Besart Berisha makes history with PFA ALM Team of the Second Decade selection

Becoming the first player to be included in the PFA A-League Men’s Team of the First Decade and Team of the Second Decade, Melbourne Victory legend Besart Berisha was joined by former Victory stars in an illustrious list of all-time greats. 

Following Professional Footballers Australia (PFA)’s reveal of their A-League Men Team of the Second Decade, which was chosen exclusively by past and present players, four players who have represented Melbourne Victory from 2015 to 2025 were selected for the team. 

First voted to be part of the previous ALM Team of the Decade back in 2015, Kosovan striker Besart Berisha’s longevity was on display with a selection into the Team of the Second Decade again on Wednesday night, the first-ever player to do so. 

Breaking out initially for Brisbane Roar in 2011, Berisha notably starred in Victory’s double-winning campaign in 2014/15. 

Berisha’s brilliance in the A-League continued until 2021, scoring 68 goals in 110 league appearances as part of helping the Club win a further Championship title and FFA Cup (now Australia Cup), before finishing his ALM playing career at Western United. 

Sitting as the league’s all-time second-highest goal scorer with a remarkable 142 goals, Berisha is all set to make waves during his next chapter, this time on the touchline as Victory’s Senior NPL Head Coach.  

Placed third on the all-time scoring charts behind Berisha, recently retired Bruno Fornaroli was also honoured with selection in the PFA’s Team of the Second Decade. 

Since arriving in Australia in 2015/16, Fornaroli went on to score an impressive 112 goals in 214 A-League appearances. 

Scoring 30 of his goals in Victory colours after joining the Club in 2022, Fornaroli goes down as one of the league’s best footballers and has joined Victory’s off-field staff ahead of the 2025/26 season. 

Sitting just behind Fornaroli as the A-League’s fourth highest-scoring player, former Victory attacker Kosta Barbarouses was also named in the Starting XI of the Team of the Second Decade.  

Spending five seasons in total with Victory, where he would register 41 goals in 127 appearances, Barbarouses was a part of two Championship-winning teams in 2014/15 and 2017/18, respectively and currently sits 5^th in the A-League Men’s all-time appearances, on 350 A-League games (behind none other than Leigh Broxham, who holds the title for the most number of A-League games in history on 386 A-League games). 

Joining Barbarouses in the Starting XI, former goalkeeper Danny Vukovic was also nominated as part of the PFA’s Team of the Second Decade. 

Playing for Victory during the 2015/16 season, the former Socceroo helped the Club win the 2015 FFA Cup (Now Australia Cup). 

The PFA’s Team of the Second Decade is a great reminder of the depth and breadth of talent we have had so far at Victory over the journey, and we congratulate all nominees and winners on this wonderful recognition from their peers.