Melbourne Victory FC

Inaugural captain Kevin Muscat in 2007 with the A-League championship trophy, who would lead Melbourne to success as a captain and later manager.

Following the demise of the National Soccer League, Australia's first national soccer first tier competition, Melbourne Victory Football Club was unveiled as Melbourne's representative of the newly established A-League, along with seven other foundation clubs on 1 November 2004. Established as an unlisted public company, inaurgual chairman Geoff Lord of Belgravia Leisure Pty Ltd was the largest financial backer of the club[6] with support from other Melbourne-based business men consisting of Ron Peck, John Harris, future chief executive officer Richard Wilson, and future chairman Anthony Di Pietro. Despite a diverse range of owners of different industry backgrounds, the consortium managed to raise only $4.5 million of the $5 million budget minimum set by Football Federation Australia, thus resulting in the federation depositing the needed $500’000 to obtain the license with the condition of imposing one board member performing duties in the best interests of the federation to ensure return on investment.[7]

The inaugural manager was Ernie Merrick who had signed his former Sunshine George Cross defender Kevin Muscat to be inaugural captain, alongside marquee Archie Thompson, both of whom would become legends of the football club in their own rite. The club's first competitive match was against Newcatsle Jets on 22 July 2005 in round one of the A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup, finishing in a 1–1 draw in Newcastle. The club's first competitive home game would also prove to be the club's first win on 30 July 2005 in a 3–0 against Perth Glory in the cup's second round at Olympic Park.[8]

Theoklitos

Thwaite

Vargas

Ryall

Kemp

López

Ward

Berger

Hernández

Allsopp

Fabiano

2008 Pre-Season Cup Final Starting XI

Melbourne celebrating their first championship victory in the 2007 final.

The league's inaugural season of 2005–06 proved to be a disappointment in conclusion but also a glimpse into the glory that would follow in 2006–07 and 2008–09 seasons, with the club being first on the ladder mid-season but ultimately finishing second last.[9] Future team of the decade players Danny Allsopp, Leigh Broxham, Archie Thompson, Grant Brebner, Adrian Leijer, Rodrigo Vargas, Michael Theoklitos under captain Kevin Muscat and manager Ernie Merrick would achieve glory in winning its first league premiership and championship in the 2005–06 season, qualifying for its inaugural AFC Champions League. Archie Thompson in A-League history is synonymous with the glory of famously scoring the first five goals in the 6–0 grand final win over Adelaide United in front of a current record crowd for a grand final of 55'436 at Docklands Stadium.[10][11] The heavy defeat for Adelaide as well as an altercation between Muscat and manager John Kosmina earlier in the season[12][13][14][15] is culturally seen as the beginning of the rivalry,[16][17] earning the nicknames 'the cross-border rivalry'[18] and 'the original rivalry'.[19]

The 2007–08 season proved to be another disappointment with Victory narrowly missing the finals.[20] Hindered by multiple injuries throughout the season and the inexperience of time & energy management whilst trying to compete in the club's inaugural AFC Champions League campaign of 2008 at full strength, Melbourne narrowly missed the finals but the season did bring long term positives. The acquisition of future team of the decade players Carlos Hernández, Matthew Kemp, and Tom Pondeljak would ensure on-field strength for next three seasons. The 2008–09 season brought more success for the club in achieving its first treble. The last ever A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup of 2008,[21] finishing top of the ladder as premiers resulting in qualifying a second time in the AFC Champions League for the 2010 campaign, and being crowned champions after defeating Adelaide United a second time in a grand final in front of a crowd of 53,273, which as of January 2019, is still the second largest attendance for an A-League grand final behind the 2007 final.[22] The 2009–10 season saw Victory be serious competitors for first position but would ultimately and narrowly finish behind Sydney FC, whom Victory would lose 2–4 on penalties in the grand final weeks later. It would prove to be the last grand final for manager Ernie Merrick and for Kevin Muscat as captain, with Victory finishing fifth for the 2010–11 season, and losing to Gold Coast in first round of the finals.

Current and longest-standing president Anthony Di Pietro speaking at a Victory in Business Luncheon at the Crown Paladium ballroom.

