City unveils new coach

Melbourne City has officially unveiled former Wigan and Manchester United boss Warren Joyce as their new A-League head coach.

Joyce arrived in Melbourne as players return to the City Football Academy to begin their pre-season training, alongside senior assistant coach Michael Valkanis, assistant coach Joe Montemurro and goalkeeping coach Joey Didulica.

Speaking of his appointment, Joyce said, “I am delighted to be joining Melbourne City Football Club at this time in its evolution.

“The people at the club, their vision and their values together with the opportunity to help develop and build this team to its full potential, meant that this was an offer which was impossible to turn down. I can’t wait to get started.”

Melbourne City vice chairman Simon Pearce said: “In Warren Joyce, we have a manager with a long and distinguished footballing career, who has proved himself, in many different environments, as both a pragmatic manager and a versatile, driven coach.

“His career achievements, and the many coaching partnerships he has had in the past, suggest an ideal cultural and tactical fit for Melbourne City.”

Warren Joyce with Brian Marwood

Joyce, 52, has significant experience both as a player and later a manager in England and Belgium, including a spell as Head Coach of Leeds United reserves, two years at Royal Antwerp, eight years at Manchester United reserves, and as manager for Wigan Athletic in the Championship.

He’s well regarded as a development coach, although he had a recent ill-fated four-month stint as Wigan boss which led to the struggling club’s relegation.

City Football Services managing director Brian Marwood oversaw Warren’s recruitment and has strong links in Manchester.

“Warren Joyce is a manager who sees football as a way of life, not a job,” Marwood said.

“By leading by example throughout his career, he has produced quality technical players, quality tactical players, and ultimately well rounded players on and off the field.

“And more than that –his teams have consistently won domestic and international trophies. He is the right manager at the right time for Melbourne City.”

After his first training session, Joyce will meet with members of the ‘Fan Representative Group’ at AAMI Park to get a taste of football in Australia from the viewpoint of fans aged from seven years old to 70 years old.