Aurelio Vidmar will remain Melbourne City FC Men’s Head Coach for the next two seasons after signing a new contract until the end of the 2027/28 campaign.
After initially taking charge on an interim basis in November 2023, Vidmar guided City to the
A-League Men Championship in his first full season at the helm, overcoming a challenging
injury-hit campaign while also providing opportunities to a host of emerging Academy talents.
The Championship triumph came in a historic Melbourne Derby Grand Final, which saw
Vidmar become just the second Men’s Head Coach in Club history to lift the trophy.
Vidmar then led City to new heights in Asia, guiding the team to the knockout stages of the
AFC Champions League Elite for the first time in Club history, while also extending its record
streak of consecutive A-League Men’s Finals appearances to 12.
CHECK OUT EVERY PLAYER MOVEMENT IN THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
Melbourne City FC Chief Executive Officer, Brad Rowse, welcomed Vidmar’s contract extension.
“Aurelio is an outstanding leader and someone who has made a significant contribution to our football club since taking charge.
“The achievements of the past two seasons reflect not only his ability as a coach, but also
his commitment to the values, standards and football philosophy that have underpinned
Melbourne City’s success over many years.
“He has helped create an environment where people can thrive, where young players are
given genuine opportunities and where the team continues to compete at a high level.
“Aurelio understands who we are as a club, where we want to go and what it takes to
represent Melbourne City. We’re delighted he will continue leading our Men’s program over
the coming seasons.”
Melbourne City FC Director of Football, Michael Petrillo, said Vidmar had played a key
role in the continued evolution of the Club’s football program.
“Aurelio has done an excellent job leading the team through a period that has included championship success domestically, very strong performances in Asia and importantly, the continued development of young talent.
“Winning a Championship, reaching the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League Elite for the first time in Club history and extending our record run of Finals Series appearances are significant achievements that reflect the consistency he has brought to the role.
“What has impressed us most is his ability to maintain high standards while balancing the
demands of competing across multiple competitions and continuing to develop the next
generation of talent.
“We believe there is a strong foundation in place, and we’re excited about what can be
achieved under Aurelio’s leadership over the next two seasons.”
Vidmar said he was excited by the opportunity to continue leading Melbourne City.
“It’s a privilege to lead this football club, and I’m delighted to be extending my time at Melbourne City.
“We’ve achieved some important milestones over the past few seasons, from winning a
Championship and reaching the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League Elite for the
first time in Club history, while consistently competing in Finals football.
“Just as importantly, we’ve continued to provide opportunities for young players to develop
and progress to the highest level, while also seeing so many of our players earn national
team selection across multiple age groups.
“There’s still a lot we want to achieve and I’m excited to continue that journey with everyone
at the Club.”
