Melbourne Victory can confirm A-League Men’s Head Coach Tony Popovic will depart the Club after the completion of his contract.
Popovic leaves Victory with an Australia Cup title as well as a Semi-Final and Grand Final finish in his three seasons at the Club, guiding Victory back to its powerhouse status after a tumultuous period in the Club’s history.
Popovic joined Victory at the start of the 2021/22 Isuzu UTE A-League season, re-building a squad that would ultimately see the Club finishing one point off the Premier’s Plate in his first season.
Despite a down season in 2022/23, Popovic was able to return Victory to the Final Series following a start that saw the side set the longest undefeated streak in the Club’s history, culminating in the Club’s seventh Grand Final berth.
Melbourne Victory Chairman, John Dovaston said Popovic has left a lasting legacy at Victory.
“Tony enlisted a winning culture which leaves the Club in a better place than when he arrived, challenging for titles and using hard work, discipline and respect to drive outcomes,” Dovaston said.
“The next step for us is to find someone who will be a natural progression from Tony. He has set the foundations for us and we look forward to appointing a Head Coach who will be able to use those foundations and go one step further next season.”
Melbourne Victory Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie was also thankful for Popovic’s contribution to the Club.
“Tony arrived at the Club at one of its lowest points and left no stone unturned in creating an environment and setting a standard at the Club that would make Melbourne Victory compete for trophies once again,” Carnegie said.
“Winning the Australia Cup was a testament to this new standard as we went agonisingly close to lifting more silverware in his first and third seasons at the Club.
“For us at Melbourne Victory, this is a time where we believe the foundations have been laid for us to continue to take the Club forward and to continue the progression we have made over the last three seasons. Those foundations are strong from our Academy through to our Senior Men’s program, all of which Tony has had a hand in and for which we thank him.”
