Alan Vest: Former Perth Glory interim manager and assistant passes away at age 86

The WA soccer community is mourning the death of former Perth Glory caretaker manager Alan Vest, who has been remembered as a “vital” part of the club’s two NSL grand final wins.

Vest passed away this week, aged 86. Having been born in England and representing New Zealand as a striker in his playing days, Vest made a significant contribution to soccer in WA as a coach.

He served as Glory’s assistant manager for four years from 2001 and took over the top job for half a season midway through the 2005-06 campaign following Steve McMahon’s exit.

During his time at Glory assistant, Vest was head coach Mich d’Avray’s main assistant and was on the sidelines when Perth won their first NSL grand final in 2003 by beating Sydney Olympic 2-0 in front of 38,111 people at Subiaco Oval.

A year later, Vest was once again celebrating more silverware as Perth upset Parramatta Power 1-0 in extra time of the last-ever NSL grand final in 2004.

d’Avray told The West Australian Vest was a “football man through and through” and an important part of their two triumphs — which remain Glory’s only championships to this day.

“We all know football is a team game, here’s no one individual and Alan played his part in the team’s success,” he said.

“As the head coach, his role was was vital for me because he wasn’t a young inexperienced coach coming in, he was experienced.

“I very often lent on that experience. How I always worked in my coaching days, I would never appoint as my assistant someone because he was my friend or because I knew he’d have my back.

“I always appointed assistant coaches who would challenge me, who would challenge my thinking and Alan was one of them.”

d’Avray said one of Vest’s strengths was he treated everyone the same, regardless of their standing in the squad.

“He was someone who didn’t mince his words, and wasn’t interested in reputations; he would have a go at you if you were Damian Mori, or if you were young Nick Mrdja,” he said.

“I got on well with him even away from football, which is unusual, so we worked well together at Perth Glory.”

Vest held other roles in WA soccer, including spending time as the state’s director of coaching.

“Perth Glory is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former club assistant and interim manager Alan Vest,” the club said.

“Vestie served the club with distinction between 2001 and 2006.

“Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends. Vale Vestie.”

Former Glory chief executive Peter Filopoulos was among those to pay tribute.

“A respected football man who gave so much to the game in WA. Thoughts with his family and the Glory community,” he wrote on X.