ESSENDON
Essendon Royals are pleased to announce Davor Trifunov as the club’s NPLW U20s Head Coach for the 2027 season.
A B-licensed coach with NPL-level playing experience, Trifunov joins the Royals after three years at Avondale, where he coached in the CPL before moving into the NPL environment.
Working under NPLW head coach Jaiden van der Heijden and Girls’ Technical Director Grace Maher, the proven Royals pathway to senior football was a major factor in Trifunov’s decision to join the club.
“I was really, really intrigued about the plan and the process that they’ve started to implement within the Essendon Royals senior women’s and alongside that, U20s, and then alongside that, the junior set-up,” Trifunov says.
“The pathway is super, super crucial. It’s what’s brought me across to Essendon Royals and clubs don’t always offer that.”
Trifunov has already begun working closely with outgoing U20s Head Coach Alex Cimino, who is moving into a new role as an Assistant Coach with the senior side.
“We’ve talked about the under 20s players and who he sees is going to be the next best player at Essendon Royals, and who I see as well,” he says.
“Already, I’d say we’ve got a terrific working relationship.
With expressions of interest open to join the U20s program for next season, Trifunov encourages any young female footballers looking to further their development to take their talents to Cross Keys.
“The culture at Essendon Royals is unmatched… if you are looking for that pathway, look no further than Essendon Royals.”
Submit your expression of interest here: https://bit.ly/NPL-EOI