Tribute to Rado Vidosic: A Legacy in Women’s Football

Rado Vidosic, who served as Brighton’s head of women’s and girls’ coaching and was the father of the women’s head coach Dario, has sadly passed away at the age of 64.

Last week, Brighton, a club in the Women’s Super League, announced that Dario would be taking a leave of absence to attend to family matters in Australia.

Born in Osijek, in the former Yugoslavia, Rado joined Brighton in January and played a pivotal role in the team’s historic 2024-25 campaign, contributing to their record fifth-place finish in the Women’s Super League, as noted by the club.

Zoe Johnson, Brighton’s managing director for women’s and girls’ football, expressed that Rado had been “an integral part” of the club, emphasizing that his impact will be “forever remembered.” She extended heartfelt thoughts to Dario and his family during this challenging time.

Michelle Walder, chair of women’s football, remarked, “Rado was not only a highly respected coach but also a beloved member of our club, instrumental in fostering our strong team culture.”

Prior to his tenure at Brighton, Rado dedicated six years to Melbourne City in Australia, working with both the men’s and women’s teams. His experience also included coaching roles at Brisbane Roar, Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory, and Wellington Phoenix.

Rado held the position of academy technical director at Melbourne City before becoming the head coach of the women’s team, eventually managing the men’s team and leading them to an A-League title.

Melbourne City acknowledged Rado as “a highly respected figure whose impact and influence on our club, and Australian football at large, will endure for many years to come.”

During Dario’s absence, Brighton’s assistant head coach Chris Roberts and first-team coach Arthur Brammer have stepped in, successfully overseeing recent victories against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup fourth round and Everton in the WSL.

Listeners can catch the latest episodes of the Women’s Football Weekly podcast, hosted by Ben Haines, Ellen White, and Jen Beattie, which airs every Tuesday on BBC Sounds. Additional interviews and content from the Women’s Super League and beyond can be found on the Women’s Football Weekly feed.