Melbourne City sacks coach Rado Vidosic after just two games

Just two games into the season, A-League powerhouse Melbourne City has made a huge coaching call after back-to-back losses.

Melbourne City has sacked coach Rado Vidosic. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Melbourne City’s Rado Vidosic has become the first coaching casualty of an A-League season only two weeks old following the club’s embarrassing 6-0 weekend loss to Adelaide United.

In what has been described as a “mutual” decision, City parted ways with Vidosic just two weeks into the club’s 2023-24 campaign and replaced him with former Adelaide United coach Aurelio Vidmar.

City, who lost last season’s grand final 6-1 to Central Coast after finishing on top of the ladder. is bottom of the table with no points heading into Friday night’s home clash against Sydney FC.

Vidosic’s departure comes just a day after experienced City defender Aziz Behich told News Corp Australia that the veteran mentor had been “great for us as a playing group”.

“Us as the playing group, we have to take responsibility. We’ve got enough experience in our squad,” Behich said.

However, despite City’s good form in the AFC Champions League, the club’s poor start to the A-League has led to the exit of Vidosic, who was appointed to the head coach role in November last year after Patrick Kisnorbo’s departure for French club Troyes.

The Club and Men’s Head Coach, Rado Vidosic, have mutually agreed to bring to an end his coaching tenure with immediate effect.

Aurelio Vidmar will join the Club as Men's Head Coach for the remainder of the 2023/24 season.

— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) October 31, 2023

Vidosic had been at City since 2018 in a variety of coaching roles across the club’s men’s. women’s and youth programs.

City chief executive officer Brad Rowse said: “We are immensely grateful to Rado for his contributions to Melbourne City over the past five years.

“From our men’s and women’s teams to our youth academy, Rado’s impact has been significant. We wish him the very best in his future endeavours. He will always be part of the City family.”

City director of football Michael Petrillo said: “Rado is a true professional and has a brilliant football mind. He has been committed to coaching the City style of play and has been a great servant across all levels of our club.

“His passion for the game and generous personality have had an incredibly positive impact on the entire club. His contribution to the club’s journey will always be recognised.”

Petrillo said former Socceroo Vidmar’s “credentials speak for themselves”.

“(He) is also committed to playing an attacking, possession-based brand of football that aligns with our own football philosophy,” Petrillo said of 56-year-old Vidmar, who has been contracted until the end of the season.

Vidmar’s most recent coaching stint was with Thai club Bangkok United, where he spent nine months before leaving in December last year for “personal reasons”.

Assistant coaches Petr Kratky and Scott Jamieson will continue in their current roles.

Originally published as Melbourne City sacks coach Rado Vidosic after just two games