Adelaide United great Javi López will remain at the Reds following his retirement from football, having been appointed as the club’s transition and individual coach on a three-year deal.
The 39-year-old’s new role was confirmed as the club revealed Elvis Markov as its youth team interim head coach for the remainder of the 2025 NPL South Australia season; López will serve under Markov as assistant coach of Adelaide’s NPL outfit.
Markov is set to take over as interim head coach following Airton Andrioli’s final game in charge of Adelaide’s NPL side this Saturday.
CLICK HERE TO HEAD TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE TRANSFER CENTRE
Along with assisting Markov in the NPL setup, López’s new role at Adelaide will focus on bridging the gap between the club’s academy and senior setups.
The Reds legend announced his retirement from football at the end of the Isuzu UTE A-League 2024-25 season, having played 91 games for the club across five seasons.
“I’m really excited to begin my coaching journey with Adelaide United,” López said.
“The club, and the community, have always been so welcoming to me and my family, and I’m grateful for the chance to give back. I look forward to helping young players grow and reach their full potential in their football careers.”
CLICK HERE TO HEAD TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE TRANSFER CENTRE
Markov, meanwhile, prepares to begin his stint as interim boss of Adelaide’s NPL side after a five-year stint as assistant of the youth side.
Described by the club as being “widely regarded as one of South Australia’s brightest coaching talents”, Markov says replacing Andrioli – the newly-appointed head coach of Adelaide’s Isuzu UTE A-League squad – is a “humbling privilege.”
“As a passionate supporter of the club, I’m honoured to help guide our young players on their path to A-League football,” Markov said.
“I want to thank Airton for his incredible work in laying strong foundations and congratulate him on his well-earned opportunity with the A-League side. We’ve worked closely for many years, and I’ve greatly appreciated his support, friendship, and mentorship.
“I’m also thrilled to welcome Javi to the coaching staff. His playing experience and character will be an enormous benefit to the group.”
Adelaide United technical director Ernest Faber added: “Javi brings passion, perspective, and a deep connection with our club’s culture, while Elvis offers strong local knowledge and is a highly respected coach with decades of experience in South Australian football.
“Together, they provide the perfect platform for our youth players to thrive for the rest of this season and beyond.”
