Robert Koren to leave Melbourne City with $400,000 contract payout

MARQUEE player Robert Koren has played his last game for Melbourne City after agreeing to break his contract.

MARQUEE player Robert Koren has played his last game for Melbourne City after agreeing to break his contract.

City tonight (Thursday) confirmed Koren’s release after the Herald Sun broke the news last night.

The A-League’s richest club has agreed to payout the bulk of the $400,000 remaining on his $1m-a-year contract after week-long negotiations.

Koren, 35, is understood to have rejected City’s first offer and vowed to fight for his place but the club concluded the settlement as it became evident that his and coach John van’t Schip’s relationship became untenable.

City is now searching for an overseas marquee to replace the former Slovenian captain immediately.

“Melbourne City has announced Robert Koren has been released after featuring as the club’s international marquee during the past two seasons,” the City statement said.

“The club and player have agreed to part ways by mutual consent.

“During his time as a Melbourne City player, Koren, 35, made 26 appearances for the club, scoring four goals.”

Koren was unsighted at training Wednesday, while new signing and direct replacement Anthony Caceres had his first session with the team after training solo at City headquarters for the past week and will debut on Monday against Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park while Ivan Franjic will return after missing three weeks with a corked thigh.

Koren has been an expensive flop for Melbourne City.

City midfielder Erik Paartalu is likely to remain with City despite reports linking him with Koreans Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. City told Paartalu they’d let him leave after he was axed for the FFA Cup semi-final loss to Perth Glory.

However City are poised to be active in the final fortnight of the A-League transfer window.

Caceres’ former Central Coast teammate Nick Fitzgerald, 23, is understood to have agreed terms with City, though it’s unclear why his unveiling has been delayed.

Left-back Michael Zullo said he’d become used to player turnover during his career.

“It’s part of football and the older you get and the more experience you have in the game you just become desensitised to players coming and going, it’s just part of the job,” Zullo said.

“Someone can be a team mate one day, and three or four days later you can be playing against them - it-s part of being a footballer.

“But it can be very exciting if you are a player looking to get a move somewhere else.

“Anthony is probably the one we have had most to deal with in this window and he is a top quality player who will add a lot to our team.”

Zullo said City-s activity proved they were keen to win silverware and said players coming into the club would be impressed with the environment.

“The club has made no secret that they want to be the best club in Australia, the best club in Asia, so every quality player who comes into the door has to tick the boxes, has to be a quality player, a quality person and have the winning mentality,” he said.

“Anyone who comes to City this year will be very happy with the environment they are coming to and there is the added carrot that we are title contenders this year. There’s a lot to play for being at a club like ours.”

Originally published as Robert Koren to leave Melbourne City with $400,000 contract payout