Following a significant change, Eastern United have their new man

Eastern United have appointed Ben Mesisca as their head coach for the remainder of the 2026 season in South Australia’s State League 1.

Mesisca steps into the role following the departure of head coach Gabriel Markaj last month.

Having been part of Eastern United’s coaching structure in 2026, Mesisca now takes charge of the second-tier club - bringing a “clear philosophy, strong leadership and a proven commitment to building high-performance environments centred on culture, standards and player development”.

Eastern United also extended their “sincere thanks to Gab for his dedication, leadership, and long-term contribution to the club. His efforts have helped establish strong foundations that will continue to support the club's future growth.”

"I'm honoured to take on this role at Eastern United," Mesisca said."I'd like to sincerely thank Gab for his commitment and service to the club.

“The foundations are strong, and our responsibility now is to build on them. Our focus is simple: to create consistency, belief, and unity while continuing to develop our players and strengthen our culture.

“I'm excited by the challenge ahead and what this group can achieve together for the remainder of the season."

Eastern Lions are third from bottom in the 12-team competition, with 11 points from 13 matches.