Peter Cklamovski has taken the helm at Salford City with the clear ambition of securing promotion from League Two, aiming to build upon the foundation laid by his predecessor and honor the coaching philosophies of his long-term mentor, Ange Postecoglou.
Cklamovski, 47, joins the English fourth-tier club after a notable career spanning coaching roles across Australia, Japan, and with the Malaysia national team. He spent 15 years as an assistant to Postecoglou, a partnership credited with reshaping coaching standards in Australia and Asia. Their collaboration included time in the lower divisions of Greece, where Postecoglou honed his managerial skills, and success with the Australian national team, including winning the AFC Asian Cup and participating in the 2014 World Cup.
"Whatever I’ve done in my career over the last eight years, and however long I've got left, I want it to be an extension of his legacy. That's how much he means to me," Cklamovski stated. He maintains regular contact with Postecoglou, who served as a sounding board during his application for the Salford position.
Salford's decision to appoint Cklamovski, who has no prior experience in English football, comes after the club missed out on promotion last season. Despite sacking Karl Robinson shortly after a final-day near-miss for automatic promotion, followed by a play-off final defeat, the club has increased its playing budget and is determined to reach League One. Cklamovski intends to build on the previous season's work, viewing the team's heartache as motivation.
Cklamovski's arrival coincides with a significant period of change for Salford. The club, co-owned by David Beckham and Gary Neville, with Paul Scholes as chief football adviser, has reverted to its traditional orange colors as part of a rebrand, upgraded its training facilities, and overhauled its medical department. Key signings, including League Two top scorer Macaulay Langstaff and Team of the Season winger Luke Molyneux, underscore the club's increased ambitions.
The connection to Cklamovski was facilitated through Salford CEO Gavin Fleig, who previously worked with the coach during his time with the City Football Group in Japan. Fleig, who had known Cklamovski for years, reached out after a chance meeting, leading to the new manager's interview and subsequent appointment. Cklamovski impressed across data metrics and during the interview process, despite not directly interacting with Beckham or Neville during the selection.
"The aim is to chase promotions and that resonates with me," Cklamovski said. "I'm not afraid of that. I have a strong belief we can achieve it with special people and play a brand of football that's going to entertain our fans and bring pride and excitement to the Salford community."
Cklamovski aims to implement an attacking style of play, emphasizing both goal-scoring and defensive solidity. "We want to play a brand of football that's going to make every Salford fan and everyone at the club proud and excited," he stated. "We want to have a goalscoring mentality, but we'll also have a real strong mentality to roll our sleeves up and keep clean sheets. We've got to stay humble, work hard, and commit to that."
Salford's league campaign begins away at Barnet. The club's recent performance in the EFL Cup, a penalty shootout loss to Shrewsbury, serves as an early test for Cklamovski's tenure and his team's ability to translate his philosophy into tangible results.