Canberra FC makes no bones about its lofty ambitions – win the Capital Football National Premier League, win the Federation Cup and prove itself on the national stage in the FFA Cup.
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New technical director Leo Exarhos says that is the minimum expected after a recruiting spree designed to return Canberra FC to the powerhouse it once was.
Canberra FC has brought in several quality players, including Canberra Olympic duo Robbie Deeley and Joel Valtonen, lethal striker Thomas James from the Monaro Panthers and Tuggeranong United livewire Muad Zwed.
Exarhos is back in the NPL after taking this season off after leading Olympic to grand final glory last year, filling the role of technical director and assistant coach to Zoran Glavinic.
Canberra FC is renowned for placing high expectations on its coaches and players, and Exarhos would not have it any other way.
"One hundred per cent, but they make no apologies for that," Exarhos said.
"The level of the team and the history, [club president Marko Vrkic] makes it very clear that they're here to win titles.
"That's just something you can handle or you can't."
Canberra FC is coming off a tumultuous season when coach Ray Junna was sacked, the team finished fourth in the league and was beaten in the penalty shoot-out in the grand final.
The new additions cover all three ends of the park.
Deeley is one of the premier midfielders in the competition, James and Zwed will provide firepower up front, while Valtonen is a strong central defender and will form a formidable combination alongside captain Matt Grbesa.
"What you have at Deakin that you don't have at other clubs is you have two good players in every position," Exarhos said.
"There's lot of competition and a lot of quality in the squad.
"It's a long season with the NPL, the Federation Cup, the FFA Cup, and a club like Deakin aims to win everything, and that's why we've brought in these players."
Deeley has spent the past four seasons with Olympic after moving across the ditch from Dunedin.
A guest stint with Canberra FC in the friendly with Sydney FC sparked his interest in moving to Olympic's arch rival.
"Having Leo here definitely made the decision a lot easier; he always seemed to get the best out of me," Deeley said.
"It was awesome to play for Canberra FC this year, it was a big crowd and a big spectacle, and it got me thinking a wee bit.
"The decision wasn't that hard after that game, and hopefully they'll have more of those games coming up."
