Right now, as unlikely as it seems given Muscat's hyper-combative reputation, the 46-year-old is happy to be taking a break.

"My first break in seven years," he said. 

"Before, when I went overseas between seasons I'd be getting up early. Checking emails, watching players, talking about recruitment, even if I was by a pool somewhere."

The future of Muscat, 46, has been in focus since he dropped a hint last year that he was pondering a life after Victory.

Prior to the Christmas Derby against Melbourne City, his 200th game as Victory coach, he said he would sit down with club owners at season's end and discuss the future despite having a year on his contract.

That conversation, days after the club's 6-1 semi-final humbling by arch rivals Sydney FC, led to a handshake and an amicable parting of ways.

Since then, Muscat - a long-term Liverpool fan - enjoyed a holiday in Europe, making it to Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano Stadium for the European Champions League final to see the Reds lift their sixth European title.

After a few weeks in the Mediterranean sun before returning to Melbourne, both Australian football and Muscat himself are wondering what's next.

After all, Muscat's achievements sit him on the top tier of Australia's football coaching talent, with Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic, Postecoglou and Socceroos boss Graham Arnold.

Muscat could end up heading to Japan to spend some time with Postecoglou's rebuilt J.League force Yokohama F. Marinos, given the pair's alignment on attacking, possession-based football.

There's the prospect of returning to England or Scotland, where he spent a decade playing professionally.

That pedigree means he's more likely in the short term to pop up on television screen analysing his coaching colleagues rather than joining him.

"Let's see," he said, again wide-eyed. "There are plenty of possibilities out there. I'm happy to wait for the right one."