Melbourne City captain Scott Jamieson to retire after A-League grand final

Melbourne City captain Scott Jamieson is set to join the club’s coaching staff next season.

Melbourne City captain Scott Jamieson will retire from football after the A-League grand final. Picture: Izhar Khan/Getty Images

Melbourne City and A-League stalwart Scott Jamieson will call time on his playing career after next Saturday’s grand final, but the former Socceroo’s football journey will continue in a coaching capacity.

Jamieson, 34, told his teammates on Friday that he would retire from football after a distinguished senior career that has included 374 appearances in all competitions for five different A-League clubs, as well as stints in England and Sweden with Bolton and Goteborg respectively.

But in good news for City, Jamieson won’t be lost to the club. He has accepted an offer to be part of the first-team coaching staff headed by Rado Vidosic.

“It’s the right time to finish my playing career and move to the next chapter,” City captain Jamieson told News Corp Australia.

“I’ve always thought I’ve had a very good football brain, and being around different countries with different philosophies, and also working with some pretty astute people in the game, I’ve learnt and took things off them.

“Having been in the A-League for a very long time, there’s that natural fit to progress my life after football by staying in it.

“To work after football inside the City Football Group is an amazing opportunity, and one that I won’t take lightly and that I’m very grateful for.”

Melbourne City skipper Scott Jamieson will retire after the A-League grand final. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

CFG managing director of global football Brian Marwood said Jamieson had been identified by the global company as having the necessary qualities to succeed as a coach.

“He has got a great football brain, a good temperament, and has been part of our system for several years, where he has had the chance to play under some of our top coaches,” Marwood said.

“He has shown this season, when he hasn’t always been in the top team, that he has that team-first mentality, and that’s a characteristic we greatly admire.”

Jamieson admitted not being a regular starter in the club’s 2022-23 campaign had been “challenging” for him. but said the “rewards” had included seeing the player who took his left-back role, Jordan Bos, becoming a Socceroo and earning a lucrative transfer to Belgian club Westerlo.

“We’ve had a breakout season from a young player who has been fantastic and deserved it,” he said.

“Even though I always want to play, I’ve embraced my new role.

“There’s one game to go, and I’ll play my part on and off the field.”

A City win over the Central Coast Mariners in next week’s decider at CommBank Stadium would secure Jamieson a second A-League championship to go with the three premierships. All of those honours have been with his current club, where he has spent the past six seasons.

“I’ve seen many times when the fairytale doesn’t happen when players have their final game so I’m under no illusions that just because it’s my last game, it’s going to work out right,” he said.

Adding to the occasion for Jamieson is the fact the decider is being played in the region he hails from.

“I’m a western Sydney boy, and with final being there it allows all my friends and family to come to watch what will be my last game,” he said.

“It’s gone full circle. It’s adds to the storyline but it doesn’t add up to any more motivation I already have.”