After guiding Brighton to their highest-ever Women’s Super League (WSL) finish, Dario Vidosic isn’t content to simply bask in the achievement. The ambitious head coach, in his first season in English football, is already looking ahead with greater aspirations. “I’m not too interested about being the best of the rest, I want to be the best of the best,” he says, setting the tone for what he expects from his team going forward.
Brighton secured an impressive fifth-place finish in the 2024–25 season, just behind the WSL’s established elite. However, history offers a warning: clubs like Everton, Tottenham, and Liverpool have all experienced sharp declines after similar breakthroughs. Vidosic is determined to prevent Brighton from falling into the same pattern. Instead, he wants the team to push even further, with silverware now firmly in their sights.
“We want to build. We don’t want to be a one-off where we have a good season and then we fall. We’ve set that platform now,” he says. Though pleased with their progress, Vidosic remains hungry for more. “We’ve not achieved anything yet. For me, I’d have loved to have done a bit more. At the start I said we want to win trophies and compete in all competitions. That’s always the goal.”
This winning mentality underpins Brighton’s evolving style of play. Under Vidosic, the team has developed a modern, possession-based approach. The statistics back it up: Brighton ranked fourth in the league for possession and were fifth for touches in the opposition’s penalty area. Only Arsenal had a better shot-conversion rate. Their attacking mindset and intensity have made them one of the most entertaining sides to watch in the WSL.
“As a player, I always loved to have the ball,” Vidosic explains. “When I didn’t, I’d try to press and win it back. It’s the sort of football I think is enjoyable for the players.” He believes enjoyment is key to performance, both for players and fans. “It’s something I want people to enjoy, to say: ‘We like to watch your team play football.’”
Brighton’s home form has been crucial to their rise. Only Liverpool and Manchester City managed to win at the Broadfield Stadium, while Chelsea and Manchester United were held to draws. Arsenal, now European champions, were beaten 4-2 in an exhilarating match that epitomised Brighton’s fearless approach.
This philosophy was forged during Vidosic’s successful spell with Melbourne City, where he led the team to the 2024 A-League Women title. His move to Brighton happened quickly, but it was a leap he was ready to make. “You just never know who’s watching,” he reflects. “That’s something I always say to my players – your life can change sometimes with one game.”
Now settled in England, the 38-year-old is relishing the challenge. With the backing of a club that is serious about developing its women’s team, Vidosic sees a bright future. “It’s an ambitious, supportive club. We want to challenge the establishment. We want to be right up there. We feel we can compete.”
Brighton have laid the foundation for something bigger. With Vidosic at the helm, the goal is no longer to overachieve it’s to truly belong among the WSL’s elite.
