Melbourne Victory have appointed Patrick Kisnorbo as the club’s A-League Men‘s head coach.
Kisnorbo, 43, has signed a three-year contract, signing on until the end of the 2026/27 A-League Men’s season.
He arrives at Victory after a decorated playing career in Australia and overseas, most notably playing 76 games for crosstown rivals Melbourne City and winning 18 caps for Australia. He also played for South Melbourne before heading overseas to play for Heart of Midlothian, in Scotland, and Leicester City, Leeds United and Ipswich Town in England.
Kisnorbo rejoined City as a youth coach before joining the women’s team and then the A-League team; he became City’s first-team A-League coach in 2020, winning the Premier’s Plate and Championship in his first season in charge.
He joined French club Troyes but was unsuccessful, leaving by mutual consent in December 2023 after they were relegated from Ligue 1 and slumped to the relegation zone in Ligue 2.
Kisnorbo remains highly regarded in Australia despite his lack of success in France, and Victory chairman John Dovaston said: “As we progressed through the process of securing our new men’s head coach, it became clear that Patrick was the best-placed candidate to build on the foundations set by the club over the past three seasons.”
“Patrick knows what Melbourne Victory means to this league and to Victoria, and understands the responsibility and weight of leading this great club along with our expectations for silverware.”
Kisnorbo said he was “incredibly humbled and honoured to be appointed as the head coach of Melbourne Victory”.
“The club has a rich history, an expectation for success, not to mention an incredibly passionate and loyal fan base, one that I have admired for so long, and that I want to make proud and deliver success for.
“Significant building blocks have been set over the past few years in the club’s A-League Men’s and academy programs, and I am looking to set the bar even higher for every player and staff member that steps out on the pitch with the Melbourne Victory badge on their chest.
“Our brand of football will reflect what you have come to expect of Melbourne Victory sides. We will be bold and brave, play attacking, quick football, and I will have my team ready for any challenge that stands in our way.
