Melbourne Victory sack coach Marco Kurz after 13 games
By Michael LynchJanuary 15, 2020 — 9.33am
Struggling A-League giants Melbourne Victory have sacked coach Marco Kurz in a dramatic mid-season move to arrest the club's slump.
Assistant coach Carlos Perez Salvachua will take charge after the Anthony Di Pietro-led board sacked Kurz on Wednesday after just 13 league games in charge.
Victory have only won four games this season and lost six, including a disastrous defeat to
Central Coast Mariners in injury time on Sunday when two VAR penalties against his team frustrated Kurz so much that he was sent off for swearing at a match official.
Marco Kurz has been sacked as Victory coach.Credit:Getty Images
The board met early this week and decided that not just results but the way in which the team was playing, Kurz's managerial style and approach did not fit in with "the Victory way".
There were questions about his tactics, playing style and the way in which the players were trained; a number of key players have missed large chunks of the season through injury, especially German defender Tim Hoogland, who has barely appeared after having setbacks in training.
Victory considered wielding the axe in December, but wins in the pre-Christmas derby against Melbourne City and then a 4-0 win over Newcastle Jets (after which former Victory boss Ernie Merrick was fired as Jets coach) kept Kurz in situ.
But the loss to the Mariners, the manner of the defeat and the fact that Victory are back in the mid-table mire has ensured a board decision to take decisive action now.
Salvachua would have been in charge for the Friday night return to Adelaide United in any case, given Kurz's suspension, but he will be in the hot seat for the rest of the season as he looks to guide the former champions up the table and into a finals berth from which they can be competitive.
Kurz took over from club great Kevin Muscat last June on a two-year deal, joining Victory from Adelaide United.
VAR controversies continue to hurt soccerA former player who won Bundesliga titles in the 1990s with Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04, Kurz also managed in Germany's first and second divisions.
He led Adelaide United to two FFA Cup finals, including a win in 2018, and two A-League finals series.
Victory sit sixth on the ladder on goal difference and more than 15 points off league leaders and keen rivals Sydney FC, who top the table on 34 points.
In better news for Victory, Johnny Warren medallist Marco Rojas is expected to be at AAMI Park for a medical on Thursday ahead of resigning for the club at which he made his name.
It is believed that Kristijan Dobras, one of Victory's underperforming visa players, may be the one to make way to allow Victory to sign the Kiwi winger who left his Danish club in December.
with Anthony Colangelo
