Meet our coaches - Phillip Lesar

From time to time, you cross paths with single-minded individuals that have an iron will to achieve their goals. Our technical coach, Phillip Lesar, is a perfect example of a person that found clarity early in balancing his education with his passion for football.

Currently studying Commerce and Melbourne University after completing his VCE at Keilor Downs College in 2020, Phillip was a founding member of our program from our first baby steps in 2015. Back then, this disciplined midfielder was technically sound on his right side and he spent the next six years of his development with us, honing his skills and balancing his academic-sporting aspirations to perfection.

An accidental leg break in year nine didn't dampen his spirits and he came back with an even more impressive drive to catch up on lost time. After spending all of his junior formative years at local club the Melbourne Knights, Phillip this year took the intelligent step of gaining first team football experience by signing for State League One club Yarraville Glory, where he quickly established himself as a key member of the starting lineup. 

Always keen to give back to the program, Phillip kindly offered to be a volunteer coach for us this year, and his technical small group sessions have proven a real hit with our young boys and girls. In his own words, Phillip believes that coaching has helped him learn how to communicate effectively and get the most out of people, which he has been able to take into his own private coaching sessions, which he now does with young boys and girls that want to add to their training development.

When given an opportunity to train with HNK Gorica's youth team during a family holiday to Croatia, Phillip quickly realised the benefits of being taught the correct technique at an early age and now is a massive advocate for guiding young players to form great habits, just like the player that he idolises most in the world, Croatian captain Luka Modric.

His aspirations of playing at the highest level possible remain intact and he will be looking to break into an NPL senior side in the near future, but for the mean time he is loving helping the next generation of talent at KDC.

"I really love the sense of community and how everybody looks after each other at KDC. It is really a big extended family", said Lesar.