Melbourne Victory FC - last updated on 7 September 2007
(Courtesy of Johnny Beaufays)
Club name: Melbourne Victory Football Club
Foundation: 2004
City: Melbourne
Colours: Navy blue, silver and white
Website: www.mvfc.com.au
Honours:
Hyundai A-League Championship - 1 (2006/07)
Hyundai A-League Premiership - 1 (2006/07)
QNI North Queensland Trophy - 1 (2006)
Lord Mayors Cup - 1 (2007)
A bit of history:
Melbourne Victory were founded in 2004 after the announcement of a revamped domestic league in Australia. The National Soccer League, which was disbanded in 2004.
The FFA approved the Melbourne Victory consortium as Melbourne's representative in the league, with Belgravia Leisure Pty Ltd backing the club. The Chairman and CEO of Belgravia Leisure, Geoff Lord, was installed as the inaugural Chairman of Melbourne Victory F.C.
Gary Cole (an ex-Socceroo) was hired to become Football Operations manager, and was soon joined by Ernie Merrick, appointed as head coach from the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS). Archie Thompson, a current Socceroo who had been playing in Belgium with Lierse S.K., was the club's first player signing. The club soon signed three more internationals for the innagural squad - Socceroo Kevin Muscat, Austrian Richard Kitzbichler and Belgian Geoffrey Claeys.
The remainder of the squad was quickly assembled, although room was left for signings before Melbourne played its first competitive match against Adelaide United in a World Club Championship qualifier.
On October 27, 2005, South Korean electronics giant Samsung became the club's major sponsor in a two year deal.
Melbourne Victory were the first team to complete the A-League double in the history of the competition; clinching the premiership against the New Zealand Knights 4-0 at Olympic Park with 4 rounds of competition remaining, then beating Adelaide United 6-0 in the grand final at a sold out Telstra Dome to take the championship.
Melbourne Victorys kit colours are navy blue, silver and white, which encompass the traditional state sporting colours of Victoria. In the first A-League season, only the club badge displayed a chevron, known colloquially as the "Big V", a symbol that has long been identied with Victorian sporting teams. However, in the 2006-07 season the away strip was changed to a grey jersey with a white chevron on the front. This was an immediate hit with the club's supporters and fans, and from the 2007-08 season onwards the Victory's home jersey will sport a white chevron on the front.
Club crests: (roll on the crest to get more informations)
Melbourne Victory FC
