Lachlan Avil 
Kisnorbo led the A-League All Stars to an 8-0 win over Newcastle United in May. Photo: Supplied by TEG.
Patrick Kisnorbo has signed a three-year deal as head coach of Melbourne Victory, becoming the first manager in the A-League Men to cross derby lines in Victoria.
Kisnorbo assumes the managerial role left vacant by Tony Popovic, who was reportedly close to signing an extension on a reduced salary, before he learned of attempts by the club to court the services of his now-confirmed successor, according to News Corp.
The appointment, announced on Tuesday, will make for an interesting litmus test of the bitterness of the Melbourne Derby rivalry. Players have come and gone between the two sides before, but never a manager.
Not only that, Kisnorbo represents City’s most successful era in the A-League Men’s competition, a fact that will not be soon forgotten by the North end of AAMI Park.
Considering the fond memories that City fans will have of Kisnorbo during those times – which are potentially already tarnished – the first meeting between the two sides in the new campaign will be awaited with feverish intrigue.
Of course, Kisnorbo won’t be alone as a previous City player currently on the books at the Victory, he won’t even be the sole former captain of the cross-town opposition.
When the four-time Champions signed Bruno Fornaroli 18 months ago, reception was mixed. A player that Victory supporters loved to hate, was now going to be leading their line.
Fast forward to the third Melbourne Derby of the 2023/24 season, the North Terrace couldn’t have sung his name any louder.
Fornaroli’s path to hero-status at Victory shows that the same opportunity lies in front of Kisnorbo. They both share the same passion and drive that is a non-negotiable for supporters of the navy blue.
Kisnorbo will undoubtedly have to overcome initial dissatisfaction from many supporters, but just like Bruno, one thing above all else will determine Kisnorbo’s popularity. Success.
Kisnorbo will be expected to hit the ground running by supporters and the board room alike.
Victory are not in a transition phase anymore, they are a squad in a league of competitive balance that is primed for a tilt at trophies, and that prize of silverware will be the expectation.
Melbourne Victory Chairman, John Dovaston says that Kisnorbo is the right manager to continue to push the club forwards towards those goals.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Overall, Victory have been on an upwards trajectory since their consecutive bottom-two finishes in 2019/20 and 2020/21.
Rather than start that building process over again – potentially with a first time A-League head coach in the rumoured Mark Milligan – Kisnorbo was likely the candidate considered as the best chance to equal Sydney FC’s record five A-League Championships, as soon as next season.
They have clearly made a conscience decision here to appoint a proven winner, who is the most likely to cash-in on the squad’s current level of comparative quality across the league.
Kisnorbo’s record at his most recent club, French outfit Troyes, does not make for encouraging reading.
Just three wins in 40 attempts and relegation to Ligue 2 is a rather dismal record. However, a further relegation to the third tier of French football since his departure, seems to indicate that at worst Kisnorbo wasn’t the only problem.
It it his tally of two Premiers’ Plates, and both an A-League Men’s and Women’s Championship, which Victory fans will hope he can emulate. If he cannot, then his new manager grace period will certainly be shorter than most.
After frustrations have grown amongst supporters around the pragmatic style of football they saw during the Popovic era, there are encouraging early signs as to Kisnorbo’s intent.
“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,” Kisnorbo said.
“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.
“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.”
Melbourne Victory will return for pre-season training on Wednesday 10 July, in preparation for Kisnorbo’s first game, against Lambton Jaffas in the Australia Cup.