Nelson Buttigieg

Technical Director, Altona City Soccer Club

He is two seasons into one of the most important roles at Altona City Soccer Club, and already mapping out his third. Nelson is the person responsible for shaping how football is coached, developed, and experienced across every team at the club.

"In a nutshell, a Technical Director's role is to help and guide coaches at the club and to ensure we all uphold particular standards and playing styles," Nelson explains. From coordinating coach education to ensuring consistency across every age group, Nelson is the thread that connects NewRoos on a Saturday morning all the way through to the senior program.

Ask Nelson about his coaching philosophy and he does not hesitate.

That philosophy flows into everything. In the younger age groups, the focus is firmly on fundamentals. As players move up, consistent playing styles ensure the messaging never changes, so when a player steps up an age group, they feel at home from day one.

One of Nelson's most refreshing stances is his approach to player development.

It is a grounded, honest approach, putting the player at the centre of everything.

When asked about challenges, Nelson reaches for one of his favourite analogies.

The biggest challenge so far has been getting buy-in, helping coaches, players and families trust that the changes being made are the right ones. "Trusting the process. Understanding that things needed to change, particularly mindset. So far the change has been pleasing."

Beyond the tactics, it is the people that keep Nelson coming back. "The greatest enjoyment of football is the people we meet along our journey. Some of the best people I have met along the way have been in the last two years here at Altona City." He also speaks warmly of the trust the committee has placed in him, something he does not take lightly.

As for next season, Nelson has plenty to be excited about: the girls program competing in the rebranded NPL competition, the boys community teams pushing for promotion into the boys NPL, and the arrival of new coaches, players and families into the club.