The conclusion of the 2010–11 A-League season saw inaugural president Geoff Lord resign from the football club, hailing from the success of two championships, two premierships and the last ever pre-season challenge cup. Fruit and vegetable heavyweight and shareholder Anthony Di Pietro became the second president in the club's history, hired internally after being an inaugural director alongside Lord from the beginning. Di Pietro was also an occasional stand-in president when Lord was unable to perform duties due to illness on multiple occasions in 2011, making his first public speech ever being stand in chairman at the time during a Victory in Business luncheon at the Crown Palladium Ballroom. Along with the resignation of Lord, inaugural chief executive officer Geoff Miles also resigned from the club, with mortgage firm businessman, shareholder and inaugural director Richard Wilson being hired internally prior to the 2011–12 season alongside Di Pietro. Ernie Merrick would depart as coach to be replaced by Mehmet Duraković[23] and later Jim Magilton[24] for the 2011–12 season. Di Pietro & Wilson quickly sacked Merrick following multiple missed targets both on & off the field, with the 5–1 loss to Gamba Osaka in the 2011 AFC Champions League campaign being the last straw.[25][26][27][28] Kevin Muscat had announced during the respective season that he would retire as a player, and immediately became an assistant coach replacing Aaron Healy. Along with Merrick & Healy's departures would be inaugural director of football Gary Cole, and would be replaced by former team South Melbourne and Socceroo teammate, Francis Awaritefe.[29]

The two new-coming executives famously won the race against Sydney FC and other football clubs world-wide to sign Socceroos hero Harry Kewell to the club, being declared at the time 'the biggest signing in the history of Australian sport' at the time.[30] With much anticipation for the lead up to the 2011–12 A-League season, the season proved to be a disappointment in missing the finals for the time third in the club's history. Multiple aged players, a less experienced revamped coaching team lead by Mehmet Durakovic who was promoted by default that would later be replaced mid-season by Jim Magilton, and a high maintenance Harry Kewell[31][32] all contributed to the team falling short on multiple match day results. Late in the season, Magilton would sign future team of the decade players Mark Milligan and Adama Traoré. Durakovic's unsung legacy on the club would be the signing of then nineteen year-old Lawrence Thomas, who would later win multiple championships with the club under Kevin Muscat. Despite the disappointment, the lessons were learned and the club would have its most improved season to date as of 2019, finishing third in the 2012–13 season from eighth in the season prior, narrowly losing the preliminary final to premiers and eventual champions Central Coast Mariners 0–1.[33] The season started with a major sense of optimism by signing by multiple Brisbane Roar and National Soccer League premiership and championship-winning coach Ange Postecoglou on a three-year deal,[34] revamping the playing squad with the departure of fourteen players and the signings of fifteen players, including Gui Finkler and Nathan Coe who would achieve multiple club and personal accolades respectively in their own rite in the years to come. Since the 2012–13 season, the club has never missed the finals series.

Prior to the season, coach Ange Postecoglou had just begun the second year of his three-year contract with the club, but had also been cited as a possible replacement for departing Australian national team coach Holger Osieck, in the lead-up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. This possibility became a reality the day before the round three clash against Postecoglou's former club Brisbane Roar on 25 October, which was his last match in charge.[35] Victory were denied a compensation claim of one million Australian dollars for the early departure.[36][37][38]

Vukovic

Broxham

Delpierre

Geria

Georgievski

Finkler

Valeri

Bozanic

Berisha

Barbarouses

Khalfallah

2015 FFA Cup Final Starting XI

Anthony Di Pietro alongside Kevin Muscat at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in October 2013

The era of Kevin Muscat becoming the first former player and captain to become manager began sooner than anticipated, but it would be an era that would restore the former early glory of Australia's biggest association football club. The era officially began following the untimely departure of Ange Postecoglou in round four of the 2013–14 season on 4 November 2013, in a 3–2 home victory over Wellington Phoenix at Docklands Stadium.[39] Future grand final winners James Troisi, Kosta Barbarouses and Rashid Mahazi were signed to the club and would help strengthen the playing squad in the years to come. Muscat's first season would end in both heartbreak and controversy as Victory were denied obvious penalty decisions in the last minutes of both the A-League finals clash against Brisbane Roar,[40][41] and in the last group stage clash against Jeonbuk in the 2014 AFC Champions League,[42][43][44] when in both games one extra goal was needed to win. Both controversial moments occurred only days in between each other, resulting in Muscat heavily criticizing referees in general.[45]

The 2014–15 season saw a major recruiting drive in the signings of Besart Berisha, Carl Valeri, Daniel Georgievski, Fahid Ben Khalfallah and Mathieu Delpierre, who would all go onto achieve multiple personal and club accolades respectively. Late in the season on 28 March 2015, the club announced its team of the decade at the Crown palladium ballroom[46][47] with five of the announced players still contracted to victory at the time, with then coach Kevin Muscat also being listed. This time of the season also saw captaincy of the club change with Adrian Leijer departing the Victory for Chinese Super League club Chongqing Lifan on an undisclosed transfer for a major salary increase,[48] with teammate Mark Milligan becoming interim captain for the remainder of the season.[49] After a six-year wait, Victory would finish first on the ladder[50] and would later defeat Sydney FC 3–0 in the grand final.[51] Team of the decade substitute goalkeeper Nathan Coe, who would miss the grand final due to injury announced his retirement shortly after the achievement.

