Central Coast Mariners have appointed former Socceroo Dean Heffernan as Head Coach of their Ninja A-League team, with club great Oliver Bozanic returning as Assistant Coach for the 2026/27 season.
Heffernan returns to the Mariners more than 15 years after finishing his playing career with the club, having represented Central Coast between 2005 and 2010.
The 43-year-old was part of the Mariners’ 2007/08 Premiership-winning side and earned international honours with the Socceroos during his playing career.
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Heffernan has also coached at A-Leagues level, taking charge of Western Sydney Wanderers’ Ninja A-League side in 2019 and guiding the club to a first-ever Finals Series appearance in his debut season.
His return comes as the Mariners embark on a new era under their new ownership structure, with the club looking to establish a strong identity around its women’s program.
New Director of Women’s Football Matteo Maiorana said Heffernan’s connection to the Mariners made his appointment particularly significant.
“It’s a major coup to have Dean back. We are trying incredibly hard to ensure the Mariners Women’s team is a team that the whole Central Coast community can get behind and support,” Maiorana said.
“Having someone who is so deeply embedded in the fabric of the club, who knows what wearing that Yellow and Blue jersey means, was integral as we establish the team within our new ownership structure.
“Putting aside his history with the club, Heff is a fantastic coach.
“From the moment we first connected, we quickly established that we were on the same page with the type of football we wanted the team to play and, most importantly, the type of player we wanted representing the club.”
Heffernan said the chance to return to the Mariners and create yet more history with the club he’s so synonymous with was an opportunity he simply couldn’t turn down.
“It’s a very proud moment to be back coaching at the Mariners,” Heffernan said.
“I had some of the best years of my playing career here, and I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to create some special memories again – this time as a coach.
“I saw the incredible response from the Central Coast community when the future of the women’s program was uncertain. Now, that future is clear with the support of HBG, we want to build something the whole Coast can get behind.
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“We need your support more than ever. Together, we can create a team, a program and a culture that the Central Coast can be truly proud of, and we can’t wait to get started.”
Heffernan will be joined by Bozanic, who returns for his second season as an assistant coach after transitioning into coaching following a distinguished playing career.
The former Mariners captain made more than 100 A-League appearances for the club and was part of the side that won the 2012/13 Championship.
Maiorana said Bozanic’s knowledge of the club and existing squad would be valuable as the Mariners prepare for the new season.
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“We are incredibly excited to be able to bring Oli back. He was instrumental in keeping the group engaged during the ownership talks, and his knowledge of the group has been integral as we look to finalise our squad for the upcoming season,” Maiorana said.
“I’m very proud and excited that not only do we have two wonderful coaches with great football minds and pedigree, but more importantly, two coaches who know the club intimately.
“It’s exciting to see how driven and fully focused both are on ensuring we put a team together that can compete at the highest level and make the people of the Central Coast and beyond proud.”
Heffernan and Bozanic will now work together to shape the Mariners Women for the 2026/27 Ninja A-League season, with the club aiming to build a team and culture the Central Coast can rally behind.
