20 May Muscat departs Melbourne Victory

Melbourne Victory has confirmed that head coach Kevin Muscat is set to leave the club.

The 45-year-old has spent 14 seasons with the A-League outfit as a player, assistant coach and head coach but has opted to step away from the game.

A club statement read: “Both parties came to a unified agreement that it was time to part ways. Muscat is set to take a break, and the club will take the opportunity to reset and approach the future in a new direction.”

Muscat will oversee his final game in charge of the Victory on Wednesday night in the AFC Asian Champions League against Sanfrecce Hiroshima at AAMI Park, where the club will also say farewell to retiring captain Carl Valeri.

“This is not a decision made overnight or taken lightly,” Muscat told melbournevictory.com.au.

“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.”

During his time at the helm, Muscat coached the Victory to the 2014/15 Premiership-Championship double as well as the 2017/18 Championship, plus the 2015 FFA Cup.