The next two seasons were of mixed results, but the squad would remain competitive and be rewarded. The 2015–16 season was of mixed results in the A-League, but the squad would win the 2015 FFA Cup, and for the first time in the club's history, would progress to the round of sixteen in the Asian Champions League. Captain and marquee[52] Mark Milligan departed the club during the preseason[53] and was replaced by 2014 World Cup teammate Oliver Bozanic, with Carl Valeri given the captaincy role. Defender Thomas Deng would be promoted from the youth squad and feature occasionally throughout the season. Veterans Mathieu Delpierre and Archie Thompson retired at the season's conclusion and Deng would be loaned to Jong PSV, but the season would be mostly remembered for newly promoted captain Carl Valeri contracting a brain inflammation in December 2015,[54][55] but would later return in the finals. The 2016–17 season saw an improvement in results in the A-League, with the squad finishing second on the ladder, and ultimately losing the grand final to premiers Sydney FC, making both clubs equal in premierships and championships. The season saw the returns of James Troisi and team of the decade winger Marco Rojas. Defender James Donachie joined from Brisbane Roar, and the club's youth squad would promote Christian Theoharous and Stefan Nigro.

The 2017–18 season ended in glory but would see multiple difficulties in the lead up to the finals. In the preseason, 2017 grand final Johnny Warren medalist Daniel Georgievski departed the club willfully, with Marco Rojas and Nick Ansell both being sold. Rhys Williams and Leroy George signed in the preseason and would prove to be crucial players. With mixed results throughout the season, coach Kevin Muscat was criticized for his 'stale' game plan.[56][57] Mid-season, captain Mark Milligan and defender Jason Geria would both be sold, and Terry Antonis would join the club on a two and a half-year deal. Despite pressure, the squad gained form towards the end of the season despite losing to premiers Sydney FC away at Sydney Football Stadium in the last round and finished fourth.[58] Victory would beat Adelaide United in the elimination final 2–1, lead by future coach Marco Kurz at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, to then face Sydney FC in the semi final away. In the lead up to the clash, Sydney captain Alex Brosque told The Sydney Morning Herald when asked regarding the reverse fixture with victory that "I know they’ll be thinking about it as much as they’ll try to forget about it." also stating that "It gives us a lot of confidence and psychologically I'm sure it will be playing on their minds,".[59] In the warm up of the game, crucial defender Rhys Williams suffered an ankle injury that would rule him out of the game and the grand final if Victory would win.[60] The Victory as underdogs would beat Sydney 3–2 in extra time, with victory physically scoring all five goals, with own goals by Stefan Nigro and Terry Antonis. Despite the unfortunate error, Nigro's efforts in the match being a late replacement for the injured Williams would secure him a start in the grand final. Antonis, a former youth product and five seasoned player of Sydney, conceded the own goal in the last minute of regular time to bring the score to 2–2, leading to extra time. In the 117th minute, loanee teammate Kenny Athiu would pass the ball to Antonis, surviving three tackle attempts in running from the center line to within Sydney's eighteen yard box to score the winning goal, in what would later be recognized as the club's 2017–18 goal of the season. Victory would travel to Newcastle to face second placed Newcastle Jets, lead by former and inaugural Victory manager Ernie Merrick. It would be the A-League's first ever regional grand final as well as one manager versing his former player as a manager in a grand final, and would be remembered for its controversy. Victory scored the earliest ever goal in a grand final from a Leroy George free kick that would be headed into the center of the eighteen yard box by James Donachie then scored by Kosta Barbarouses in the ninth minute. Replays had shown that Donachie was offside upon George kicking the ball, but with the views of the linesman deceived by a Newcastle defender, the goal was allowed to stand as the video assistant referee had temporarily failed.[61][62] Victory would win 1–0 against a ten men Newcastle after striker Roy O'Donovan desperately attempted to volley a high altitude ball from a free kick that infamously resulted in goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas being kicked in the face causing an altercation to follow.[63][62] The incident resulted in a ten match ban for O'Donovan going into the 2018–19 season despite an appeal. Thomas later told The Guardian that he had accepted O'Donovan's immediate apology after full-time.[64] The achievement made Victory leaders in the number of championships won by an A-League club, as well as being the first team to win a grand final after finishing fourth place in the regular season, the lowest ladder position. Weeks later, six grand final players departed the club, including Besart Berisha being sold for an undisclosed fee to Sanfrecce Hiroshima.[65]

