

“Jay arrived in Brisbane as a quality footballer and leaves as a genuine Brisbane Roar great,” Patafta said. “Three Gary Wilkins Medals, six Players’ Player awards and the captaincy of this football club, numbers that speak for themselves, but they don’t capture everything Jay has given us. His professionalism, his standards and the way he’s led this group, on and off the field, have shaped a new generation of players who’ve come through our club.

“On behalf of everyone at Brisbane Roar, I want to sincerely thank Jay for everything he has given us. We hope to have the opportunity at a home game in the 2026/27 season to recognise his contribution and give him the send-off he deserves in front of our members and fans.”

Brisbane Roar COO Zac Anderson echoed Patafta’s sentiments, praising O’Shea’s leadership and influence on the Club.”Every day in training, every game, Jay set the standard. Our younger players have learned what it means to be a professional by watching how Jay conducts himself. I want to thank Jay for his commitment to this Club and to this team, and for example he has set for everyone who wears our jersey,” Anderson said.

Brisbane Roar looks forward to celebrating Jay’s career in orange in the 2026/27 A-League season.

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Jay O'Shea was another Matt McKay.

His skill, enthusiasm, and drive were a key part of the identity of our team and I am well beyond sorry that he is leaving.

I wish him all the best whatever happens next and whatever he ends up doing.

Thanks for being you, Jay.

You were the heart of orange from the moment you pulled on the orange and you showed what it means to have pride in your shirt.

As far as I can work out, Jay was the last of our long term players.

I can't think of anyone, other than Youth players, who have been with the club for any length of time.

We had a similar change of the old guard I think when Robbie Fowler took over and Jay O'Shea joined us - or within a couple of years anyway. We were looking at a team and nobody stood out as a Roar legend or long term player.

I am a supporter who loves to have some oldies who have been in the side for a few years and sort of make up the team identity and spirit. Looks to me like we are a 'new' club with our on-field players.

Damn professional sport.

Who is the heart of our on field team now?

Busy week or so at the club...
by Jordan Hayward 19 June, 2026
Brisbane Roar today confirms a number of new appointments to its men’s technical staff for the upcoming 26/27 Isuzu UTE A-League season and beyond.

Following the addition of new Sporting Director James Gow, the club is building towards a strong 26/27 campaign underpinned by a unified identity, an exciting brand of football, and a clear, modern pathway for the best young talent in Queensland and across Australia.


Joining Head Coach Michael Valkanis, Iacopo La Rocca has been appointed Senior Assistant Coach. La Rocca arrives following coaching roles at Melbourne City FC’s Academy, Preston Lions, Football Victoria and, most recently, FC Bulleen Lions. As a player, he featured internationally and in Australia for Western Sydney Wanderers, Adelaide United and Melbourne City.

Tim Schleiger joins the club in the newly created role of Head of Performance, bringing more than 30 years of high-performance experience working alongside professional athletes and international footballers, including A-League players and current and former Socceroos. Tim draws on a wealth of practical experience as well as a range of tertiary qualifications in human movement, biomechanics, applied science, sports massage, and strength and conditioning. Across his career he has consulted elite international athletes and leading sporting organisations in football, cricket, AFL, tennis, snow sports and a range of summer Olympic sports.

Luis Resa re-joins Brisbane Roar as Head of Medical, leading the men’s physiotherapy department. He returns following a recent role at the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) and brings extensive experience as a Lead Physiotherapist after roles with Football Australia, Cirque du Soleil and the North Queensland Fury.

Andy Bernal continues as an Individual Development Coach, supporting players as they transition between the club’s B Team and A-League squad, while Lloyd Caliban continues in the crucial role as A-League Men’s Kit & Equipment Officer.

The club also welcomes Maxim Gaydovskiy as Head of Analysis. Gaydovskiy previously worked within the coaching structure at FC Zenit Saint Petersburg before relocating to Australia, where he held roles at Preston Lions FC and Heidelberg United FC. He went on to serve as Senior Head Coach at Port Melbourne Sharks SC, and most recently as Head of Analysis at Avondale FC.

The final staffing appointments will be announced in the coming weeks, with A-League Men’s preseason recommencing July 1.

Brisbane Roar Sporting Director James Gow said, “such appointments reflect the standard and direction being set across the club, after an extensive review during the post season.”

“We’ve brought together experienced, high-quality people who share our ambition and understand what it takes to develop players and win matches.”

“Each addition strengthens our technical department and supports a clear, modern pathway for the best young talent in Queensland and across Australia. I’m confident this group, with a couple more final additions, will help us build a unified club identity and an exciting brand of football that our supporters and members can really resonate with.”

I am wondering what our team will look like and where it is going to come from.

Round of 32 in the Australia Cup starts in July as I understand it and we are still just building our squad numbers - let alone beginning to sharpen the tools.

King, Ilic and Ngor just signed give us a left fullback, left forward and centre forward.

Counting the players that I can think of and find now I can only just scrape enough players for a team and the bench - without actually looking at positions. Maybe the rest of the squad are going to be Roar Youth players. Seems quite late to be building a team with preseason meant to be starting sometime soon.

Our first confirmed Community game is set for 15 July at Caboolture Sports FC - just over 3 weeks away.

Players will still be calling each other mate and by their shirt numbers then .

Bouzanis
King Valkanis Bility Evagorou-Alao
Stajic (is he fit?) Durrington Maieroni Shaw Lauton
Vidic Amanatidis Thom Ngor Ilic

Obviously more to come, but not much time. I guess we will trial players through preseason games and the Cup which does not look like we would be strong contenders to go anywhere in the Cup.