The Central Coast Mariners have re-signed treble-winning coaches Mark Jackson and Danny Schofield on a new three-year deal, keeping the duo on the Coast until 2027.
Joining the Mariners just weeks away from the start of the 23/24 League season, the pair inherited a team filled with fresh faces off the back of the 2023 Isuzu UTE A-League Championship.
What followed was the club’s most successful season in history and the most trophies won by a single Isuzu UTE A-League team in one campaign.
Jackson and Schofield led the club to a historic treble, starting with its first Premiers Plate since 2012, secured on the final day against Adelaide.
This was followed by the mariners’ first ever Asian continental title and just the second in Australian club football history.
In the 12 games Jackson and Schofield were in charge of in the AFC Cup, not one loss was recorded, with the club scoring 37 goals while only conceding nine.
After over 100,000km of travel, it culminated in a 1-0 win against Al Ahed in the Final at Muscat.
The Mariners’ Grand Final win at Our Paradise completed the treble, as they ran away 3-1 winners over Melbourne Victory in front of over 21,000 fans.
In the pair’s 42 games in charge so far, they have lost only six times, with a club record win percentage of 66 per cent.
Jackson also won a remarkable five Isuzu UTE A-League Coach of the Month awards, as well as being named the Isuzu UTE A-League Coach of the Year in his first season in Australia.
All of this success was accomplished while still sticking to the club’s philosophy of developing the next generation of players, winning the treble with the second youngest average team in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Mariners Sporting Director Matt Simon said the club was excited by the contract.
“What the pair did last season in their first campaign in charge, not only with the success that they achieved on the pitch leading us to the treble, but also the culture that they brought, was incredible,” he said.
“Both their characters and work ethic align perfectly to who we are as a club, and it is really exciting to have them continue with us to grow not only the first team but the Mariners as a whole.”
Head Coach Jackson said he was delighted to extend his contract alongside Danny Schofield.
“We had a clear vision of what we wanted to achieve when we arrived, we worked extremely hard with the rest of the staff to achieve that last season and we want to continue to build on that,” he said.
“We want to continue to develop the players and team to be a club that everyone on the Coast can be proud of.
“We did that last season, giving the fans a lot to cheer about, and it is our job to do that again.”
Schofield is also pleased to be staying on the Coast for another three years.
“Last season was an incredible experience, and we are all extremely proud of what we achieved,” he said.
“I am looking forward to working with Jacko, the rest of the staff and most importantly the players to develop our football and to continue our successes.”