With the 2026 season just days away, Manly United FC officially unveils its Senior Men’s squad ahead of the opening round of the National Premier League Men’s NSW comp this Friday, 6 February.
A fresh chapter begins at Manly United in 2026, with Vladimir Knežević taking charge of the Senior Men’s program. The squad assembled for the season strikes a strong balance between continuity and new energy, blending familiar faces, emerging pathway talent and carefully selected additions.
First Grade: Tradition and Trust
Staying true to the Manly United identity, the club has again placed a strong emphasis on its local pathway. Several players have earned promotion from the Under 20s program into the First-Grade environment, reinforcing the club’s long-standing commitment to developing and backing its own.
Experience remains a key feature of the squad, with a solid core of senior players returning for the new campaign. Leading the group is captain Jesse Piriz, supported by Matthew O’Donoghue, Aaron O’Driscoll, Ben Koop, Darcy Burgess, Yannis Frerck, Jasper Chipman and Saxon Hillyer, all set to provide leadership and stability across the park.
Alongside this continuity, the squad has been strengthened with a number of exciting additions. Goalkeeper Mackenzie Syron returns to Manly United after several years playing elsewhere in NPL and overseas comps (most recently with St George FC), while Ayumu Kimura arrives from Gungahlin United FC in Canberra. The squad also welcomes experienced NPL campaigners Luka Krizan and Stephan De Robillard, plus A-League academy player Luke Nieuwenhof, adding further squad depth and competition for the season ahead.
A major highlight of the announcement is the continued promotion of Manly United juniors into the senior environment. Mitchell Seaman, Max Walker, Will Faulder, Sam Griffiths, Cai Evans and Toby Bakewell have all earned their place after progressing through the club’s Under 20s program – a clear reflection of the strength of the Manly United pathway.
Pathway Strength Continues Through the U20s
The club’s commitment to local development continues at the Under-20s level, with a strong group of returning players forming the backbone of the 2026 squad. While several standouts have stepped up into the Senior Men’s program, the U20s retain depth, familiarity and experience, ensuring competitiveness as the next generation pushes toward senior football.
With the squad now locked in and excitement building across the Northern Beaches, attention turns to Friday night’s season opener against St George City at Cromer Park – a not-to-be-missed start to the 2026 NPL Men’s NSW campaign. We’ll see you there, Manly fans – bring the noise!
Feb 6th Fixtures – Cromer Park 1: U20s @ 5.30pm, 1st Grade @7.30pm
BREAKING: Japanese winger Kakeru Ono also joins the Senior Men’s squad ahead of our first fixture on Feb 6th. Join us as we give him a warm Manly United FC welcome on Friday night!
Images credit: Football NSW
