Zadkovich, 34, flew across the Nullarbor on Monday and will work as a second assistant to new A-League coach Richie Garcia and also head up the Glory's academy program.

A former Socceroo, Zadkovich spent the last two years of his career in the west and formed a strong relationship with Garcia who was captain at the Glory.

"It was an ordinary period for me because I had a career-ending knee injury," Zadkovich said.

"In the second year, instead of trying to play, I was an assistant coach with the youth team. Richie was in a in a leadership role but was also getting into coaching and we have remained close.

"I'm very excited. It is exactly the type of role I was looking for."

Zadkovich had only recently taken over at NSW NPL 2 club Hills United and had also been a part-time assistant coach with the Australian under-20s under Gary van Egmond.

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That followed a successful stint at Broadmeadow, which Zadkovich believed provided the grounding for the Glory position.

"It was a really good three years, a really good learning curve and I learnt plenty," Zadkovich said. "It was my first head coaching role at age 30. It is a big club. We were ninth or something after nine rounds in 2017. There was a lot of pressure on but I stuck solid to the things I wanted to implement and the culture I wanted at the club. We went on a run and won 10 straight games and made the finals.

"I didn't look back.

"In 2018 we won the grand final, took out the Maso Cup for the first time in the club's history and made it to the last 16 in the FFA Cup.

"It was a great campaign, but I think my third year - when I took on the director of football role at Magic - is what helped me get the Perth job.

"In 2018, we had one of the best years in the history of the club but we came sixth or seventh in the club championships. It disappointed me that our other teams were struggling. We implemented a new club culture statement, playing style, training procedures and different branding of our club facilities. We had a huge turnaround in results and ended up winning the 2019 club championships. It wasn't just myself. I had a lot of help from the committee and technical director Chris Gallagher. Everyone chipped in and we turned Magic into a strong club again."

Zadkovich will be heavily involved with the first team in Perth.

"I will be at every session and take some components," he said. "My focus will be on the tactical side of things. I also quite like the video analysis stuff. It will be whatever Richie needs me to do. It's a pretty broad gig."

Zadkovich, who has signed a two-year deal, will spend 14 days in quarantine on arrival in Perth.

"Richie has some some Asian Champions League scouting for me to do," he said. "Once I get out of quarantine, I will find a nice big house and [wife] Bianca and the three girls will come over some time before Christmas. That way they can quarantine at home."

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