Melbourne Victory
2010–11 season
ManagerErnie Merrick
Mehmet Durakovic (caretaker)
A-League5th
FinalsQualified
AFC Champions LeagueQualified
Top goalscorerRobbie Kruse - 11
Highest home attendance32,231 v Melbourne Heart (22 Jan 2011)
Lowest home attendance10,287 v Gold Coast United (30 Jan 2011)

The 2010–11 season was Melbourne Victory's sixth season in the Hyundai A-League. It was the first A-League season with two teams from the same city, after the introduction of Melbourne Heart.

Season summary

The 2010–11 season was Melbourne Victory's sixth in the A-League. It was the first A-League season with a second club from Victoria (Melbourne Heart). This hoped to create a Melbourne derby more fierce than those with Sydney FC and Adelaide United. The rivalry reached a new level when Victory skipper Kevin Muscat was red carded for an unacceptable tackle on young Heart player Adrian Zahra.[1] Victory moved their home games to AAMI Park for regular season matches. Melbourne Victory started their pre-season by signing former Socceroos keeper Michael Petkovic from Sivasspor,[2] promoted Diogo Ferreira, Petar Franjic and Sebastian Mattei from the youth team[3][4] and with Archie Thompson sidelined with a long term injury, Ricardinho was officially unveiled as Melbourne Victory's international marquee player from Oeste Futebol Clube, where he signed a two-year deal and was handed the number 9 shirt.[5] Victory also loaned Geoff Kellaway from Victorian Premier League Premier Dandenong Thunder.[6] On 24 December 2010, Daniel Allsopp rejoined Victory after a year with Al-Rayyan Sports Club and D.C. United.[7]

Meanwhile, promising goalkeeper Mitch Langerak was transferred to Borussia Dortmund after his impressive 2010 AFC Champions League performance.[8] goalkeeper Glen Moss was also transferred to Gold Coast United[9] and attacking midfielder Nick Ward to Wellington Phoenix.[10] Nathan Elasi was released to Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Mathew Theodore was released to Dandenong Thunder.

2010–11 saw Melbourne Victory finish in fifth place in the regular season and qualify for the finals to face fourth placed Gold Coast United in the first week knockout stage. On 20 February 2011, Gold Coast United's Dino Djulbic 90+1 header bundled Melbourne Victory out of the championship race with a stunning 1–0 win in sweltering conditions at Skilled Park.[11]

Melbourne Victory were drawn into Group E in the 2011 AFC Champions League along with Jeju United, Gamba Osaka and sister city team Tianjin Teda.[12] Isaka Cernak had been signed from North Queensland Fury for the 2011 AFC Champions League and the following season.[13]

Towards the end of the 2010–11 A-League season was preceded by major changes at the club, not only in the playing group but also on the board. Inaugural chairman Geoff Lord stepped down and was replaced by Anthony Di Pietro.[14] This led to a changing of the coaching staff. On 12 March 2011, Ernie Merrick came to an agreement with the board of directors to part company with the club after being publicly criticised by fans and media for the club's poor 2010–11 season performance, especially the 4–1 loss to arch rival Adelaide United, and the 5–1 loss to Gamba Osaka in its opening 2011 AFC Champions League game.[15] Youth team head coach and former Socceroo Mehmet Durakovic was then appointed as caretaker manager for the remaining 2011 AFC Champions League competition.[16] Merrick's sacking was followed by that of former Socceroos striker Gary Cole on 12 April 2011 as Football Operation Manager after six years of service.[17] Assistant coach Aaron Healey joined the casualty list of the post-Merrick era the following week, as the club sought to reinvent itself as the pre-eminent football force in Australia.[18] Captain Kevin Muscat announced his retirement after the 2011 AFC Champions League.[19]