Despite the unexpected grand final achievement, Muscat would commence a recruiting drive that would see eight players join preseason, including 2018 World Cup players and Keisuke Honda[66] and Ola Toivonen.[67] Mid-season transfers saw the undisclosed sale of Nick Ansell, and the recruitment of Elvis Kamsoba and Anthony Lesiotis, this first ever former Melbourne City player to represent Victory. Despite being more competitive than the season prior considering that Honda was sidelined more over a third of the season with injury, it would ultimately end in disappointment. The squad would finish third by one point behind the second placed and eventual champions Sydney FC, meaning that Victory would not receive direct entrance into the group stage of the 2020 AFC Champions League, but would have to enter a play-off first. The true realization of the disappointment in finishing third would be realized in the semi-final against Sydney away, who would exact revenge for their 2017–18 semi final upset in which Victory were defeated 1–6 away.[68] Despite having one more season on his contract, Muscat resigned from the club weeks later for personal reasons,[69][70] closing a fourteen-year stint at the football club as a player, captain, assistant manager, and head coach.

Following Muscat's early departure, the Melbourne Victory board interviewed multiple foreign and local coaches for the senior role.[71] It was announced in late June 2019 that former Adelaide United coach Marco Kurz was signed on a two-year deal.[72] During the recruitment process, nine players departed the club, including the retirement of captain Carl Valeri who would become an office administrator for the club. Eight senior players were signed including the return of team of the decade defender Adama Traoré, and the youth academy had promoted defensive players Benjamin Carrigan and Brandon Lauton.[73] In early October, weeks before the first round of the 2019–20 season, Ola Toivonen was appointed captain.[74]

In January 2020, after just 6 months in the role Kurz was dismissed by the club. Kurz left having managed the Victory for just thirteen competitive matches, for four wins, three draws and six losses. The six defeats were the most losses the Victory had suffered after thirteen games of a season.[75] At the time of his dismissal, the Victory were sixth on the league ladder with fifteen points, their equal lowest points tally after thirteen games alongside the 2007–08 and 2011-12 seasons.[76] Assistant coach Carlos Pérez Salvachúa was appointed as caretaker manager of the Victory until the conclusion of the season.[77] However, on 30 May 2020, with 5 regular season A-League matches remaining in Melbourne Victory's season, Salvachúa departed the club to return to Europe to be closer to his family.[78]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melbourne Victory FC kits.

• Home

2005–2007

2007–2011

2011–2013

2013–2015

2015–2016

2016–2017

2017–2018

2018–Present

• Away

2005–2007

2007–2009

2009–2010

2010–2011

2011–2013

2013–2015

2015–2017

2017–2018

2018–2019

2019–Present

The football club was originally based at the 50-year-old Olympic Park Stadium, where they played all home matches during the 2005–06 A-League season. This stadium had seated areas only on the wings, with standing-room sandy terraces on the north and south ends. The average crowd during the first year was 14,158, 77% of its capacity of 18'500. As a result, the match-day atmosphere would prove to be a marketing asset not just for Melbourne Victory, but also for the rest of the league. It also proved to be a major factor in the club's decision to relocate home games to Docklands Stadium, then known as 'Telstra Dome', from the 2006–07 season onwards, for both safety reasons, and simplicity in membership and match-day attendance expansion. Despite the club permanently relocating to Docklands Stadium, the venue was still used occasionally for both the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons, until being permanently closed in 2009.

2007 A-League Grand Final at Telstra Dome (now Marvel Stadium)

On 2 September 2006, Melbourne Victory played its first ever match against Sydney FC at the 56,000 capacity Marvel Stadium in a 3–2 victory. The match proved to be a runaway success in terms of crowds, with 39,730 in attendance.[85] As a result, the club moved all but one of their home games to the ground.[86] This move to such a large stadium proved to be an outstanding success, with the Grand Final held there. The average attendance rose to 27,728 for the 2006–07 season, 10,000 above the next highest in the A-League.

