Coach swoops for Eagles role

NERANG will unveil David Benigno as their 2019 Gold Coast Premier League coach as early as today, with the former Surfers Paradise mentor to reunite with long-time tutor Keith Garland at Glennon Park.

While Benigno, 45, will return to Premier League coaching after a year off to concentrate on business commitments, current caretaker coach Garland has accepted a role as director of senior coaching for next season.

Benigno spent three seasons working under Garland at Merrimac — highlighted by the Premier League and reserves titles in 2012 — before leaving together for Surfers Paradise in 2013.

Garland’s departure from Apollo in 2015 prompted Benigno’s appointment to the top job, where a successful three-season stint included a 2016 grand final win and a run to the FFA Cup’s Round of 32.

Their reunion follows the sacking of Sam Saif as Premier League coach last month, with Benigno confident he can deliver success for the Eagles.

“I did get itchy feet. I’m just looking forward to coaching and doing what I do best,” the Queensland under-15 futsal coach said.

“I have (worked with Garland before) and that’s why we’ve spoken and decided to go together again. I bring some finer details to the table that the boys enjoy and a bit of professionalism to the league and I think that’s what it’s about.”

Despite operating in a notoriously fickle Gold Coast football community, Benigno (pictured) said he would not raid the Surfers Paradise playing ranks.

“The young talent coming through (at Nerang) … the 16, 17, 18-year-olds, with the ability that they have, I’m not really going to be searching too far for players because they’ve got some great talent there and there’s a lot of boys that will be ready for Premier League next year. That’s probably what’s excited me the most.

“There’s obviously key players that I would like to come and play for me that are all over the place, there’s a few at each club. I don’t think it’s going to be possible to get all of them but if I could get a few of them and them to the nucleus Nerang have got I think we’re going to be a competitive side.”