Many changes were made to the playing group in the off-season. The club announced on 8 February 2011 that they had signed Perth Glory goalkeeper Tando Velaphi on a two-year deal.[20] On 28 February 2011, it was announced that Mate Dugandžić strengthened the rivalry between the two Melbourne clubs by signing for cross town rival Melbourne Heart and became the first player transferred directly from Victory to Heart.[21] Aziz Behich and Kristian Sarkies were the first two players to play for both teams but not transferred directly as Aziz Behich played for Hume City FC after Victory and before Heart during the A-League off-season while Kristian Sarkies transferred via Adelaide United. The club ended weeks of speculation on 11 March 2011 by officially confirming that they had signed attacking midfielder Marco Rojas for the upcoming season, securing him on a two-year deal.[22] Ricardinho was not selected as one of the five foreign imports for Melbourne's 2011 AFC Champions League campaign, and as a result was loaned to Campeonato Brasileiro Série B club Paraná Clube until 31 December 2011.[23] On 26 March 2011, Socceroos striker Robbie Kruse announced he had signed with 2. Bundesliga side Fortuna Düsseldorf on a three-year contract beginning with the 2011–12 season.[24] The club announced the signing of Jean Carlos Solorzano from Brisbane Roar on 28 March 2011, with L.D. Alajuelense extending his loan deal for one more season so that the move could take place.[25]

Players

First team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Australia AUS Michael Petkovic
2 DF Australia AUS Kevin Muscat (Captain)
3 MF Australia AUS Mate Dugandžić (Youth)
4 DF Australia AUS Petar Franjic (Youth)
5 DF Thailand THA Surat Sukha
6 MF Australia AUS Leigh Broxham
7 DF Australia AUS Matthew Kemp
8 MF Scotland SCO Grant Brebner
9 FW Brazil BRA Ricardinho (Marquee)
10 FW Australia AUS Archie Thompson (Australian Marquee)
11 MF Costa Rica CRC Marvin Angulo (on loan from CS Herediano)
12 DF Australia AUS Rodrigo Vargas
No. Pos. Nation Player
13 MF Australia AUS Diogo Ferreira (Youth)
14 MF Australia AUS Billy Celeski
15 MF Australia AUS Tom Pondeljak
16 MF Costa Rica CRC Carlos Hernández
17 DF Australia AUS Matthew Foschini (Youth)
18 FW Australia AUS Danny Allsopp
19 DF Australia AUS Evan Berger
20 GK Australia AUS Sebastian Mattei (Youth)
21 FW Australia AUS Robbie Kruse
23 DF Australia AUS Adrian Leijer (Vice Captain)
27 MF Wales WAL Geoff Kellaway

Transfers

Winter

In

Player From League Fee Date
Australia Diogo Ferreira Melbourne Victory – Youth Australia National Youth League Free April 2010
Australia Petar Franjic Melbourne Victory – Youth Australia National Youth League Free April 2010
Australia Michael Petkovic Sivasspor Turkey Süper Lig Free June 2010
Australia Sebastian Mattei Melbourne Victory – Youth Australia National Youth League Free July 2010
Wales Geoff Kellaway Dandenong Thunder Australia Victorian Premier League Loan August 2010
Brazil Ricardinho Oeste Futebol Clube Brazil Campeonato Brasileiro Série D Not disclosed August 2010
Australia Danny Allsopp D.C. United United States Major League Soccer Free December 2010

Out

Player To League Fee Date
Australia Mitchell Langerak Borussia Dortmund Germany Fußball-Bundesliga Not disclosed May 2010
Australia Nathan Elasi Bonnyrigg White Eagles Australia NSW Premier League Released May 2010
Australia Mathew Theodore Altona Magic Australia Victorian Premier League Released May 2010
Australia Nik Mrdja Central Coast Mariners Australia A-League End of Loan May 2010
New Zealand Glen Moss Gold Coast United Australia A-League Free July 2010
Australia Nick Ward Wellington Phoenix Australia A-League Free August 2010

Summer

In

Player From League Fee Date
Australia Tando Velaphi Perth Glory Australia A-league Free March 2011
Australia Isaka Cernak North Queensland Fury Australia A-league Free March 2011
New Zealand Marco Rojas Wellington Phoenix Australia A-league Free March 2011

Out

Player To League Fee Date
Australia Mate Dugandzic Melbourne Heart Australia A-League Free March 2011
Australia Evan Berger Perth Glory Australia A-League Free March 2011

Managerial and captain changes

Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Table Incoming manager Date of appointment Time
ScotlandAustralia Ernie Merrick Sacked 12 March 2011[26] 5th (10–11) Mehmet Durakovic (caretaker) 12 March 2011 GF week
Previous captain Manner of change hand Date of change hand New captain Date of appointment Time
Australia Kevin Muscat Resigned as captain 16 February 2011 Adrian Leijer 16 February 2011 Regular season

