Melbourne City have mutually terminated the contract of senior men’s head coach Rado Vidosic with immediate effect.
Vidosic spent five years at the club, winning silverware with the club’s youth, women’s and men’s sides.
He originally joined the club as Technical Director, overseeing their youth program, before serving as head coach of both their Liberty and Isuzu UTE A-League oufits.
Vidosic took over as men’s coach from Championship winning coach Patrick Kisnorbo in November last year, after the latter joined French outfit Troyes. He went on to lead the side to the 2022-23 Isuzu UTE A-League Premiership and the Grand Final, where they lost 6-1 to Central Cost Mariners.
City started the 2023-24 season with back-to-back defeats against Western United and most recently, Adelaide United, where they lost 6-0 at Coopers Stadium last Sunday.
He will be replaced by Aurelio Vidmar, who will take up the role for the remainder of the season, starting with this Friday’s clash against Sydney FC at AAMI Park.
Vidmar previously coached Adelaide United between 2007-10, before joining Ange Postecoglou as an assistant coach with the Socceroos side that won the 2015 Asian Cup.
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He most recently coached Thai side BG Patham United, where he led them to the 2021 Thai Champions Cup.
“Rado is a true professional and has a brilliant football mind,” City Director of Football Michael Petrillo said.
“He has been committed to coaching the City style of play and has been a great servant across all levels of our club. His passion for the game and generous personality have had an incredibly positive impact on the entire club. His contribution to the club’s journey will always be recognised.
“In Aurelio we have someone who’s credentials speak for themselves and who is also committed to playing an attacking, possession-based brand of football that aligns with our own football philosophy.”
CEO Brad Rowse added: “Rado is a true professional and has a brilliant football mind. He has been committed to coaching the City style of play and has been a great servant across all levels of our club. His passion for the game and generous personality have had an incredibly positive impact on the entire club. His contribution to the club’s journey will always be recognised.
“In Aurelio we have someone who’s credentials speak for themselves and who is also committed to playing an attacking, possession-based brand of football that aligns with our own football philosophy.”
Assistant coaches Petr Kratky and Scott Jamieson will continue in their current roles.
