The Melbourne Victory 2011–12 season is Melbourne Victory's seventh season in the Hyundai A-League, the highest level association football league in Australia.
Season summary On 27 May 2011, erratic Costa Rican Marvin Angulo was axed by Melbourne Victory just weeks after his loan deal appeared set to be extended, while goalkeeper Michael Petkovic announced his retirement. Thai defender Surat Sukha left to join Buriram PEA after he was released by the Victory on compassionate grounds. It was also announced on 16 June 2011 that Adidas had signed a five-year deal as the club's official kit manufacturer. On 21 June 2011, Mehmet Durakovic was appointed as head coach of Melbourne Victory while former Socceroo and SBS football analyst Francis Awaritefe was appointed as Director of Football. However, after a brief five-month stint in his job as the Director of Football with Melbourne Victory, Awaritefe was axed by Melbourne Victory, after a run of poor results.
On 20 August 2011, Melbourne Victory officially confirmed the signing of Socceroos and former Leeds, Liverpool and Galatasaray player Harry Kewell on a three-year contract.
On 15 September 2011, it was announced Brazilian Fabio Alves had signed a one-year contract with Victory, after an impressive trial performance in a pre-season friendly against reigning champions Brisbane Roar.
On 4 October 2011, Ante Covic signed a one-year deal with Melbourne Victory as an injury replacement for Tando Velaphi who was ruled out for 12 weeks.
On 5 January 2012, it was announced that manager Mehmet Durakovic had been sacked due to poor performances throughout the season, with only three wins from their first 14 games. Assistant coach, Kevin Muscat, was appointed caretaker coach while the club searched for a new coach.
On 7 January 2012, the former manager of Ipswich Town, Jim Magilton, was appointed as interim manager until the end of the current season.
On 23 January 2012 it was reported that Melbourne Victory was to secure Mark Milligan on loan until the end of the season. It was confirmed on 24 January that Milligan has signed the contract for a loan deal until the end of the 2011–12 A-League season. On 24 January 2012 it was confirmed that Julius Davies had signed with Melbourne Victory after impressing the staff during his two weeks of training with the club, although he was not cleared to play until 16 March 2012. On 8 February 2012 Hong Kong based Spanish defender Ubay Luzardo secured a loan deal to Melbourne Victory until the end of the season.
Veterans Tom Pondeljak, Rodrigo Vargas and Fabio were released days before the final series began.
On 15 March, Victory confirmed the signing of sought-after Gold Coast United defender Adama Traore on a two-year deal. On 16 March, Jim Magilton boosted his defensive stocks for the upcoming season with the capture of Central Coast Mariners utility Sam Gallagher.
Melbourne Victory finished the 2011–2012 season in eighth place and missed the finals campaign. Magilton was not offered a further contract and departed the club in April 2012.
The Melbourne Victory 2011–12 season is Melbourne Victory's seventh A-League season.
Players
First team squad As of 9 February 2012.
Player Notes
Transfers
Winter
In Date Position Name From Fee 20 October 2010 MF Isaka Cernak North Queensland Fury Undisclosed 8 February 2011 GK Tando Velaphi Perth Glory Undisclosed 11 March 2011 MF Marco Rojas Wellington Phoenix Undisclosed 21 March 2011 MF James Jeggo Melbourne Victory Youth 3 yr Contract 28 March 2011 FW Jean Carlos Solórzano LD Alajuelense 1 yr Loan (May 2012) 20 August 2011 MF Harry Kewell Galatasaray 3 yr Contract 15 September 2011 DF Fabio Alves Volta Redonda Futebol Clube 1 yr Contract 15 September 2011 GK Lawrence Thomas Sheffield United 2 yr Contract 4 October 2011 GK Ante Čović IF Elfsborg 1 yr Contract Isaka Cernak and Tando Velaphi were signed during season 2010/11 after regular season and in between final series for the AFC Champions League.
Out Date Position Name To Fee 16 February 2011 DF Kevin Muscat Unattached Retired 1 March 2011 DF Evan Berger Perth Glory Free 1 March 2011 MF Mate Dugandzic Melbourne Heart Free 21 March 2011 MF Ricardinho Paraná Clube Loan, Undisclosed 26 March 2011 FW Robbie Kruse Fortuna Düsseldorf Undisclosed 27 May 2011 GK Michael Petkovic Unattached Retired 27 May 2011 MF Marvin Angulo CS Herediano Released 12 July 2011 DF Surat Sukha Buriram PEA Free
Summer
In Date Position Name From Fee 24 January 2012 DF Mark Milligan JEF United End of Season Loan, undisclosed fee 8 February 2012 DF Ubay Luzardo Kitchee SC End of Season Loan, undisclosed fee
Out Date Position Name To Fee 24 January 2012 FW Ricardinho Unattached Released
Coaching staff
Matches
2011–2012 Pre-season friendlies
DateOpponentsH / AResultF – AScorersAttendance13 July 2011CelticHhttp://www.melbournevictory.com.au/default.aspx?s=aleague_newsdisplay&id=40319|0 – 120,79426 July 2011Port MelbourneAhttp://www.melbournevictory.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=40431|2 – 0Allsopp 15', Broxham 35'3 August 2011Dandenong ThunderNhttp://www.melbournevictory.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=40497|0 – 110 August 2011Bentleigh GreensNhttp://www.melbournevictory.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=40573|2 – 3Hernández (2)24 August 2011Springvale White EaglesAhttp://www.melbournevictory.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=40720|5 – 1Thompson (2), Solórzano, Hernández, Allsopp4 September 2011Gold Coast UnitedNhttp://www.melbournevictory.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=40815|0 – 111 September 2011Brisbane RoarNhttp://www.melbournevictory.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=40905|2 – 0Hernández 39', Allsopp 50'6,30723 September 2011Adelaide UnitedAhttp://www.melbournevictory.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=41094|1 – 1Hernández 87'9,543
2011–2012 Hyundai A-League fixtures
Exhibition Match
Results summary
Results by round
Statistics
Appearances No.Pos.NameLeagueFinalsTotalDisciplineAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1GK Tando Velaphi000000002DF Matthew Foschini500050213DF Fabio700070304DF Petar Franjic200020006MF Leigh Broxham700070007DF Matthew Kemp200020108MF Grant Brebner300030009FW Jean Carlos Solórzano5000500010FW Archie Thompson7300761011MF Marco Rojas7000700012DF Rodrigo Vargas7000700013MF Diogo Ferreira2000200014MF Billy Celeski5000501015MF Tom Pondeljak4000401016MF Carlos Hernández5200561017MF James Jeggo2000200018FW Danny Allsopp5100511019MF Isaka Cernak3000300020GK Lawrence Thomas2000200021GK Ante Čović6000600122FW Harry Kewell5000501023DF Adrian Leijer6000603125FW Luke O'Dea0000000026DF Nicholas Ansell0000000030GK Rani Dowisha00000000––Own goals–0–0–0––
Ladder
References
External links Official website A-League website Melbourne Victory Videos