New Macarthur Bulls striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos has only one thing on his mind this coming season after sealing his return to the Isuzu UTE League: Goals.
After spending the second half of the season on loan at Sydney FC Stamatelopoulos returned to parent club Motherwell, who currently reside in Scottish football’s top tier.
A popular figure in the dressing room and keen for another crack at Scottish Premiership football, Stamatelopoulos seemingly had two options: stay at Motherwell and play under a new coach or move on to pastures new – and there was plenty of interest in securing his services from clubs elsewhere should he go down that path.
TRANSFER CENTRE: Isuzu UTE A-League 2026-27 Transfer Centre: Your club’s moves
Apostolos Vasillos Stamatelopoulos (Motherwell FC) controls the Ball during the UEFA Conference League 2026/27 Play Off Round Second Leg match between Sport-Club Freiburg and Motherwell at Stadion am Wolfswinkel on August 27, 2026 in Freiburg, Germany. (Photo by GSI/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
However, with the transfer deadline fast approaching and no move yet sorted Stamatelopoulos took things into his own hands and persuaded the club to agree to a mutual termination of his contract so he could go somewhere he knew his talents would be appreciated and his football could do that talking.
His decision was to return home to Australia and try and replicate the sort of form that got him a move to Europe in the first place.
“Buzzing to be back, firstly. The weather’s a lot nicer here!” Stamatelopoulos laughed as he sat down to chat with aleagues.com.au reporter James Dodd.
“But yeah, aspirations like any season are you want to win something with the team, and I think here we’ve got the foundations to do so.
BULLS FEATURE: The tactical plan ‘fierce competitor’ Ognenovski is ‘hell-bent’ on using at Bulls
“I think that’s what’s brought me to this club the most is a little bit of, not security, but working with the assistant (Damir Prodanovic) before at Newcastle knowing the demands that he has.
“Obviously him speaking nothing but highly about Sasa (Head Coach Sasa Ognenovski) and the way that the boss wants to to go about things, and I feel like it suits me.
“I basically just want to go out there and enjoy my football again because it’s been tough the last two years.”
Now 27, Stamatelopoulos’ breakout season in the A-Leagues came back during the 2023/24 campaign where he bagged 17 goals for a Newcastle Jets side that ultimately finished in 10th place.
Not only did that season see him break a Newcastle Jets record for most goals scored in a single season and ultimately secure a move overseas, it also saw him make his debut for the Socceroos under then head coach Graham Arnold.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE 2026/27 A-LEAGUE MEN SEASON
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 11: Apostolos Stamatelopoulos of the Jets celebrates scoring a goal with Brandon O’Neill of the Jets during the A-League Men round 16 match between Western Sydney Wanderers and Newcastle Jets at CommBank Stadium, on February 11, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
So what’s the key to him getting back to his prolific best? His answer is refreshingly blunt.
“Just cross the ball!”
“I mean, that’s a pretty boring answer, but I feel like that’s where I’m at my best is when there’s a lot of deliveries into box, early deliveries into the box, just any sort of chance really that I can get.
“I mean, that’s I think what I struggled with a little bit last year at Sydney was that.
“We obviously scored in different ways, and my role wasn’t that as much, but we did really well towards the end of the season, especially under PK (Sydney FC Head Coach Patrick Kisnorbo) and I think they’ll do really, really well this season. There’ll be some good competitor.
“But for me, yeah, it’s just balls into the box over and over again, and eventually I’ll score.
“I just think that the more chances and the more positions you can put yourself in, regardless of if you miss or you score, you’re going to score eventually.
“So if you’re going to miss two, three, and you have a bad day, it is what it is. On another day, you’re going to get three goals.
NEW THREADS: A-Leagues kits: Every team’s new jerseys for the 2026-27 season
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 22: Apostolos Stamatelopoulos of Sydney FC controls the ball during the round 22 A-League Men match between Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets at Allianz Stadium, on March 22, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
“So for me, I always just try and get in the box because that’s where a lot of goals are scored. And if I miss, I miss. It is what it is. Just on to the next one.”
The good news for the new Bulls frontman is that Macarthur have been busy adding plenty of creativity to their forward line this off-season. Players who, in theory, will be creating plenty of chances for the one-time Socceroos to gobble up.
As well as signing the likes of A-Leagues Champion Connor Pain, Scottish winger Kai Kennedy and Olyroos forward Musa Toure, the Bulls also pulled off one of the signings of the off-season by recruiting former Premier League winger and Scotland international Ryan Fraser following the end of his loan spell with Western Sydney Wanderers.
The signing of the former Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Southampton winger in particular is the sort of player Stamatelopoulos can’t wait to link-up with.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL 2026/27 ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE FIXTURE LIST
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 25: Ryan Fraser of the Wanderers controls the ball during the round 26 A-League Men match between Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory at CommBank Stadium, on April 25, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Steve Christo – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO BECOME AN A-LEAGUES CLUB MEMBER
“Yeah, definitely. I mean, obviously not only him, but you know the boys that they already have here now, like (Callum) Talbot, Payney, (Harry) Politidis, a bunch of boys that are very good at crossing.
“So for me, if you’ve got all that quality, eventually, I’m going to get on the end of crosses. So that was a main reason for me coming here.”
Crucially, the 27-year-old now understands the importance of being happy when playing football, believing he’s a much better chance of achieving what he wants to achieve whilst at the Bulls if he’s enjoying doing what he’s doing on a day-to-day basis.
And whilst he admits it’s not a subject that occupies too much of his time, the idea of one day representing the Socceroos again is always lurking in the background.
“Last year, I think with the way that we were playing at my previous club, it didn’t really suit me, and I think that I was thinking about it too much,” Stamatelopoulos says as the subject of a Socceroos recall comes up.
TRANSFER CENTRE: Isuzu UTE A-League 2026-27 Transfer Centre: Your club’s moves
MOTHERWELL, SCOTLAND – DECEMBER 06: Motherwell’s Apostolos Stamatelopoulos in action during a William Hill Premiership match between Motherwell and Livingston at Fir Park, on December 06, 2025, in Motherwell, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
“It would sort of weigh me down a little bit.
“So basically, once I’d let go of it completely, and I’d had a chat with with PK about it last season, and that’s once I’d just forgotten about it and just got back to enjoying football again.
“That’s when I started playing at my best. So it’s not really in my mind. Obviously, I want to get back there, but it’s day to day.
He concluded: “I just want to focus on putting the ball in the back of the net because that’s what I’m good at, and hopefully everything else will fall into place.”
Stamatelopoulos will be looking to hit the ground running when Macarthur Bulls host Perth Glory at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in Matchweek 1 of the 2026/27 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE 2026/27 A-LEAGUE MEN SEASON
