Before the Championships, the Latin American flair and the sell-out fixtures at Telstra Dome (Etihad Stadium) and AAMI Park, there was Melbourne Victory’s inaugural season in the A-League. It started as an exciting mixture of entering into the unknown via an electric home opener against Perth Glory, European-like matchday experiences at Olympic Park, to the memorable Archie Thompson-inspired 5-0 drubbing over eventual Champions Sydney FC.
However, it ultimately ended in an underwhelming season, where Ernie Merrick’s men finishing a disappointing seventh – the worst placed Australian team in the competition. A goal drought stretching 439 minutes and a late season fade-out which coincided with the departure of Thompson to PSV Eindhoven on loan prompted many to call for Merrick’s head at season’s end.
But the Scotsman would stay on, and with the addition of some quality experienced players, along with the move from Victorian football’s spiritual home of Olympic Park to the imposing sporting arena of Telstra Dome, went onto to beat all before them in season two. We have a look back the careers of the 2005/06 A-League squad:
Players
Michael Theo (then Theoklitos), 25 years old (10 games, 0 goals)
Recruited from Bulleen in the VPL after brief stints in the NSL with South Melbourne and Football Kingz, Theoklitos – as he was known then – tussled it out with Galekovic for the number one jersey in season one. Eventually won the battle the following season and was instrumental in helping Victory clinch two league titles in the first four seasons of the competition.
A disastrous spell in England with Norwich City followed, where the boy from Doncaster shipped seven goals on debut in League One and was discarded by the club soon after. Has redeemed himself at Brisbane where he has added three more A-League titles to his name to become the most successful player in the competition’s short history, trophy wise.
Kevin Muscat, 32 (17, 6)
Took a considerable pay cut to return home and captain his home-town club after a nine-year spell in the UK. Won the Victory Medal (Player of the Year) in season one and was ever-present in two championship winning sides, before missing a crucial penalty in the 2010 Grand Final which prevented him from claiming a third triumph.
Ended his career in disgrace following a sickening tackle on Adrian Zahra before immediately being thrust into a coaching role assisting Mehmet Durakovic, Jim Magilton and then Ange Postecoglou, who he succeeded in 2013. Became the first man to lift the A-League crown as player and manager when taking Victory to the title in his first full season in charge.
Daniel Piorkowski, 21 (11, 0)
Promising young defender whose short career was blighted by a spate of serious knee injuries that saw him retire at the age of 27. Got his breakthrough into senior football in the last few years of the NSL with Melbourne Knights before featuring as Victory’s right-back in the first couple of seasons of the A-League. Missed the latter part of the 2006/07 campaign with a knee injury which plagued him the following season.
A short spell at the Newcastle Jets as an injury replacement for Shaun Ontong followed, before being given another chance in the A-League with Miron Bleiberg’s Gold Coast United. Injuries restricted him to just two appearences in two years at the club before calling it quits in 2011. Now works as a landscaper.
Mark Byrnes, 24 (10, 1)
A member of the Joeys squad that sensationally made the final of the 1999 FIFA Under 17 World Cup in New Zealand, his career failed to take off after that. A great debut season with Parramatta Power at the turn of the millennium was followed by uneventful spells in Austria and Italy respectively. Returned back home and won two successive NSL Championships with Perth Glory before struggling to assert himself in two seasons at the Victory.
Spent some time with Richmond in the VPL afterwards but has been at APIA Leichhardt in the NSW top flight since 2008, in addition to a brief stint at Gold Coast United, where he was coincidently an injury replacement for Piorkowski.
Geoffrey Claeys, 31 (16, 0)
Having featuring for regional giants Feyenoord and Anderlecht in addition to earning three caps for the Belgium national team, Claeys brought a touch of experienced European pedigree to the side. A solid first season didn’t eventuate into first-team football the following campaign as he lost his spot in the starting eleven to Rodrigo Vargas. Left the club half-way through the 2006/07 season after failing to appear in a single competitive outing for the side and returned to Belgium where he played third tier football for Torhout.
Now an assistant coach at Belgian Second Division side Deinze, but has not lost contact with Australia, maintaining a position as Head Coach for the Melbourne-based Football Star Academy in his native homeland.
