Melbourne City turn to French coaching guru in bid break A-League title drought

Melbourne City will bank on a former France youth development coach with links to World Cup winners Antoine Griezmann Raphael Varane to ignite the club’s bid for an A-League title.

They have tried a Dutchman, an Englishman and two Aussies, but now Melbourne City are turning to a Frenchman to try to deliver a maiden A-League title.

Former France youth development guru Erick Mombaerts will be appointed City’s new coach after agreeing a three-year contract.

The long-term deal represents a significant leap of faith in Mombaerts, considering predecessor Warren Joyce was only handed a two-year deal.

Erick Mombaerts will join Melbourne City on a three-year deal. Picture: Getty Images

Mombaerts, who most recently coached Yokohama F Marinos before Ange Postecoglou took over, cut his teeth with French giants PSG before guiding France’s Under-18s and Under-21s more recently.

FIFA World Cup winners and world stars Antoine Griezmann, Raphael Varane (Real Madrid) and Benjamin Mendy, plus Manchester City teammate Riyad Mahrez were all coached by Mombaerts.

City will make the announcement on Friday, with Mombaerts set to be unveiled in Melbourne early next week.

As revealed by the Herald Sun, Melbourne Victory will also unveil their new boss next week.

Marco Kurz will take charge of Victory, just six weeks after departing their arch enemy Adelaide United, with the German finalising some finer details around his multi-year deal.

Mombaerts received a glowing endorsement from former Liverpool and France boss Gerard Houllier, having worked together at the French federation.

Manchester City star Riyah Mahrez was among the big names coached by Erick Mombaerts. Picture: Getty Images

“We worked together during a hugely significant period of change and growth for the (French) Federation,’’ Houllier said.

“We set up a new type of teaching and learning football to ensure that our players developed both the technical skills, and built on what we had done before by ensuring that we also developed good, team players.”

He was also credited with a key role in transforming “wasted talent” Mahrez at Le Havre, before progressing to star with Leicester City, Algeria and now Premier League champions Man City.

Largely due to his three-year spell at Yokohama, Mombaerts is highly rated by City Football Group, who own 20 per cent of the Japanese club.

CFG are hoping for a return to a more attractive brand of football with Mombaerts, 64, regarded as an exponent of “beautiful football”.

City have appointed former Perth Glory goalkeeper Neil Young as their new keeper coach, replacing Zeljko Kalac.