Matches

2010–11 Pre-season friendlies

6 July 2010 Melbourne Victory Australia 2–1 Australia Bentleigh Greens Olympic Park, Melbourne
Pondeljak 21'
O'Dea 75'		 Report 85' Crenich Attendance: 16,019

2010–11 Hyundai A-League fixtures

14 August 2010 Melbourne Victory 0–2 Perth Glory AAMI Park, Melbourne
Saturday 19:30 EST Report
Summary		 Harnwell 23'
Sterjovski 49'		 Attendance: 20,358
Referee: Australia Gerard Parsons
22 August 2010 Melbourne Victory 2–2 North Queensland Fury AAMI Park, Melbourne
Sunday 15:00 EST K. Muscat 30' (pen.), 75' (pen.) Report
Summary		 Sseppuya 16'
Grossman Red card 30'
Akoto Red card 81'
Payne 82' (pen.)		 Attendance: 13,318
Referee: Scotland Chris Boyle
12 September 2010 Melbourne Victory 3–0 Brisbane Roar AAMI Park, Melbourne
Sunday 15:00 EST Pondeljak 51'
Ricardinho 56'
Brebner 71'		 Report
Summary		 Attendance: 13,792
Referee: Australia Ryan Shepheard
8 October 2010[Note 1] Melbourne Heart 2–1 Melbourne Victory AAMI Park, Melbourne
Friday 19:30 EDT Aloisi 11'
Alex 48'
Behich Yellow card 48' Yellow-red card 74'		 Report
Summary		 Kruse 37' Attendance: 25,897
Referee: Australia Ben Williams
16 October 2010 Melbourne Victory 3–0 Sydney FC Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Saturday 18:45 EDT Vargas 20'
Hernández 49'
Kruse 90'		 Report
Summary		 Attendance: 17,299
Referee: Australia Ben Williams
14 November 2010 Perth Glory 3–1 Melbourne Victory nib Stadium, Perth
Sunday 16:00 WST Fowler 13', 64', 71' Report
Summary		 Dugandžić 79' Attendance: 6,217
Referee: Australia Chris Beath
18 November 2010 Melbourne Victory 2–2 Central Coast Mariners AAMI Park, Melbourne
Thursday 19:30 EDT Vargas 62'
Hernández 64'		 Report
Summary		 McBreen 29'
Kwasnik 78'		 Attendance: 11,674
Referee: Australia Gerard Parsons
3 December 2010 Melbourne Victory 3–3 Brisbane Roar AAMI Park, Melbourne
Friday 20:00 EDT Kruse 63', 77'
A. Thompson 71'		 Report
Summary		 Kemp 30' (o.g.)
Solórzano 45+1'
McKay 90+4'		 Attendance: 11,886
Referee: Australia Peter Green
11 December 2010 Melbourne Heart 1–3 Melbourne Victory AAMI Park, Melbourne
Saturday 19:00 EDT Sibon 17' Report
Summary		 Kruse 12', 28'
Srhoj 54' (o.g.)		 Attendance: 23,059
Referee: Australia Chris Beath
18 December 2010 Melbourne Victory 2–0 Perth Glory AAMI Park, Melbourne
Saturday 19:00 EDT A. Thompson 45+4'
Vargas 64'		 Report
Summary		 Attendance: 12,124
Referee: Australia Matthew Breeze
9 January 2011 Melbourne Victory 1–4 Adelaide United AAMI Park, Melbourne
Sunday 15:00 EDT K. Muscat Yellow card 57' Yellow-red card 65'
Dugandžić 90+4'		 Report
Summary		 Flores 12'
van Dijk 57', 78'
Barbiero 74'		 Attendance: 18,558
Referee: Australia Peter Green
15 January 2011 Sydney FC 1–1 Melbourne Victory Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Saturday 19:30 EDT Makela 90+1' Report
Summary		 Allsopp 52' Attendance: 11,387
Referee: Australia Matthew Breeze
22 January 2011 Melbourne Victory 2–2 Melbourne Heart Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Saturday 19:00 EDT Allsopp 10'
Hernández 31'
K. Muscat Red card 79'		 Report
Summary		 Aloisi 45+2', 51' Attendance: 32,231
Referee: Australia Chris Beath
30 January 2011 Melbourne Victory 2–0 Gold Coast United AAMI Park, Melbourne
Sunday 17:00 EDT Allsopp 25', 56' Report
Summary		 Attendance: 10,287
Referee: Australia Peter Green
11 February 2011 Adelaide United 2–1 Melbourne Victory Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Friday 19:30 CDT Reid 6'
T. Dodd 78'		 Report
Summary		 A. Thompson 65' Attendance: 21,083
Referee: Australia Ryan Shepheard
Notes
  1. ↑ Game was moved to stop a clash with the AFL grand final replay Archived 4 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine

