Melbourne City, for the first time in their history, will compete in NPL VIC next season. It is an historic feat orchestrated by Italian icon Alessandro Diamanti and a talented wave of Isuzu UTE A-League prospects.
On Sunday, City’s senior academy prevailed in their thrilling VPL1 promotion play-off against Brunswick City in Melbourne.
Goalkeeping sensation Lachie Charles produced an extraordinary performance – saving three successive penalties as City outlasted 10-man Brunswick 3-1 in a shoot-out at Lakeside Stadium, where it finished 2-2 after extra time.
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Teenage “role model” Ryan Kalms scored twice for City but Brunswick rallied to force extra time following a 90th-minute equaliser. That set the stage for Charles to step up and take centre stage.
The 18-year-old – the fourth player player to progress through City’s entire Player Development Pathway, following in the footsteps of Jayden Necovski, Peter Antoniou, and Lawrence Wong after signing his first professional contract last season, was an immovable force in the shoot-out.
Saving three straight spot-kicks, Charles guided City to NPL VIC and sparked wild celebrations.
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To put it into context, City’s senior academy were playing in Victoria’s third tier three years ago. Now, they will be going head-to-head with some of NPL’s biggest and most storied clubs – from current champions Heidelberg United to South Melbourne and Avondale FC.
It also highlighted the club’s next generation and the work of former Serie A star Alessandro Diamanti – regarded as one of the Isuzu UTE A-League’s finest imports.
City is where Diamanti has taken his first steps in coaching after retiring in 2023.
Diamanti – who was linked with a move to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the start of 2025-26 – arrived at Casey Fields as the club’s senior academy coach ahead of the 2023-24 season.
“I’m enjoying it a lot,” Diamanti told aleagues.com.au in an interview in August last year. “I like it a lot. It’s not very different but a bit different from something I’ve done for all my life. For me, when you are inside the pitch everything is natural. I’m involved like a player.”
A 17-time Italy international, who also played for the likes of Fiorentina, Bologna, Palermo, Livorno and Atalanta in Serie A, as well as Premier League sides West Ham and Watford, Diamanti added: “A lot of my ex-teammates they always told me during my career you’re not a coach.
“When you are captain for 15 years, it’s pretty similar the job. You have to mange your teammates, you have to speak with the coach, director, media and supporters. It’s huge work.
“I always try to help inside the pitch. I always have my idea. I’ve always been a coach in my career as a player. Now I’m doing my official work.”
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During a storied career, Diamanti played for managers like legendary Italian Marcelo Lippi, Gian Piero Gasperini, Stefano Pioli, Vincenzo Montella and Cesare Prandelli.
And the 42-year-old is bringing plenty of experience and energy to City’s academy.
City’s young cohort have soared to new heights in 2025.
Beckham Baker has signed a professional deal with the Isuzu UTE A-League champions, while other young guns have emerged to flourished under Diamanti’s guidance.
From captain Marcus Humbert, Joeys striker Luke Becvinovski and Akeem Gerald, to Julian Recchia, Roland Ballah, Ahmed Faraz Gulzari and Aaron Cartwright among others.
It is all part of, not only City’s vision but how Diamanti is developing Aussie youngsters.
“I treat my players like Serie A players, nothing different,” Diamanti told aleagues.com.au previously. “I explain to them at 17, 18, 19 years old, in Europe they play starting XI so there’s no excuses.
“The motivation and confidence I give to them is just to be a Serie A player. This is how I treat them because they understand everything. They have the physicality, the talent to be there. It’s up to them.
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“We prepare every game like a World Cup final because every game and training counts, especially at that age. This is who I am. Sometimes when I first start, they keep telling me this is young and old.
“For me, there is no young or old. For me, there is good, no good or ready, not ready. I go from there. I don’t want to know the age. They know me now. They don’t tell me the age (laughing).”
He added: “My job is very easy for me. I’m a big brother for them. I was lucky enough to play with the best players in the world, and against the best players in the world. 10-15 of them are my best friends. I know how they work, how they think and eat, how they recover and train. I know everything about them.
“I’m sharing my experiences then it’s up to them. I give every information they need to be successful as a player. Then the responsibility on them. My motto is tactics very important, the technique is very important but the big difference in the end is the mentality you have. I’m just pushing a lot about mentality.
“Every day I say it’s hard to be a footballer player because if you see the numbers of those who become players, it’s very hard. I tell them to work hard. It’s on them – the responsibility. How much they want it.
“Since I started, the approach of the game they have is fantastic. It’s work hard from us but it’s more about the work they’re doing every day and how much they listen.”
Featured image: Melbourne City
