German coach Marco Kurz never looked the part at Victory as tension and discontent mounted
Sometimes keeping up appearances counts for much more than people realise. With Marco Kurz’s refusal to wear a suit and results not going Victory’s way, the union was always going to be strained.
Melbourne Victory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Melbourne Victory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Sometimes a manager just isn’t the right fit for a club, and Marco Kurz’s early refusal to don a suit, in favour of a tracksuit was the metaphor for an uneasy fit six-month marriage.
Kurz’s wardrobe choice was discussed at length behind the scenes at Victory HQ in pre-season and — having always recalled him wearing the polo, tracksuit pants combo in Adelaide — was why I initially thought him to be a longshot in the eyes of Victory chiefs to replace Kevin Muscat.
Watch every Hyundai A-League game LIVE & On-Demand on KAYO. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Despite an uneasy beginning, it was the frantic final moments of the chaotic loss to Central Coast Mariners on Sunday night that sealed Kurz’s fate ahead of Tuesday’s scheduled board meeting where his future was already the No. 1 agenda item.
While the red card — for abusing fourth official after conceding the second penalty that triggered the 3-2 loss — was academic, senior Victory officials noted that for Kevin Muscat’s perceived anger, he was never sent off in his six-year tenure.
With Tim Hoogland and Ola Toivonen due to return in coming weeks, there was a chance Victory — currently sixth — would stabilise and rise up the table.
But the results were not going to come in the manner they wanted, and the sacking was an acknowledgment that they made the wrong call last June and Kurz was not the man to take Victory forward beyond this season in their eyes.
“We believe that a change was (necessary). Once you get to that point, you don’t start setting future dates based on current win or loss, you do that (make change) out of respect for everybody,” Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro said.
“It’s been a constant review as we’ve gone along through the season. Hasn’t been a rash decision by any means. It’s based on facts. Performance and results haven’t met expectations.”
Kevin Muscat’s shoes were always big ones to fill and Kurz’s style was a shock to the system for everyone, while the club also underestimated his loss, for he oversaw all matters football.
In the end, Victory probably didn’t do enough homework on Kurz and vice versa.
At Adelaide United, he had less responsibility for signing players.
Tension between coach and club started in pre-season in terms of where responsibility lied with recruiting players and staff, while at least one of his visa wishes understood to have been blocked by the club.
Victory started the season behind the eight-ball, commencing pre-season without a goalkeeper coach and conditioning coach plus an abnormally high number of players coming out of contract at season’s end, which automatically provides instability.
They never caught up, with Albanian Migjen Basha arriving just days before Round 1 after a visa delay.
Injuries then played a part. Some players were rushed back too early, including Hoogland, and ultimate responsibility for that lies with the coach.
Behind the scenes there was growing discontent with players and staff,
Victory’s wish for the German to play an expansive, cavalier brand of football is unreasonable considering it’s not his style.
But the sight of left back Corey Brown playing left wing, defensive substitutions, sitting deep and absorbing pressure at home against the likes of Wellington Phoenix and the lack of kids getting opportunities did not sit well with Victory’s board.
Back to the suit, with no corporate credits in the bank, that left him purely judged on performances and results. And the on-field displays in particular fell short of the board’s lofty expectations, who set an A-League title and a significant results in Asia as the objectives.
Kurz looked at home on the Adelaide United bench. At Victory, it was never going to work.
MORE NEWS
SACKED: WHY VICTORY AXED STUNNED COACH KURZ
NOT HAPPY: VICTORY COACH BANNED OVER REF ABUSE