Steve Pantelidis, 22 (20, 0)
Uncompromising defender who had prior experience in the NSL with the Melbourne Knights in addition to a brief spell in Denmark with Aarhus. He was an integral part of the Victory squad in the first three seasons of the league before failing to appear a single minute in the successful 2008/09 campaign.
Spent the following two seasons at Gold Coast United before a tumultuous spell in Indonesia followed. Moved west and spent a further two years at Perth Glory for whom he appeared in another Grand Final. Moved to Malaysia in 2013 where he joined Mehmet Durakovic’s Selangor before returning home this year and back to the NPL where he featured for Oakleigh Cannons.
Michael Ferrante, 21 (21, 1)
AIS product who featured in West Ham’s famous 1999 FA Youth Cup winning squad alongside future England internationals Michael Carrick and Joe Cole, as well as fellow Aussie Richard Garcia. Failed to break through into the senior squad and spent some years in lower leagues in Italy before signing for Victory via the Fawkner Blues. A constant presence in the Victory midfield in season one, he lost his place in season two to Grant Brebner and saw his game-time restricted.
From there on he moved across the ditch and was a part of the Wellington Phoenix’s inaugural squad in 2007/08 before being released by the club in 2010. Since then he has represented Richmond and Pascoe Vale in the top-flight of Victorian football and is currently coached by his older brother Vitale at the latter.
Andrew Vlahos, 29 (18, 0)
A promising NSL career culminated in a move to Europe with Greek giants Panathinaikos before returning back home where he featured for South Melbourne and the Football Kingz respectively. Returned to Europe with Cercle Brugge in Belgium in 2003 before coming back home two years later where he was let go by the club at season’s end.
Spells in the VPL with Heidelberg United and Hume City followed, the latter at which he occupied the role of player-coach of in 2010 and 2011. An unsuccessful spell as coach of Heidelberg in 2012 prompted a playing move back to South Melbourne mid-way through the season before calling time on his on-field career in 2013. Coached Mill Park in the lower leagues of Victorian football in 2015.
Danny Allsopp, 27 (20, 3)
A Golden Boot winner at the 1995 Under 17 FIFA World Cup, where he featured alongside a certain Harry Kewell. Allsopp’s European career saw him move to Manchester City in 1998 as the Blues fought their way back into the Premier League having been relegated to League One upon the Aussie’s arrival at Maine Road. Moved to Notts County and Hull City respectively before being reunited with former VIS mentor, Ernie Merrick, at the Victory in 2005. Much maligned in the first season for his failure to hit the back of the net, he took the league by storm the following season and won two Championships with the club.
Socceroos caps and spells in Qatar and the MLS followed, before returning to Victory in January 2011. Called time on his professional career in 2012 but has continued banging in the goals for former junior club Croydon City Arrows in Victoria’s state leagues.
Archie Thompson, 27 (15, 8)
Returned to the country as Victory’s marquee man and along with Dwight Yorke was the A-League’s most marketable player in year one, a position solidified by his status as a member of Guus Hiddink’s Socceroos squad and some electrifying performances on the field.
He would later join the Dutchman in the Netherlands at PSV Eindhoven for a brief loan spell intended to keep him match fit for the World Cup. Returned to Victoria following the World Cup and has become part of the furniture at the club, winning three titles, numerous Golden Boots and is currently the A-League’s all-time leading scorer as he awaits his recovery from a knee injury which threatened to end his career.
Vince Lia, 20 (17, 0)
Midfield workhorse hailing from Shepparton who was given his first foray into senior football by Eddie Krncevic at South Melbourne in the 2001/02 NSL season. Spent time in the VPL for Fawkner-Whittlesea before being snapped up by the Victory, where a promising debut campaign was followed by sporadic appearences in the title-winning season of 2006-07.
Followed Ferrante out the door and across the Tasman where he joined Wellington Phoenix and capped off a memorable return to Melbourne with a goal against his former club in his debut season at the club. Has become a stalwart at the club, making over a 150 appearences and in 2013 was re-united with his former Victory coach Ernie Merrick who took over as coach of the Nix.
