He's seen football at its richest. The NPL showed him something else

Former Zenit Saint Petersburg analyst Maxim Gaydovskiy hailed Australia's National Premier Leagues as “pure football”, revealing how his time in Victorian football left a lasting impression despite a decorated career at the highest level of the European game.

Gaydovskiy, who helped Zenit win six Russian league titles and worked alongside the likes of Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto Mancini, arrived in Australia in 2022 after leaving Russia.

Having spent a decade in professional football, including experiencing UEFA Champions League nights against Europe's elite, the highly regarded analyst embraced a vastly different environment in Melbourne.

Now Brisbane Roar’s head of analysis in the A-League, he worked with Melbourne University, Preston Lions and Heidelberg United before taking charge of Port Melbourne Sharks, while also spending time at Avondale FC .

And despite the considerable difference in resources and facilities, Gaydovskiy was struck by the passion and commitment underpinning Australia's state league competitions.

“I think NPL is a beautiful league,” he told Football360.

“I'm actually impressed by how it is governed, how many people are involved and the amount of work and commitment people are investing into this game for free.

“I feel like NPL is pure football.”

Gaydovskiy added: “Even though the pitches were smaller, the changing rooms were smaller, or there was not enough staff, or we didn't have a groundsman, or we didn't have a kit man, it didn't affect me,” he said.

“For me, I was just focusing on football.”

The experience proved particularly rewarding for Gaydovskiy, who admitted he found greater satisfaction coaching in Victoria than analysing matches on some of European football's biggest stages.

“From my experience and my feelings, I was much more satisfied when I was at Port Melbourne trying to beat South Melbourne, or trying to beat Melbourne Victory, than when I was at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea as an analyst.”

Gaydovskiy's time in the NPL has since been followed by a return to professional football, having joined Brisbane Roar as head of analysis under Michael Valkanis.

Former Hume City boss Nick Hegarty and Iacopo La Rocca have also joined Valkanis’ staff via the NPL in Victoria.