Steven Ugarkovic targets redemption after fall from A-League champion to wooden spoon

Having endured a massive fall from grace that had him plummet from champion to wooden-spooner, Western Sydney midfielder Steven Ugarkovic is desperate to climb the A-League ladder with the Wanderers.

Life was sweet for Ugarkovic after being part of the Melbourne City team that clinched the title in May 2025 with a 1-0 grand final win over Melbourne Victory.

However, ecstasy quickly turned to agony after the Sydney product left City to rejoin the Wanderers.

Less than 12 months after celebrating title success, Ugarkovic was left to wallow in the pity of Western Sydney finishing at the bottom of the table.

“It was very hard for the whole club, but for me personally, it wasn’t a proud moment in my career,” the 32-year-old former Australian under-23 international said.

“It’s a learning curve. It’s something that I’ve looked back over in the off-season and looked at a few things that I could have done better, not just on the field, but off the field.

“As a club, (last on the ladder) is not somewhere we want be, but if you don’t learn from it, that’s an even bigger mistake.

“Going from winning the title, which was the highlight of my career, to a year later not doing well was hard, but you’ve got to accept it, learn from it and move on.

Urgakovic, a veteran of 269 A-League appearances, was confident that Western Sydney’s fortunes would change in the upcoming season under new coach Ufuk Talay.

“He’s very clear with his messages of what he wants and how he wants it, which is important,” Ugarkovic said of former Sydney FC coach Talay, whose first A-League game in charge of the Wanderers will be a derby against the Sky Blues on October 16.

“He’s also big about our values and camaraderie, and not just the football group, but the whole club.

The Wanderers squad has been boosted by the return of 2025 Johnny Warren Medal winner Nicolas Milanovic following a season in Scotland with Aberdeen, and the arrival of Ugarkovic’s former City teammate German Ferreyra.

“He brings a winning mentality,” Ugarkovic said of Argentine centre-back Ferreyra.

“He’s a great defender and he brings a lot of experience to the team at well.”