Melbourne Victory have never known life without Kevin Muscat, but soon will after the four-time A-League champion agreed an exit from the club.
Muscat, the club’s foundation captain and longest serving coach, has decided the time is right to leave the A-League powerhouse and will depart after tonight’s Asian Champions’ League (ACL) match with Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
That dead rubber is now transformed into an era-ending occasion, with Muscat, captain Carl Valeri and marquee Keisuke Honda to sign off. Other players will also leave this off-season, but none with Muscat’s gravitas.
Arriving at the club in 2005, the on-field bruiser set the tone for Victory’s participation – uncompromising, brutal, passionate and above all successful.
No club has won more titles than Victory; though arch foes Sydney FC matched their haul of four championships last Sunday night, when they defeated Perth Glory on penalties in the grand final. Muscat led Victory on the field to the 2007 and 2009 titles as a player, and masterminded the 2015 and 2018 triumphs as coach.
“This is not a decision made overnight or taken lightly,” Muscat 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.
“We have created and earned many great memories along the way including our eight trophies.
“It goes without saying that I will love and support this football club and wish it nothing but success.”
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.
