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Kevin Muscat believes he’s capable of guiding Melbourne Victory to the A-League championship this season and his chairman is already touting him as a possible future Socceroos coach.
It makes for a huge weight of expectation on a first-time head coach stepping into the big shoes of Ange Postecoglou.
Particularly at a club which measures success in championships and at which Muscat has become the fourth coach in just two years.
But Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro says Muscat is the best option, not just the convenient and romantic one.
And Muscat is adamant he’s ready.
“I certainly believe I’m ready for it,” Muscat told reporters on Thursday after his appointment, which includes next season, was confirmed.
“I’ve been at the club for 10 years now and I’m well aware of the beast I’m about to try to ride.
“I’ve been here for long enough to realise what’s expected.”
That means trophies.
“I learnt very quickly at this football club that winning silverware and being successful, that was the mantra 10 years ago when I first arrived,” Muscat said.
“The football club is geared to be successful and I will be giving it my all to try to win things immediately.”
The 40-year-old, who represented the Socceroos 46 times and spent 10 years playing club football overseas, was the Victory’s inaugural captain, leading Melbourne to their two championships, in 2006-07 and 2008-09.
He’s been an assistant under four Victory coaches, starting under Ernie Merrick in the last two seasons of his playing career.
He said spending the past season-and-a-bit under new Socceroos coach Postecoglou had completed his preparation.
He won’t be straying far from his predecessor’s path.
“The football team now has an identity, there’s a certain DNA that’s expected from Melbourne Victory when they perform now,” Muscat said.
“My ego doesn’t tell me I need to fracture what’s happened in the last 18 months and rebuild it.”
Di Pietro said no other candidates were considered, but Muscat wasn’t appointed just because he’s a Victory favourite son who was already there.
“It was clear that we had a program in place and Kevin was by far the best-placed person to continue that,” Di Pietro said.
He said Muscat’s playing achievements would always be part of Victory history, but he could forge a similarly long and successful coaching career.
“In fact, dare I say, I hope he’s in contention for the next Socceroos job. That would be a demonstration of what has been achieved,” Di Pietro said.
The Victory are yet to appoint a permanent assistant but youth team coach Darren Davies will fill the role in the lead-up to Monday night’s Wellington game.
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