15 Jan Melbourne Victory legend “shocked” by Kurz sacking

Melbourne Victory legend Archie Thompson admits he was “shocked” by the sacking of head coach Marco Kurz.

Kurz and the Victory parted ways following Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Central Coast Mariners. The German’s tenure lasted just 13 games with the Victory currently in sixth position, 19 points behind reigning champions Sydney FC.

After a slow start to the season, Thompson feels results were beginning to turn before the shock loss to the Mariners.

The former striker also believes the Victory's poor recruitment – particulary their foreign signings – didn't help Kurz's cause.

“(I’m) a little shocked actually,” Thompson told SEN Mornings.

“I knew that people in the club weren’t happy with certain results. I thought that Kurz had turned a corner with performances, starting to get a couple of results, starting to get a couple of players back.

“From a players’ point of view, they’ve got to take some responsibility because he’s had disrupted season with injuries … some of the foreigners have underwhelmed a little bit this season.

“It was slowly turning around, you look at the game before against Newcastle, you look at the game before against City and then they unfortunately lose against Central Coast – a game they should have lost.

“I feel like a good manager has lost his job.”

Kurz won just four of 13 games in charge since replacing Kevin Muscat as head coach in June.

Assistant coach Carlo Salvachua will take charge of Friday night’s match against Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium.

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