2010–11 Finals series

20 February 2011 Semi-Final 4 v 5 Gold Coast United 1–0 Melbourne Victory Skilled Park, Gold Coast
Sunday 16:30 EST Djulbic 90+1' Report
Summary		 Attendance: 3,281
Referee: Australia Strebre Delovski

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Brisbane Roar (C) 30 18 11 1 58 26 +32 65 Qualification for 2012 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series[lower-alpha 1]
2 Central Coast Mariners 30 16 9 5 50 31 +19 57
3 Adelaide United 30 15 5 10 51 36 +15 50 Qualification for 2012 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off and Finals series
4 Gold Coast United 30 12 10 8 40 32 +8 46 Qualification for Finals series
5 Melbourne Victory 30 11 10 9 45 39 +6 43
6 Wellington Phoenix 30 12 5 13 39 41 −2 41
7 Newcastle Jets 30 9 8 13 29 33 −4 35
8 Melbourne Heart 30 8 11 11 32 42 −10 35
9 Sydney FC 30 8 10 12 35 40 −5 34
10 Perth Glory 30 5 8 17 27 54 −27 23
11 North Queensland Fury 30 4 7 19 28 60 −32 19
Source: ultimatealeague.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ↑ First place qualifies for the 2012 AFC Champions League group stage.
    Winning the 2011 A-League Grand Final automatically earns qualification for the 2012 AFC Champions League group stage, unless first place are champions.
    Second place qualifies for the 2012 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off, unless they qualify for the 2011 A-League Grand Final alongside first place or become A-League Champions, subsequently third place then qualify for the 2012 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off.

Statistics

Leading scorers

Total Player Goals per Match
 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
11 AustraliaRobbie Kruse 111111221
5 Costa RicaCarlos Hernández 11111
AustraliaMate Dugandžić 1112
AustraliaDaniel Allsopp 1112
4 AustraliaArchie Thompson 1111
3 AustraliaRodrigo Vargas 111
2 AustraliaKevin Muscat 2
BrazilRicardinho 11
ScotlandGrant Brebner 11
AustraliaTom Pondeljak 11
1
AustraliaLeigh Broxham 1
AustraliaBilly Celeski 1
AustraliaDiogo Ferreira 1

Discipline

Updated as end of the season

Name Cautions Yellow card 2nd Caution – Send-Off Yellow cardYellow cardRed card Send-Offs Red card
Australia Rodrigo Vargas 6
Australia Billy Celeski 6
Scotland Grant Brebner 5
Australia Adrian Leijer 6
Australia Leigh Broxham 4
Australia Robbie Kruse 5
Australia Diogo Ferreira 5
Australia Mate Dugandzic 2
Australia Matthew Foschini 1
Brazil Ricardinho 3
Thailand Surat Sukha 1
Australia Kevin Muscat 5 1 1
Costa Rica Carlos Hernández 4
Costa Rica Marvin Angulo 3
Australia Michael Petkovic 4
Australia Matthew Kemp 1
Australia Tom Pondeljak 3
Australia Daniel Allsopp 2
Australia Evan Berger 1

