Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat says club will only get better after his 14-year tenure comes to an end

An emotional Kevin Muscat is adamant Melbourne Victory will maintain its standing as one of the premier clubs in Australia as he prepares for the end of his tenure.

An emotional Muscat fronted the media to confirm his departure on Tuesday. Picture: AAP

The man who defined the formative years of Melbourne Victory is confident the club will remain a powerhouse without him.

Kevin Muscat, who will coach the club for the last time in Wednesday night’s Asian Champions League game against Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima, will forever be to Victory what Steven Gerrard is to Liverpool and Ryan Giggs to Manchester United.

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The combative defender returned to Australia from ­English club Millwall in 2005, becoming the face of the inaugural Melbourne A-League franchise alongside striker Archie Thompson.

“It has certainly been a hell of a ride and an unbelievable journey,” Muscat said.

“I think from that ­moment, to see where domestic football in this country was and where it is today, I feel very good about that.

“We have still got some way to go and some hurdles, but we have certainly come a long way. To be involved and be able to contribute in my way to what the football club is today, I am extremely proud.”

Kevin Muscat coached Melbourne Victory to titles in 2015 and 2017 as well as securing the FFS Cup. Picture: AAP

Muscat was integral to championship triumphs in 2007 and 2009 as a player and led Victory to the title in 2015 and 2018 as coach. He also steered the club to its first FFA Cup triumph in 2015.

Muscat said he was unsure what his next move would be in a football career that featured 46 appearances for the Socceroos.

But he is adamant Victory will maintain its standing as the town’s No.1 when new club Western United enters the A-League next season.

“We have stared down a challenge previously with a club coming to Melbourne,” Muscat said.

“In typical Melbourne Victory way, I’m sure … we will stare down the next challenge with the same robust attitude we have previously.”

Veteran Leigh Broxham, who joined Victory in 2006, lauded Muscat’s impact.

“What he has achieved as a player and then as a coach, he has been through all of it, all the success,” Broxham said.

“It speaks for itself.”

Broxham praised Muscat’s legacy, which will include stints as a player, ­assistant coach and coach ­during the past 14 years.

“What he has done in a short time as coach has been outstanding,” he said.

“Whoever comes in, there’s standards the football club has and what they want to achieve.

“It’s a hard gig to do and I am sure they’ll find someone who is up to it.”

An emotional Kevin Muscat at his press conference. Picture: Michael Klein

Chairman Anthony Di Pietro said Victory would not rush its search for Muscat’s replacement.

“When we find the best person to fill those shoes, that’s the time frame,” Di Pietro said.

Renowned as one of football’s hard men, an emotional Muscat paid tribute to his family, players and the club’s supporters yesterday, declaring Victory would continue to raise the bar.

“Being involved in football all my life, ­initially you are sceptical to say that I am going to be here for 14 years, because of the volatile nature of the game.

“After a short period of time, I was confident that I would be here for a long period of time.”