Carl Recchia, 21 (12, 0)
Central midfielder who featured for South Melbourne in the final year of the NSL under Stuart Munro. Credited with Victory’s first ever assist when his pin-point ball from the right was converted into the back of the net by Thompson. Was released at season’s end and spent some time at the Queensland Roar the following season, sandwiched in between spells at VPL outfit Fawkner Blues under Luciano Trani.
Has since had a modest state league career, winning two titles with the Altona Magic, which included scoring a memorable extra-time winner in the 2009 VPL Grand Final. Further spells at South Melbourne and Moreland Zebras followed and now plays alongside Ferrante at Pascoe Vale where he has been hampered by knee injuries in recent years.
Kristian Sarkies, 19 (18, 0)
The youngest member of the squad who had been under the tutelage of Merrick at the VIS and made his senior debut with South Melbourne in the final season of the NSL. Was heralded as one Australian football’s brightest prospects and was invited as a train-on player with the Socceroos at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Memorably kissed the head of then Prime Minister John Howard at 2007 Grand Final before moving to Adelaide in 2007 where he struggled with injuries during his three year spell at club.
Was instrumental in the Olyroos’ qualification for the 2008 Beijing Olympics but his Socceroos career was restricted to two caps. Two further injury plagued his years at Melbourne Heart before continuing his career in the state leagues with Port Melbourne, Heidelberg, Bulleen and Goulburn Valley, before recently signing for Dandenong Thunder after taking a year off football.
Adrian Leijer, 19 (20, 1)
Dubbo born and raised, Leijer moved to Victoria’s Surf Coast at the age of 15 with his family, and like Sarkies was coached by Merrick at the VIS, with the two spending time trialling with Everton as teenagers. Impressed in his first season as a senior pro with Melbourne Knights, before continuing his development with Victory in the first two seasons of the league.
A move to EPL side Fulham materialised but the youngster failed to crack into the first team and promptly returned to Melbourne in 2009 after a short loan spell with Norwich. Succeeded Kevin Muscat as Victory captain in 2011 before relinquishing it to Mark Milligan in 2013. Moved to China this year where he has featured for Chongqing Lifan.
Simon Storey, 23 (10, 0)
A fullback who was another coached by Merrick at the VIS and first made his name in senior football at Green Gully in the VPL before being signed by Munro at South Melbourne in 2003. A quiet achiever, he was an integral member of the Championship winning squad the following season before spending two seasons in the Scottish second tier with Glasgow-based outfit Patrick Thistle and another with Airdrie United.
Returned Down Under and featured for North Queensland Fury before returning to Gully in 2011. Spent some time in India with Mohun Bogan before joining second-tier Victorian side Dandenong City. A qualified physiotherapist, Storey has his own clinic and even spent some time working for Melbourne Heart.
Richard Kitzbichler, 32 (18, 5)
Former Austrian international with German Bundesliga experience who spent the majority of his career at national giants Austria Salzburg (later renamed to Red Bull Salzburg) and Austria Vienna. He became somewhat of a cult hero for the Victory faithful for his exuberant performances from attacking midfield. Scored the club’s first ever league home goal at Olympic goal and was instrumental in the memorable dismantling of Sydney FC in the 5-0 triumph.
Returned home to Austria at season’s end and finished his career at Red Bull Salzburg’s second side. Continued working as the club’s video analyst until 2009 before being promoted as Peter Zeidler’s assistant coach at the Austrian Champions this year.
Chris Tadrosse, 20 (8, 0)
Sydney-sider who moved down to the Garden State after spending time at the AIS and Blacktown City in the NSWPL. The left back struggled for game-time at Olympic Park, failing to start a single game and was released at the conclusion of the season. Moved to Germany where he played for lower league KFC Uerdingen before featuring for Borussia Monchengladbach’s second side.
A short injury-replacement stint back in Australia with the Central Coast Mariners followed before spending a season as a member of North Queensland Fury’s inaugural squad. Continued his career back in Sydney with former junior club Bonnyrigg White Eagles, who he eventually captained and this season finished his career off on a high by winning the NPL NSW Grand Final.
