Melbourne City head coach Aurelio Vidmar has revealed talks are progressing well with the club over a new contract and it’s likely a decision will be made soon regarding his future.
Appointed in November following the sacking of former head coach Rado Vidosic, Vidmar was initially appointed a deal until the end of the 2023-24 season.
Sunday night’s loss to rivals Melbourne Victory in a barnstorming Elimination Final has brought an end to City’s season and is technically the last game of Vidmar’s reign according to the terms on his current deal.
However the 57-year-old revealed talks are progressing well when asked about his future during his post-match press conference, with reports suggesting Vidmar is on the verge of penning a new two-year deal.
“Yep, that’s the plan,” said Vidmar when asked if he would be continuing in the role. “So we’ve had discussions and everything seems to be going fine at this point in time.
“Hopefully a decision will be made pretty soon…”
Aurelio Vidmar on reports he’s set to sign a new deal to remain Melbourne City head coach
Two members of his squad who won’t be returning next season though are current club captain Jamie Maclaren and all-time leading appearance holder Curtis Good, with both players now scheduled to depart the club following the expiration of their contracts.
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Both men endured difficult evenings at AAMI Park with the A-League’s all-time leading goalscorer Maclaren subbed off in the 75th minute after touching the ball just eight times in the match whilst Good also departs having been sent off in the 118th minute.
“They’ve given this club a hell of a lot of service, excellent service,” reflected Vidmar when discussing both Maclaren and Good. “It’s a pity because I thought we could have gone a little bit further than we did tonight.
“Unfortunately they bow out in a way (that’s) not the greatest of circumstances but that’s the game. There’s absolutely zero sentiment in the game.
He continued: “What the club has done for those players that are leaving sets a really nice culture and really good history here at the club. They certainly won’t be forgotten, they’ve been excellent players for the club and will certainly always be welcome back to the club at any time.”
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With Vidmar now likely to stay on in the role of head coach squad planning will soon commence for next season as they bid to freshen up the roster in order to improve on this year’s sixth-placed finish.
However, while City often fielded the oldest average starting side in the Isuzu UTE A-League this season Vidmar has ruled out widespread changes at the club, believing too much chopping and changing can have a negative impact on the club.
“Not a hell of a lot but certainly they will be a few,” said Vidmar when asked if fans can expect a lot changes to the squad. “But I think the turnover last season – I think 14 or 15 players – is way too much, for whatever reasons they did happen…. I’d imagine a much smaller turnover in the off-season.”