During the construction of the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Marvel Stadium continued to serve as the club's only home ground until the completion of the club's new permanent home, which began hosting games from the 2010–11 A-League season. On 11 March 2016, it was announced that the football club had committed to a further lease of 10 years for the continued use of limited blockbuster matches at the venue, ending at the conclusion of the 2026–27 season.[87]

To date, Melbourne Victory have celebrated the 2006–07 and 2008–09 premiership and championship victories at the venue. The stadium was also the permanent venue and operational base of the club during the 2008 Pre-Season Cup, although the grand final was won in Wellington, New Zealand.

2015 A-League Grand Final at AAMI Park

Prior to the 2006–07 season the club had planned to move to a new $190 million stadium being built to the east of the current Olympic Park complex.[88] The new stadium was originally expected to sit approximately 20,000 spectators (expandable to 25,000) and was to be completed by 2009.[88]

These plans were revised after the Victory refused to commit to playing at such a small capacity stadium. On 23 May 2007, the club announced it had signed as a founding co-tenant of the new stadium, which would now be built to accommodate a maximum of 30,050 spectators with further renovations to 50,000 possible. However, further expansion in the near-term is unlikely as it was discovered during Australia's World Cup Bid process that to build such an expansion would be prohibitively expensive.[89]

Today, the venue is the home of the club's operations, administration, and the majority of the senior team's home matches, as well as occasional home matches of the NYL/NPL & W-League teams. The club currently holds the highest attendance of any association football (soccer) match played at the venue, and second overall for any sporting event at the venue.[90] The record was set in the 2015 A-League Grand Final on 17 May 2015, with an attendance of 29,843 witnessing Melbourne win its third title, and first at the venue in the club's history. The venue was also the place of celebration with club celebrating the 2014–15 premiership and the 2015 FFA Cup victories.

Melbourne Victory versus Central Coast Mariners, January 2016

On 22 August 2007, the football club played its first competitive match at Kardinia Park, then known as 'Skilled Stadium', against Newcastle Jets in the 2007 Pre-Season Cup.[91]

On 15 February 2014, Melbourne Victory was forced to play its first competitive match at the Geelong-based stadium, in playing their Asian Champions League qualifying game against Muangthong United at Simonds Stadium due to AAMI Park and Marvel Stadium being unavailable.[92]

Prior to the start of the 2014–15 season, Melbourne Victory signed a three-year deal to play one home game a year at the venue for the 2014–15, 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons.[93] In January 2017, the deal was extended to the conclusion of the 2018–19 season.[94]

• Brad Green[116]
• Daniel Andrews[117]
• Denis Napthine[118]
• Eddie Betts[119]
• George Calombaris[120]
• Laura Pausini[121]
• Ted Baillieu[122]

As of 18 September 2019[127]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Matt Acton 2 DF Storm Roux 4 DF James Donachie 5 DF Tim Hoogland 6 MF Leigh Broxham (Vice-captain) 7 FW Kenny Athiu 9 FW Andrew Nabbout 10 FW Robbie Kruse 13 MF Birkan Kirdar 15 DF Giancarlo Gallifuoco

No. Position Player 16 MF Joshua Hope 17 MF Elvis Kamsoba 18 MF Migjen Basha 19 DF Benjamin Carrigan 20 GK Lawrence Thomas 21 DF Adama Traoré 23 MF Marco Rojas 24 MF Anthony Lesiotis 25 MF Brandon Lauton 26 MF Jay Barnett (Scholarship) 30 GK Matthew Sutton (Scholarship)

Players to have been featured in a first-team matchday squad for Melbourne Victory.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 31 DF Andrew Visciglio 32 FW Jack Palazzolo 32 DF So Nishikawa

No. Position Player 33 DF Aaron Anderson 34 DF Matthew Bozinovski 35 FW Nuh Sehavdic

• A-League

Championships (4) – Shared Record: 2007, 2009, 2015, 2018

Championship Runners-up (2): 2010, 2017

Premierships (3) – Shared Record: 2006–07, 2008–09, 2014–15

Premiership Runners-up (2): 2009–10, 2016–17

• FFA Cup

Winners (1): 2015

• A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup

Winners (1): 2008

• AFC Champions League

Qualified (8): 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020

Round of 16 (1): 2016

Group Stage (6): 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2019

Doubles:

• A-League Premiership and A-League Championship: 3

2006–07, 2008–09, 2014–15

Trebles:

• A-League Premiership, A-League Championship and A-League Preseason Cup: 1

2008–09