Giovanni Savarese has detailed his demands as a new era begins at Melbourne Victory.
The 55-year-old was named the Club’s new A-League Men’s Head Coach last month, and arrived in Victoria last Monday to begin on-field preparations for the 2026/27 season.
This initial period has included a pre-season win over Caroline Springs George Cross and the release of the Isuzu UTE A-League fixtures, with Victory’s AFC Champions League Two Group Stage opponents set to be drawn in August.
Earlier in the week, the Venezuelan visited AAMI Park to explore the facility, meet Club staff and undertake a series of media duties.
Speaking for the first time since his appointment, Savarese set out his stall, outlining the approach his team will take and what he expects from the players.
“First of all, it is going to be a team that has a clear identity. An identity that will also be matching the Club culture.
“Definitely the type of team that is going to look to be up front, to be more attacking-minded, but always with the mentality that as soon as we are on the field, every player is going to give everything that they have to make the fans very proud.”
Savarese’s previous head coach role in charge of Portland Timbers, which included leading the Rose City club to the MLS is Back Tournament trophy, was a six-year tenure that concluded in 2023.
And after three years away from the dugout, the Head Coach explained why this was the right opportunity for him.
“It felt organic; it felt it was the right place, and that is why I made the decision, as well as the Club, to enter into this adventure, and I am very happy to have chosen this direction.
He added: “I am not a coach who goes to coach just because I am a coach. I need to identify myself with the club, with the philosophy, with the fans, the location; that is why I made those decisions with the clubs in the United States.”
Watch Savarese’s full interview below.
