They say the first one through the wall always gets bloody.
Patrick Kisnorbo knows a bit about that.
The new Melbourne Victory boss became the first Australian to coach in a top-five European men’s league when he was appointed to lead French club Troyes in November 2022, this was about six-months before Ange Postecoglou became Tottenham Hotspur manager.
New Melbourne Victory coach Patrick Kisnorbo.Credit: Getty Images
While Postecoglou brought his attacking, pressing style to Spurs and won plenty of acclaim and fanfare, Kisnorbo’s experience, at a smaller, embattled club – a struggling side with a remit to promote youth players – was almost the polar opposite.
The club faced a furious backlash from their fans who despised the City Group’s management of their side and took out a good portion of that anger on the former Socceroos defender.
They were relegated from France’s Ligue 1 to Ligue 2 in mid-2023 and continued to struggle in the lower competition before Kisnorbo was fired this past December, just over a year since leaving Australia.
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“I wasn’t that upset,” Kisnorbo said about his sacking.
“I was upset because we had a plan, our plan was great and we wanted to prove people wrong but the locals never accepted us.
“Right from day one, we were Australians that only had kangaroos and all that sort of stuff.”
The 42-year-old brought an attacking style to the previously pragmatic team and when left with only young players, he uncovered some stars such as Wilson Odobert (now with Postecoglou at Spurs) and UEFA Champions League players Abdu Conte (Young Boys, loan) and Luka Ilic (Crvena Zvezda).
Troyes continues to struggle in Ligue 2 post Kisnorbo and only avoided relegation last season because Bordeaux was retrospectively forced down due to financial shortcomings.
Patrick Kisnorbo before he injured his head during City’s A-League Premiers Plate victory celebrations. Credit: Getty Images
“If I look at it now, when we were there, the type of football we played, the age group we were working in and our league position – look at things now – I think actions speak louder than words,” he said.
”They’ve won one game in nine. Is it different? Maybe this is a French coach, is he accepted more? Maybe, yes. But if you look at it, I think we did a remarkable job.”
Kisnorbo finished his playing career with Melbourne City in 2016 and immediately moved into coaching, leading City’s youth and women’s sides before taking the men’s head coach role in 2020 and winning the premier’s plate and championship in 2021.
Kisnorbo will face his old side on Saturday night when he leads the Victory into the first Melbourne derby of the new A-League season and he doesn’t know what to expect, but he knows nothing will be as confronting as his experiences abroad.
“We walked into a situation we had never experienced,” Kisnorbo said.
“It was challenging at times but I think we got better as coaches and people – that experience won’t be forgotten.
“It definitely changes you as a coach as there was a lot of things we had to deal with that we couldn’t control. You had to adapt and find the best solution.”
South Melbourne defender Patrick Kisnorbo controls the ball during his NSL days.Credit: Jack Atley
Kisnorbo is “hungry” for another shot overseas, but he has turned his attention to the Victory and taking the side back to trophy contention this season.
He caused a stir when he left star attacker Daniel Arzani out of the Australia Cup final, but he is in contention for Saturday’s match.
“I won’t compromise,” Kisnorbo said when asked about the Arzani decision.
“That is through effort, behaviour, that could be a number of things. The team is most important and I won’t compromise the team for anybody. It’s a team sport and that’s the way I work.”
Patrick Kisnorbo in Victory colours.Credit: Melbourne Victory
Kisnorbo said he had received a warm reception from Victory fans despite some expressing concerns about his appointment.
”We had some fans travel away to the Central Coast and they were fantastic. It’s been great that I’ve come to a new club where fans have embraced the change,” Kisnorbo said.
“Maybe in the past, it wouldn’t have been embraced. For me, I look at it as I’m trying to do the best for this club, work as hard as I can and have an identity for this team that the fans can relate to.”
Socceroos star Matthew Leckie worked with Kisnorbo for two seasons at City and hopes to return from injury for this Saturday’s match.
He described Kisnorbo as still having good friendships with several City players – Leckie also tipped his former coach would win over any sceptics at Victory.
“As fans, they always feel betrayed or hurt in a sense,” Leckie said.
“That’s just how it is with derbies and teams in the same city. I’ve seen it a number of times when players or coaches go to enemy territory.
“At first, they will be a bit wary or not happy about it, but he’s done really well in the league when he was at City and I’m sure he will bring Victory to a high standard and they will be a very good side, then that will win them over.”
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