Patrick Kisnorbo to take Melbourne Victory job after Tony Popovic exit

Melbourne Victory have replaced outgoing coach Tony Popovic with A-League title-winning manager Patrick Kisnorbo. The Big V have signed the 43-year-old former Melbourne City boss to a three-year deal through the end of the 2026/27 A-League Men’s season. Kisnorbo joins the club with big expectations after Melbourne’s Grand Final appearance last season. 

Kisnorbo in at Melbourne City 

Tony Popovic brought the Melbourne Victory to a Finals Series semi-final and Grand Final in his three years at the club. The former Socceroo also guided the Boys in Blue to their second ever Australia Cup win in 2021.  
 
Simply put, Popovic left big shoes to fill at AAMI Park. Melbourne Victory have chosen Patrick Kisnorbo to fill those shoes and to replace Popovic. 
 
“Melbourne Victory is pleased to announce that Patrick Kisnorbo will become the Club’s Isuzu UTE A-League Head Coach,” the club announced via a statement on Tuesday.  
 
“The 43-year-old joins the Club on a three-year deal, signing on until the end of the 2026/27 A-League Men’s season. 
 
“A Melbourne native, Kisnorbo arrives at Victory after a decorated playing career internationally and within Australia, including 18 caps as a Socceroo. Kisnorbo’s transition into a coaching role has seen early success as a Championship and Premiership-winning coach in the A-league Men’s competition, along with a coaching stint overseas which provided an invaluable experience to him.” 
 
Melbourne Victory Chairman John Dovaston highlighted Kisnorbo’s experience as a player and manager abroad as a strongpoint of this hire.  
 
“While many of our members may never have pictured Patrick leading our boys in blue, he has grown up in football and the experiences he has had both domestically and internationally make him the best candidate for the role,” Dovaston said.  

Fans divided

Chairman John Dovaston, may admire Kisnorbo’s experience, many Melbourne Victory fans are split on the hire.  
 
Kisnorbo famously played over 80 matches for the Big V’s biggest rival, Melbourne City. He then went on to lead the City Boys to back-to-back A-League Premierships in 2020/21 and 2021/22. Kisnorbo also lifted the A-League title in 2020/21, after beating Sydney FC 3-1 in the 2021 Grand Final.  
 
Beyond the connections to their Melbourne Derby rivals. Kisnorbo was not successful at his last job managing Troyes in Ligue 1. Many Victory fans who were against the move were keen to post to the social media a picture of a banner created by Troyes fans reading “KISNORBO OUT.” 
 
Troyes won just three matches during Kisnorbo’s one season in charge. They were relegated from the Ligue 1 and Kisnorbo was sacked.  

Way-too-early A-League predictions 

Despite the controversy around the signing and Kisnorbo’s poor end to his last job, the soccer betting sites are confident about Melbourne Victory’s chances next season.  
 
PlayUp and almost all the other top Australian betting sites have made Melbourne Victory co-favourites to win the 2025 A-League Grand Final along with Central Coast Mariners. You can bet on both now to win at $5.50 odds.  
 
Central Coast Mariners defeated the Victory in the 2024 Grand Final. The Coasties have won back-to-back Grand Finals and are also reigning Premiers.  

Melbourne Victory finished third in the regular season ladder last season, 12 points behind Central Coast Mariners. Patrick Kisnorbo will have to do a lot of work to improve on last season and to live up to the betting sites’ expectations for 2024/25.