Ricky Diaco, 23 (13, 1)
Signed for Victory on the back of winning the 2004 VPL Player of the Year while featuring at Frankston Pines before spending the first-half of 2005 at Bulleen. Spent much of his time at Victory playing second fiddle to the strike duo of Thompson and Allsopp, with appearances restricted to mostly off the bench.
Moved back to Bulleen in the VPL at the end of the season before a two-year spell with South Melbourne. Five seasons at the Oakleigh Cannons followed which included two successive Grand Final heartbreaks. Spent 2014 with lower league South Springvale, who he helped reach the Dockerty Cup Final and the FFA Cup Round of 16. Now works in the family garden nursery business.
Eugene Galekovic, 24 (11, 0)
Dandenong City junior who featured in the NSL for the Melbourne Knights, Gippsland Falcons and South Melbourne. Spent 2004/05 in Portugal with Beira Mar before moving back home where he tussled it out with Theoklitos for the number one jersey.
Frustrated at playing second fiddle, he moved to Adelaide in November 2007 where he has established himself as one of the league’s best keepers. Was instrumental in the club’s run to the 2008 Asian Champions League Final as well as featuring at the 2008 Club World Cup. His good A-League form has seen him go to two World Cups with the Socceroos as third-choice keeper and in the meantime has made over 200 competitive appearences for the Reds, now captaining the side.
Rama Tavsancioglu, 21 (4, 0 goals)
A short-term injury replacement at the end of December, Tavsancioglu spent two years in his parents’ homeland of Turkey playing for capital city club Ankaragucu before returning to Melbourne in 2005 and featuring for South Melbourne. Was not offered a senior contract following the end of his loan period and returned to Hellas, helping the club win the 2006 VPL Grand Final before eventually becoming its captain.
Had a short loan spell with North Queensland Fury in 2010 before moving to the Oakleigh Cannons in 2011, where he featured alongside Diaco in two Grand Final defeats. Moved later onwards to the Southern Stars before joining Dandenong Thunder in 2014 where he has been since. A stalwart of the Victorian top-flight.
Staff
Coach: Ernie Merrick, 52
Born in Edinburgh to a family of circus performers, Merrick left the Scottish capital for Melbourne in 1975 where he lived with acclaimed Men at Work singer and good friend Colin Hay. An amateur player in the VPL, Merrick moved into coaching and was appointed Head Coach of the VIS program in 1992 follow coaching spells at Preston Lions and Sunshine George Cross in the NSL.
Considered a surprise appointment as Victory’s inaugural manager, the knives were out following a disappointing seventh place finish. Proved the doubters wrong the following year before securing another A-League crown two years later. Sacked on the back of the club’s disappointing performances in the ACL in 2011, a coaching odyssey in Hong Kong followed before being appointed as manager of the Wellington Phoenix in 2013.
Assistant Coach: Aaron Healey, 32
A member of Joeys 1991 Under 17 World Cup squad, Healey went onto having a modest playing career where he primarily featured in the VPL. Moved into coaching in his early-20s, becoming Merrick’s assistant at the VIS in 1996. Followed his mentor to the Victory in 2005 and was part of the club’s early successes.
Left in 2011 after not being considered as a replacement for the outgoing Scotsman, with the club appointing Mehmet Durakovic. Spent much of his subsequent years coaching juniors at an elite level before being appointed as technical director of NPL1 club Dandenong City in 2014. Moved into his first senior coaching role with the club in 2015 where he guided them to third place in NPL1 East.
Football Operations Manager: Gary Cole, 50
London-born former Socceroo who is considered one of the finest strikers the country has ever produced. An NSL goalscoring machine, his best years were spent at Heidelberg United during the club’s golden era. Managerial roles in the VPL with Altona Magic, Bulleen and Bentleigh Greens followed, before being appointed Victory’s football operations manager in 2004. Occupied the position until 2011, when he left the club alongside Merrick and Healey.
He was given the role of football director with Sydney FC in January 2012 before being bizarrely dismissed in December of that year. Is now the regional manager for the Belgravia Health and Leisure Group in Victoria and Tasmania respectively, a company he worked for prior to his appointment at Victory. Belgravia was also a major sponsor and backer of Victory in the early years, as it was victory chairman Geoff Lord’s business