Sash Becvinovski
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sash Becvinovski | ||
| Date of birth | 15 April 1972 | ||
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1978–1989 | Footscray JUST | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1989 | Footscray JUST | 8 | (2) |
| 1990–1991 | Wollongong Macedonia | 5 | (0) |
| 1991–1992 | Green Gully | 50 | (35) |
| 1992–1993 | Morwell Falcons | 26 | (9) |
| 1993–1994 | Brunswick Pumas | 14 | (2) |
| 1994–1995 | Preston Lions | 50 | (16) |
| 1996–1998 | Altona Magic | 82 | (70) |
| 1998–1999 | Gippsland Falcons | 17 | (1) |
| 2000 | Green Gully Cavaliers | 21 | (9) |
| 2001–2007 | Altona Magic | 170 | (59) |
| Total | 462 | (207) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2008 | Bulleen Royals (assistant) | ||
| 2010 | Altona Magic | ||
| 2012–2014 | Sydenham Park | ||
| 2024–2025 | Altona City (assistant) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Sash Becvinovski (born 15 April 1972) is an Australian former soccer player and coach. He played as a striker and is the all-time top scorer in the Victorian Premier League, winning the league's Golden Boot as top scorer on four occasions (1991, 1992, 1998, 2006).
Becvinovski also had a notable coaching career at senior and state league level in Victoria.
Early career
Becvinovski began his football journey at the age of six with Footscray JUST, progressing through the youth ranks for more than a decade.
At just 17 years of age, he made his senior debut for Footscray JUST in the National Soccer League on June 28, 1989 in a 1-1 draw against St George at St George Stadium. He spent the rest of the season there, scoring twice in eight NSL matches.[1][2]
Club career
Green Gully
Despite dropping down from the National Soccer League to the Victorian Premier League, Becvinovski quickly made his mark at Green Gully. Still a teenager, he showcased himself as a hugely promising player, finishing with 17 goals in 24 appearances in 1991 and 18 in 26 the following season. His performances earned him the first two editions of the Victorian Premier League Men's Rising Star Award in 1991 and 1992.[3]
Morwell Falcons
Becvinovski returned to the NSL with the newly promoted Morwell Falcons in 1992–93, where he finished as the club’s equal top scorer alongside Billy Wright. His nine goals helped the Falcons exceed expectations in their debut NSL season and established him as a capable striker at the national level.[2]
Brunswick Pumas
Becvinovski played for Brunswick Pumas in 1993–1994, scoring 2 goals in 14 appearances.
Preston Lions
Becvinovski played for Preston Lions in 1994–1995, scoring 16 goals in 50 appearances. He helped the team to the VPL Championship in 1994.
Altona Magic
Becvinovski became one of Altona Magic’s greatest ever players. Known for his technical ability, first touch, vision, and intelligent movement in and around the penalty area, he was extraordinarily prolific in front of goal. Between 1996 and 1998, he scored 70 goals in 82 appearances, including seasons of 22, 24, and 24 goals respectively. These performances won him consecutive Victorian Premier League Golden Boots in 1997 and 1998, the VPL Player of the Year in 1997, and helped Altona Magic win VPL championships in 1996 and 1997.[2]
Gippsland Falcons
His prolific form at Magic led to a second NSL stint with Gippsland Falcons in 1998–99, although he managed only one goal in 17 appearances.
