He fled war-torn Syria. Now he's the man tasked with rebuilding Dandenong Thunder

Safi Ayoush knows what it means to start again.

Thirteen years after fleeing war-torn Syria with his family, the Australian Championship-winning coach has been entrusted with rebuilding Dandenong Thunder following their relegation from NPL Victoria.

Ayoush will lead Thunder into the 2027 VPL1 season, bringing experience from Western United's academy and South Melbourne, where he worked alongside Sinisa Cohadzic during the club's historic Australian Championship triumph in 2025.

But his journey to the dugout is anything but conventional.

In 2013, Ayoush left Syria as civil war devastated the country, forcing his family to abandon their home and begin a new life in Australia.

The decision came amid escalating violence, with Ayoush recalling the moment his family realised they had to leave.

"So we decided in two weeks to leave," he told SBS in the documentary Beautiful Game Changers: Starting Again.

Arriving in Melbourne presented another challenge: “I think we packed just the clothes.”

With few connections and an unfamiliar environment to navigate, Ayoush turned to the one constant in his life: football.

He began coaching Whittlesea Ranges' under-12s in 2014 before progressing through Victoria's football pathways. His career eventually took him to Western United's academy and South Melbourne, where he coached the club's under-23s before joining the senior coaching staff.

In 2025, he helped South claim the inaugural Australian Championship under Cohadzic.

It was a remarkable achievement for a coach who had arrived in Australia with little more than a determination to rebuild his life. Yet Ayoush measures success by more than silverware.

His experiences have inspired him to support refugees and migrants seeking opportunities in Australian football, helping young players navigate unfamiliar surroundings and establish themselves in a new country.

"You need to help to motivate him off the pitch as well to get him a better future," Ayoush explained in the SBS documentary.

For the Syrian-born coach, helping others pursue their ambitions carries a significance that extends beyond results.

"What I'm most proud of today is not titles or positions," he said.

Now comes another opportunity to make an impact.

Thunder are preparing for life in VPL1 after losing their NPL Victoria status, with Ayoush tasked with restoring direction and laying the foundations for a return to the top flight.

His background in youth development, professional academies and championship-winning environments provides valuable experience for a club entering a period of transition, and having already navigated an extraordinary journey of his own, Ayoush understands the importance of patience, resilience and starting again.