2011 AFC Champions League

Group stage

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Japan Gamba Osaka 6 3 1 2 13 7 +6 10[lower-alpha 1] Advance to knockout stage
2 China Tianjin Teda 6 3 1 2 8 6 +2 10[lower-alpha 1]
3 South Korea Jeju United 6 2 1 3 6 10 −4 7
4 Australia Melbourne Victory 6 1 3 2 7 11 −4 6
Source:
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Tiebreakers: Gamba Osaka and Tianjin Teda are ranked by their head-to-head records: Gamba Osaka (3 pts, +1 GD), Tianjin Teda (3 pts, –1 GD).
Gamba Osaka Japan5–1Australia Melbourne Victory
Takei 4'
Adriano 7' (pen.)
Lee Keun-Ho 10'
Futagawa 62'
Kim Seung-Yong 90+1'		 Report Muscat 21' (pen.)
Attendance: 12,949
Referee: Ali Hamad Madhad Saif Albadwawi (UAE)
Melbourne Victory Australia2 – 1China Tianjin Teda
Hernández 44'
Muscat 45+1' (pen.)		 Report Chen Tao 37'
Attendance: 5,693
Melbourne Victory Australia1 – 1Japan Gamba Osaka
Leijer 12' Report Nakazawa 43'
Attendance: 7,437
RoundDateHome teamScoreAway teamCrowdStadium
Group Stage1 March 2011Gamba Osaka5–1Melbourne Victory12,949Osaka Expo '70 Stadium, Suita
Group Stage15 March 2011Melbourne Victory1–2Jeju United4,825Etihad Stadium
Group Stage5 April 2011Tianjin Teda1–1Melbourne Victory25,456TEDA Football Stadium, Tianjin
Group Stage20 April 2011Melbourne Victory2-1Tianjin Teda5,693Etihad Stadium
Group Stage4 May 2011Melbourne Victory1–1Gamba Osaka7,437Etihad Stadium
Group Stage11 May 2011Jeju United1–1Melbourne Victory1,519Jeju World Cup Stadium

References

  1. ↑ Bernard, Grantley (23 January 2011). "Kevin Muscat says sorry for his tackle on Adrian Zahra". Herald Sun. Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  2. ↑ "Michael Petkovic signs for Melbourne Victory". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). 30 June 2010. Archived from the original on 1 July 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  3. ↑ "Angulo to stay in A-League with Victory". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  4. ↑ "Victory call up Mattei". A-League Official Website. 28 July 2010. Archived from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  5. ↑ "Brazilian Ricardinho signs for Victory". FIFA. 19 August 2009. Archived from the original on 25 August 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  6. ↑ Slevison, Andrew (17 August 2010). "Melbourne Victory sign Dandenong Thunder's Kellaway". Tribal Football. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  7. ↑ "Allsopp returns to Melbourne Victory". FIFA. 24 December 2010. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  8. ↑ "Melbourne Victory Agree Fee With Borussia Dortmund For Mitch Langerak". Goal.com. 13 May 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  9. ↑ "Gold Coast United Agree Terms With Melbourne Victory Goalkeeper Glen Moss". Goal.com. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  10. ↑ "Wellington Sign Victory's Ward". FourFourTwo Australia. Haymarket Group. 1 September 2010. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  11. ↑ "Victory crashes out of finals". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. 20 February 2011. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  12. ↑ "Mouth-watering matches on the ACL agenda". the-afc.com (AFC). 7 December 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  13. ↑ "Cernak set for Victory move". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). 20 October 2010. Archived from the original on 23 October 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  14. ↑ Slevison, Andrew (31 January 2011). "Lord to step down as Melbourne Victory chairman at season's end". Tribal Football. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  15. ↑ Bernard, Grantley (12 March 2011). "Ernie Merrick dumped as Melbourne Victory coach". Herald Sun. Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  16. ↑ "Victory and Merrick part ways". ABC News. 12 March 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  17. ↑ Bernard, Grantley (12 April 2011). "Melbourne Victory axe football boss Gary Cole". Herald Sun. Herald and Weekly Times.
  18. ↑ "Players Pole-Axed By Cole Axe". FourFourTwo Australia. Haymarket Group. 12 April 2011. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  19. ↑ Coerts, Stefan (16 February 2011). "Former Australia International Kevin Muscat Announces Retirement". Goal.com. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  20. ↑ "Victory sign Velaphi". A-League Official Website. 8 February 2011. Archived from the original on 23 February 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  21. ↑ "Heart signs former Victory striker Dugandzic". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  22. ↑ "Victory secure Rojas signing". A-League Official Website. 11 March 2011. Archived from the original on 3 April 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  23. ↑ Slevison, Andrew (22 March 2011). "Melbourne Victory loan Ricardinho to Brazilian outfit Parana Clube". Tribal Football. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  24. ↑ "Kruse signs with Dusseldorf". Sportal. 26 March 2011. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  25. ↑ "Victory sign Solorzano". melbournevictory.com.au (Melbourne Victory). 28 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 August 2011.
  26. ↑ Merrick and Melbourne Victory part ways
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