Stenta replaces former head coach Ivan Karlovic, who is moved up to head of women's football operations at the club.

United have struggled over their W-League tenure, failing to ever make finals. Last season they finished eighth out of nine teams.

“It feels great, I’m really excited because I’ve got a fantastic group to work with,” he told the Adelaide United website.

“I’m just really proud and privileged to be in this role, so looking forward to it.

“I feel like we’ve [Stenta and Karlovic] worked really well together over the last couple of years and I’ve learnt a lot from him, and I’m keen to take what I’ve learnt from him, add my own flavour to it, and see if we can continue progressing and moving forward.

“But to have him involved still in his newly created role, I see that as a big positive for me.”

Stenta claims that he's not trying to throw out Karlovic's work, where the team became a solid defensive outfit but struggled to score goals, but rather a gradual improvement across the park.

“I’m not necessarily looking to change too much,” he stated.

“But every coach has their own sort of philosophy and way of going about things.

“I just want my sides to be really, really hard working and to be as proactive as they possibly can be.

“So they’re two of the elements I’ll look to instil in the side moving forward, and I think that will hold us in good stead."