Stamatelopoulos promises to 'bring a lot of energy' to his fifth A-League club

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stamatelopoulos-apostolos/WvUYHJwU/"]Stamatelopoulos[/a] has struggled to hold down a club since leaving childhood city Adelaide in 2019, playing 12 games at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/western-united/j1EBZq33/"]Western United[/a] and having two stints at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/newcastle-jets/EaZ5xZo0/"]Newcastle Jets[/a] either side of seasons at Greek clubs [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/giannina/rN9JmpKO/"]PAS Giannina[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rodos/UcRA5fil/"]Rodos FC[/a]. [/p][p]It was a breakout 2023/24 A-League season for the Jets, in which he set a new club record of 17 goals in one season, that rejeuvenated his European ambitions. [/p][image id="3307c860-ac7e-4821-84b2-d3fd7a3bca2e" guid="13ad5fd2-57b4-45fd-ae0f-45088d28d7c1" original-width="2160" original-height="3840" /][p]Stamatelopoulos moved to Scottish Premiership club [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/motherwell/YuW7ZfMM/"]Motherwell[/a] in 2024 to further his chances of selection for the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/xSrf6qMM/"]Socceroos[/a], shortly after he made his debut in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Palestine.[/p][p]His Scottish stint could never get going properly due to a slate of injury problems, with a thigh injury delaying the start to his Motherwell career.[/p][p]He was a positive contributor to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sydney-fc/6JsBlXVI/"]Sydney FC[/a]'s run to the 2025/26 Grand Final when he joined the club in January, scoring three goals in 14 appearances, but the momentum halted upon his return to Europe.[/p][p]Calf problems kept him out of Motherwell's 2026/27 pre-season preparations and, having already been out of the picture under new Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson, he terminated his three-year deal prematurely and by mutual consent to return home.[/p][p]It was [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/macarthur-fc/bL3ChiWQ/"]Macarthur FC[/a] who presented Stamatelopoulos with the best opportunities to establish a starting number nine role.[/p][p]The Bulls weren't short of goals last season, outscoring finalists Sydney FC and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/melbourne-city/OKfoGJBe/"]Melbourne City[/a], but were presented with major issues ahead of 2026/27 after losing three of their top-four scorers of the previous season. [/p][image id="c6956d4c-3da0-4e2b-8fae-3e38c96b4304" credit-line="MARK EVANS / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP" guid="f5b96276-2c3a-40e1-b2d6-a2ad30c47a5a" original-width="1024" original-height="768" /][p]Leading goalscorer [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sawyer-harrison/rwfVGLck/"]Harrison Sawyer[/a] accepted a move to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/melbourne-victory/Qql6CzOP/"]Melbourne Victory[/a] to compete with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nduka-charles/KloWSp4I/"]Charles Nduka[/a] as their starting striker, whilst [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/duke-mitchell/zDFlzabo/"]Mitch Duke[/a] returned to Japanese side [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/machida-zelvia/CUSC1dab/"]Machida Zelvia[/a] and Mexican striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/duran-rafael/lfRIHwCc/"]Rafael Durán[/a] took up a two-year deal at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/wellington-phoenix/Ctp2DG8J/"]Wellington Phoenix[/a].[/p][p]“[b]I’m really excited to be here, to meet all the boys and staff, and get straight into work. I’m looking forward to the season ahead and helping the team have a successful year,[/b]" Stamatelopoulos said this week.[/p][p]“After speaking with the club and hearing about the direction they’re heading in, it felt like a really good fit for me.[/p][p]“[b]I’m excited by the opportunity and what the club wants to achieve this season. For me, it was about joining somewhere ambitious where I can contribute and enjoy my football.[/b][/p][p]“As a striker, obviously I want to score goals and create chances, but I also want to work hard for the team and bring a lot of energy up front.[/p][p]“[b]I'll give everything every time I’m on the pitch, and hopefully I can score plenty of goals and give the fans some good moments this season.[/b]”[/p][p]After suffering a late-season collapse to finish seventh last season under [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sterjovski-mile/QkMDwVsD/"]Mile Sterjovski[/a], Macarthur are undergoing a rebuild under 47-year-old former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/socceroo/SpnsRYKt/"]Socceroo[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ognenovski-sasa/hYFMy5mD/"]Sasa Ognenovski[/a], who is making his top-flight debut as a head coach after spending some time as football director at former playing club [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/preston-lions/Wz3kQlpC/"]Preston Lions[/a].[/p][p]Ognenovski has laid down "[b]relentless effort[/b]", "[b]total commitment[/b]" and "[b]an entertaining brand of football[/b]" as his three key values for this season, recruiting standout [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/western-sydney-wanderers/l00pXxBN/"]Western Sydney Wanderers[/a] winger [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fraser-ryan/IuutfkJB/"]Ryan Fraser[/a] as well as promising 20-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/toure-musa/8AwKUEx0/"]Musa Toure[/a], younger brother of Socceroos striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/toure-mohamed/SfbYnjVB/"]Mohamed Toure[/a].[/p][infobox id="d39bc573-b9dd-4b87-acb9-2de1f22d36c7" /]