Later career and record-breaking achievements
Returning to Victoria, Becvinovski enjoyed a long and consistent career with Green Gully Cavaliers and Altona Magic, continuing to score regularly until the end of his playing days in 2007. During this period, he broke the post-war record for the most goals scored in Victorian top-flight football, eventually amassing 205 goals and solidifying his legacy as the league’s greatest post-war scorer.[2]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Footscray JUST | 1989 | National Soccer League | 8 | 2 | – | – | 8 | 2 |
| Wollongong Macedonia | 1990–91 | National Soccer League | 5 | 0 | – | – | 5 | 0 |
| Green Gully | 1991 | Victorian Premier League | 24 | 17 | – | – | 24 | 17 |
| 1992 | Victorian Premier League | 26 | 18 | – | – | 26 | 18 | |
| Total | 50 | 35 | – | – | 50 | 35 | ||
| Morwell Falcons | 1992–93 | National Soccer League | 26 | 9 | – | – | 26 | 9 |
| Brunswick Pumas | 1993–94 | National Soccer League | 14 | 2 | – | – | 14 | 2 |
| Preston Lions | 1994 | Victorian Premier League | 26 | 7 | – | – | 26 | 7 |
| 1995 | Victorian Premier League | 24 | 9 | – | – | 24 | 9 | |
| Total | 50 | 16 | – | – | 50 | 16 | ||
| Altona Magic | 1996 | Victorian Premier League | 28 | 22 | – | – | 28 | 22 |
| 1997 | Victorian Premier League | 26 | 24 | – | – | 26 | 24 | |
| 1998 | Victorian Premier League | 28 | 24 | – | – | 28 | 24 | |
| Total | 82 | 70 | – | – | 82 | 70 | ||
| Gippsland Falcons | 1998–99 | National Soccer League | 17 | 1 | – | – | 17 | 1 |
| Green Gully Cavaliers | 2000 | Victorian Premier League | 21 | 9 | – | – | 21 | 9 |
| Altona Magic | 2001 | Victorian Premier League | 16 | 6 | – | – | 16 | 6 |
| 2002 | Victorian Premier League | 22 | 10 | – | – | 22 | 10 | |
| 2003 | Victorian Premier League | 23 | 8 | – | – | 23 | 8 | |
| 2004 | Victorian Premier League | 26 | 8 | – | – | 26 | 8 | |
| 2005 | Victorian Premier League | 26 | 2 | – | – | 26 | 2 | |
| 2006 | Victorian Premier League | 30 | 18 | – | – | 30 | 18 | |
| 2007 | Victorian Premier League | 27 | 7 | – | – | 27 | 7 | |
| Total | 170 | 59 | – | – | 170 | 59 | ||
| Career total | 462 | 207 | – | – | 462 | 207 | ||
Coaching career
Following his retirement from playing, Becvinovski transitioned into coaching roles within Victorian football. In 2008, he served as an assistant coach at Bulleen Royals.
In 2010, Becvinovski was appointed head coach of Altona Magic, leading the club in 13 matches (4 wins, 1 draw, 8 losses).
He later took charge of Victorian State League 1 North-West club Sydenham Park from 2012 to 2014.[4][5]
In May 2024, Becvinovski returned to Altona City as Senior Men’s Assistant Coach under Nick Georgopoulos, remaining until the end of 2025.[6]
Personal life
Becvinovski's son, Luca Becvinovski, is also a footballer and has followed in his father's footsteps in Victorian and national youth football. Luca has played for Melbourne City FC Youth and featured prominently at various National Premier League youth levels, including a standout 17–1 U23 victory over North Sunshine Eagles, scoring four goals in just 45 minutes.[7]
In 2025, Luca was selected in Australia’s U16 national team, the Joeys, for international youth tournaments. He scored in a breakthrough victory against Wales and was highlighted as one of the standout players in the squad.[8][9]
Honours
- Victorian Premier League Championships: 1996, 1997 (Altona Magic)
- Victorian Premier League Top Goalscorer: 1991, 1992, 1998, 2006[10]
- Victorian Premier League Player of the Year: 1997
- Victorian Premier League Men's Rising Star Award: 1991, 1992
- Victorian Premier League Gold Medal: 2006
- Highest ever scorer in the Victorian Premier League (post-war era)
References
- ^ "1989 National Soccer League Results". OzFootbll. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b c d "From Goals to Gold - The story of Victorian football's greatest post-war goal scorer". Football Victoria. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "NPL Victoria Men's Rising Star Award". Football Victoria. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Sydenham Park Soccer Club's 25 reasons to party". Star Weekly. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Sydenham Park open to the idea of NPL promotion, says coach Sash Becvinovski". Herald Sun. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Altona City Senior Men's coaching announcement". Instagram. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "Goalscoring great's son goes berserk in outrageous 17-1 rout: Wonderkid Watch". A-League Official Website. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Pisani, Sacha (15 September 2025). "Goalscoring great's son helps Joeys celebrate breakthrough win at international tournament". A-League Official Website. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Pisani, Sacha (23 May 2025). "Son of a gun and teen with 'x-factor' among A-Leagues cohort in Joeys squad for U16 tournament". A-League Official Website. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "National Premier Leagues Victoria Golden Boot". OzFootball. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
External links
- Interview with Sash Becvinovski on YouTube – Long-form interview discussing his football career
- From Goals to Gold – Football Victoria article