A name that might sound familiar among A-Leagues fans, Damian Tsekenis, has returned to football after serving a nearly three-year suspension from Football Australia that prevented him from playing for any clubs. His comeback has been made easier by joining the Marconi Stallions under his father, Peter, as the head coach and seeing familiar faces from earlier in his career. Damian hopes to regain his form from six years ago, earn a regular first-team spot, and revive his previous career trajectory in 2025.
Damian Tsekenis during his first stint at Marconi in 2019. (Image: Football NSW)
Born in Sydney, Damian Tsekenis had played for the Marconi Stallions six years ago under his father, Peter Tsekenis, as his head coach. The then-18-year-old forward scored on his first-team debut in June 2019 against Sydney FC's NPL side, finishing the 2019 season with six league appearances. His short stint was enough to earn a move to the Central Coast Mariners' ranks for the 2020 season, where he impressed the first-team staff.
After a prolific period in the Mariners' youth team, Tsekenis eventually made his professional debut for the club in November 2021 in the A-League, going on to make a further two appearances in the 2021/22 season. However, his career momentum was halted on 21 March 2022 when Tsekenis was suspended for two years and nine months until 21 December 2024 by Football Australia for testing positive for prohibited substances.
Almost three years later, Tsekenis returned to Marconi in mid-January for his first pre-season since 2021.
"It feels a bit surreal on my first day going into a change room; it's like I forgot how it was in a change room," Tsekenis told Front Page Football recently.
"Everyone knows my circumstances, and they know I was off for a while, so it took a little bit to get back running, but I feel like I am at a good speed now, and it's all about getting that match fitness in, and the boys have been very good."
Now a part of a different Marconi squad, Tsekenis still rejoins the first team with some familiar faces from his Central Coast days, which can allow settling in to be a much smoother process.
"A couple of boys like James Bayliss and Cameron Windust, who I was playing with at Central Coast, are here now, and all the boys I used to play with at Marconi in 2019 were very welcoming [to me]. So it's been really good with the boys I know from when I was back playing.
"It has made my return a little bit easier. I know the grounds, how the club works, how my father coaches, and that's always in the back of my head. I know how he wants us to play and how fit he wants us to be at the top level in this competition."
Sharing a father-son relationship as coach and player is unique in football. However, the head coach treats all players at Marconi equally, including Damian. Peter Tsekenis spoke to FPF about how he thinks pre-season has been going with his son.
"My concern with him (Damian) was making sure his body was right; he has missed a lot of football, but he is looking good," Peter Tsekenis shared.
"Surprisingly, he is probably more advanced than I thought he would be at this point and with the injuries and players that are not available, he is really pushing for a starting spot. Unfortunately for him, he is my son, and it's going to be harder for him to crack the team than anyone else, and he has got to earn it.
"But he has done well, and he has fitted in well. He has been here before, so he knows most of the boys and the club. I am looking forward to seeing what he can give us in the final third."
Damian Tsekenis is refocusing on his football and looking to find his best form for the 2025 NPL NSW season. We spoke to Damian and Peter before Marconi's first two games of their campaign, in which the attacker returned by starting against Blacktown City in Round 1 before scoring in the 2-0 win over Mt Druitt Town Rangers last weekend.
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Damian may be already exceeding his expectations for this season after two rounds. He told us in pre-season that his main aim is simply to get minutes on the pitch again.
"At the start of pre-season, I wanted to make a few appearances, be on the bench or starting, but the squad is looking really good so we will see how we go," he said.
"My personal goal is just to play as many minutes this year as I can. I feel very good coming off three years; it wasn't easy. My body started to fall apart a little bit in pre-season, but I kept it at the gym and kept strong.
"I want to bag as many goals as I can. If I have to come off the bench, I'm happy with that. If I start, I'm also happy with that. Whatever the team needs to go back-to-back and to go all the way."
The Marconi Stallions' Round 3 clash in the NPL NSW is a big one, as they travel to take on Rockdale Ilinden on Saturday 22nd of February in a rematch of last year's Grand Final. Kick-off is at 7 pm AEDT, live on the Football NSW YouTube channel.
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