Melbourne Victory is delighted to announce the appointment of Giovanni Savarese as the Club’s new A-League Men’s Head Coach.
The 54-year-old has signed a two-year contract, tying him to the Club until the conclusion of the 2027/28 A-Leagues season.
With experience in South America, Europe and the United States, the appointment marks a deliberate, bold new direction for Melbourne Victory, a move designed to enhance the Club’s football program with international experience and insight.
Savarese arrives with more than a decade of head-coaching experience in North America.
First making his name with the iconic New York Cosmos, whom he guided to three NASL Championships (2013, 2015 and 2016), Savarese then spent five-and-a-half-seasons as Head Coach of leading MLS club Portland Timbers. There he led the club to two MLS Cup finals (2018 and 2021), victory in the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament, and five post-season appearances, all while building teams known for their attacking intent.
A former Venezuelan international, Savarese enjoyed a playing career that spanned South America, the United States, Italy and the United Kingdom, representing his country on 30 occasions and scoring 10 international goals.
Melbourne Victory Chairman, John Dovaston, said:
“We are delighted to appoint Giovanni as our Head Coach. His experience as a player and coach across multiple continents (including Europe and the US), together with his character and football philosophy, aligns strongly with Melbourne Victory. We are excited about the future and confident in his ability to deliver success both domestically and in Asia. Giovanni’s appointment reflects the Club’s clear ambition to play a strong, attacking brand of football that excites supporters and challenges for silverware.”
Melbourne Victory Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, added:
“Giovanni’s appointment reflects a deliberate decision to bring a fresh perspective to the Club. What stood out throughout the recruitment process was not just his attacking football philosophy, but the fact that Giovanni has succeeded in a competition with strong parallels to ours. This in turn comes with experience and confidence that we believe will translate into sustained success in our environment.”
Giovanni Savarese said:
“From my very first conversations with the Club, I felt a strong connection to its vision and its values. I know how much Melbourne Victory means to its supporters, and I can assure them that we will work tirelessly, and play with real ambition, to build a team they can be proud of and to compete for the biggest honours.”
Savarese will arrive in Melbourne in the second week of July, after concluding his World Cup commentary commitments, and has already begun work on preparations for the 2026/27 campaign.
His first competitive match in charge will be the Round of 32 of the Australia Cup.
