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Melbourne Victory's long-time coach Kevin Muscat has announced he will step down after this Wednesday's Asian Champions League (ACL) game, bringing his 14-year association with the club to an end.
Key points:
- Kevin Muscat has been with Melbourne Victory for 14 years as a player, assistant coach and coach
- His departure follows the team's high-profile losses in the Asian Champions League
- Club CEO Trent Jacobs has said it is the right time for the "true club legend" to step down
"This is not a decision made overnight or taken lightly," Muscat, the club's foundation captain and longest-serving coach, 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."
Muscat was visibly emotional as he confirmed his departure at a Melbourne press conference.
"Although this clearly, as you can see, is an emotional time, I'd like to look upon it as a time of celebration," he said as he wiped away tears.
"Celebrating what we've built together, celebrating what we've achieved together, celebrating 14 strong years together, and also the success that we've made together."
Wednesday's game against Sanfrecce Hiroshima is now transformed into an era-ending occasion, with Muscat, captain Carl Valeri and marquee Keisuke Honda to sign off.
Arriving at the club in 2005, the on-field bruiser set the tone for Victory's participation in the A-League — uncompromising, brutal, passionate and above all successful.
No club has won more titles than Victory, although arch foes Sydney FC matched their haul of four championships on Sunday night when they defeated Perth Glory on penalties in the grand final.
As a player Muscat led Victory to the 2007 and 2009 titles, and masterminded the 2015 and 2018 triumphs as coach.
'Right time to part ways' after rocky year
Muscat leaves at his own time but not on his own terms.
After winning his fourth title — and second as coach — last season, he convinced the Victory board to support a major tilt for the ACL this campaign.
Victory signed Honda, the club's first Asian star, using a hefty chunk of FFA marquee funds, only for the club to bomb in the continental competition.
Victory lost their opening three games to render the rest of their participation pointless, and those games weighed heavily on their A-League defence.
The same week that Muscat led a threadbare squad to a dead rubber in South Korea, he returned home to Sydney to lose their semi-final to Sydney FC 6-1 — the club's worst ever defeat.
Melbourne Victory CEO Trent Jacobs said the club and Muscat had both agreed it was "the right time to part ways".
"Kevin will leave Melbourne Victory as a true club legend after an incredible 14 years," he said.
When asked why he was leaving now, Muscat said it was "maybe intuition".
"I've just got a feeling after 14 years that the time is right, I just feel the time is right for a number of reasons. It's great that I can sit here and we walk out of the room having a celebration, we walk out amicably."
Club chairman Anthony Di Pietro called the parting of ways "an ongoing collaboration and unified decision".
Muscat is the sixth A-League coach to have left his club this season.
His exit leaves two-season Newcastle Jets coach Ernie Merrick as the league's longest-serving boss.
AAP/ABC
Topics: sport, soccer, vic, melbourne-3000