Melbourne Victory Football Club will today announce that Kevin Muscat will conclude his role as head coach at the end of the 2018/19 season, with his last game in charge being this Wednesday night.
Muscat will leave Victory as a true club legend – after an incredible 14 years – where he has served as a player, assistant coach and head coach.
Both parties came to a unified agreement that it was time to part ways. Muscat is set to take a break, and the club will take the opportunity to reset and approach the future in a new direction.
Chairman Anthony Di Pietro paid tribute to Muscat’s incredible impact on the club.
“Kevin has been incredibly successful as both a player and coach and will go down as one of the most influential figures in Melbourne Victory’s history,” said Di Pietro.
“The parting was an ongoing collaboration and unified decision, and we wish Kevin nothing but the best for his future.
“He is a talented and highly successful coach, has been such an integral part of our club and will always be part of it.”
Muscat joined Victory as one of the club’s first signings in 2005 and captained the team from the inaugural season until 2011.
His achievements as a player at Victory are unparalleled. Across 138 games in all competitions, he was involved in two Premierships and Championships (2006/07 & 2008/09), and won three Victory Medals.
After ending his playing career in 2011, Muscat stepped into an assistant coach role before taking over as head coach in October 2013 following Ange Postecoglou’s departure to the Socceroos.
He went on to manage the team in 214 games across all competitions, which included a Premiership in 2014/15, a further two Championships (2014/15 & 2017/18) and Victory’s first FFA Cup title in 2015.
Muscat said that after much thought and reflection, the time was right to move on to the next chapter of his career and life.
“This is not a decision made overnight or taken lightly,” Muscat said.
“I believe the time is right for me to refresh, and in time, seek a new opportunity after giving everything I’ve got emotionally and physically to Melbourne Victory over the last 14 years.
“We have created and earned many great memories along the way including our eight trophies.
“It goes without saying that I will love and support this football club and wish it nothing but success.”
In relation to the club’s future head coach appointment, Di Pietro stressed that planning had already started.
“Our priority will be to secure the right person as our next head coach who fits our criteria to take our Club forwards,” said Di Pietro.
“This is an opportunity to reset and shape the next phase of our club, and we view this as an exciting prospect.
“As I said on Friday, the one thing that will remain constant are the expectations we place on our club. We will not apologise for our relentless pursuit of success and this will remain at the forefront of our decision making.”
Wednesday’s AFC Champions League game against Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium will be Muscat’s 215th and final match as manager of Melbourne Victory.
The club will also bid Championship-winning captain Carl Valeri farewell following five successful years at Victory.
