Kosta Barbarouses has explained why he chose South Melbourne after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, putting his young family ahead of another A-League playing contract.

Speaking to Football360, the 36-year-old former Panathinaikos forward said years on the road across New Zealand, Australia, Russia and Greece had reshaped his next step.

Rather than chase another A-League contract after Western Sydney Wanderers, he weighed Melbourne’s A-League clubs or a return to Wellington Phoenix. Then he opted for stability at Lakeside Stadium.

Why Kosta Barbarouses put family first

“It was either knocking on the door of the Melbourne teams here in the A-League, or really it was only Wellington that would make sense for the family,” Kosta Barbarouses said.

“It was either putting the family first for once. My kids have changed schools a few times in the last couple of years. “Or do I continue putting myself first and move interstate alone and keep them here?”

“At the end of the day, we decided it was best for me to stay put.”

Conversations with former teammate Paulo Retre also helped. “He had nothing but positive things to say, so we got the ball rolling with those conversations,” the New Zealand international said.

Greek City Times earlier profiled him as the A-League’s quiet achiever. The Greek-Australian diaspora club South Melbourne Hellas has since added him for the Australian Championship and NPL VIC.

South Melbourne’s pro push at Lakeside

In addition, South Melbourne — the Australia Cup champions who beat Melbourne Victory on penalties — now juggle the NPL, Australia Cup, Australian Championship and OFC Pro League.

Captain Marco Jankovic has said the club is “not just an NPL club” anymore. As a result, the side has played more than 60 matches in 2026.

Following the Cup win, it also entered AFC Champions League Two.

Kosta Barbarouses watched that final from the stands. He later debuted in the Australian Championship and saw the club take a bonus-point shootout win at Lakeside.

“I’ve been very surprised at the quality, the standards, the application from the players,” he said. “Most of them want to make a step up to a pro level.”

Even so, he went further on the facilities. “I’m guessing I’ve probably walked into the most professional team,” he added. “It’s not too much different from what I’m used to.”

Meanwhile, new head coach Jamie Reed replaced Cup-winning boss Sinisa Cohadzic, who left for Avondale. Still, Kosta Barbarouses rates the club’s A-League hopes highly.

“I think they’re well on their way,” he said. “I’ve come straight from a World Cup. I wanted to play as high a level as I can, and South is that.”

A 76-time All White with four A-League titles and three OFC Nations Cups, he is also eyeing media work and youth coaching while finishing his A Licence.

However, senior coaching can wait. “I just want to be grounded and stay put for a little bit,” he said. The club’s Lakeside base now anchors that choice.

Source: Football360