Melbourne Victory Season 2005-06
Encyclopedia
Melbourne Victory were considered to be one of the future "powerhouse" football
clubs in Australia prior to the 2005/06 A-League season
, with Socceroos Kevin Muscat
and Archie Thompson
returning to Melbourne from successful club careers in Europe
. It was widely believed that they would be contenders for the A-League championship. However, the team ended up finishing a disappointing seventh and missed out on the finals.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
clubs in Australia prior to the 2005/06 A-League season
A-League 2005-06
The 2005-06 season was the first season of the A-League, a domestic club competition for football in Australia. After over 12 months without a national professional club competition, the first match in the A-League was played on 26 August 2005...
, with Socceroos Kevin Muscat
Kevin Muscat
Kevin Muscat is an Australian football player who currently plays for Victorian State League Division 1 side Sunshine George Cross and is assistant coach of Melbourne Victory...
and Archie Thompson
Archie Thompson
Archibald Gerald Thompson is a New Zealand-born Australian professional football player, currently playing for Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League, where he holds the League all time scoring record...
returning to Melbourne from successful club careers in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. It was widely believed that they would be contenders for the A-League championship. However, the team ended up finishing a disappointing seventh and missed out on the finals.
First team squad
Transfers
In| Player | From | Country/State & League From | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
 Michael TheoklitosMichael Theoklitos Michael Theoklitos is an Australian football player for the Brisbane Roar.-Early career:Theoklitos made several appearances in the Australian National Soccer League before moving away to Blackpool in England as a youngster, where he only played three games due to an injury sustained shortly after... |
Bulleen Zebras Bulleen Zebras Whittlesea Zebras is an Australian association football club based in Epping, Melbourne. The Zebras play in the Victorian Premier League.... |
VPL Victorian Premier League The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League... |
|
| Kevin Muscat Kevin Muscat Kevin Muscat is an Australian football player who currently plays for Victorian State League Division 1 side Sunshine George Cross and is assistant coach of Melbourne Victory... |
Millwall |  English ChampionshipFootball League Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League... |
|
| Daniel Piorkowski Daniel Piorkowski Daniel Piorkowski is an Australian football player of Polish descent who is currently without a club.-Melbourne Knights:... |
Melbourne Knights Melbourne Knights Melbourne Knights Football Club is a football club representing Melbourne, Australia in the Victorian Premier League . The club is one of the most successful football clubs in Australia, being a two-time championship and four-time premiership winner in the now defunct National Soccer League... |
VPL Victorian Premier League The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League... |
|
| Mark Byrnes Mark Byrnes Mark John Byrnes is an Australian football defender who currently plays for the APIA Leichhardt Tigers in the New South Wales Premier League.-Club career:... |
FC Hameenlinna FC Hämeenlinna FC Hämeenlinna is a Finnish football club, based in Hämeenlinna. It currently plays in the Finnish First Division . The club's manager is Teuvo Palkki, and it plays its home matches at Kaurialan Kenttä.The team was formed in 1991.... |
 Finnish First DivisionYkkönen Ykkönen is the second highest level of the Finnish football league system , although it is the highest league managed by the Football Association of Finland.-Competition:... |
|
 Geoffrey ClaeysGeoffrey Claeys Geoffrey Claeys is a football player who last played for Melbourne Victory in the A-League as a central Defender.... |
Excelsior Mouscron | Jupiler League Jupiler League The Belgian Pro League is the top league competition for association football clubs in Belgium. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Belgian Second Division... |
|
| Steve Pantelidis Steve Pantelidis Steven Pantelidis is an Australian football player of Greek descent, who currently plays as a central midfielder for Perth Glory in the Australian A-League.- Club career :... |
Heidelberg United FC | VPL Victorian Premier League The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League... |
|
| Michael Ferrante Michael Ferrante Michael Ferrante is an Australian football player plays for Richmond.-Biography:He attended St. Joseph's College Melbourne from years 1992-1997 being a star week in week out for his school side. He came through the ranks at the Australian Institute of Sport and from there he moved on to the youth... |
Fawkner Blues Fawkner Blues Fawkner Blues is an Australian association football club from Fawkner, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. The club was formed in 1965 by local Italian Australians... |
VPL Victorian Premier League The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League... |
|
| Andy Vlahos Andy Vlahos Andrew Vlahos is an Australian-Greek football , who currently plays and coaches for Hume City in the Victorian Premier League.... |
Cercle Brugge | Jupiler League Jupiler League The Belgian Pro League is the top league competition for association football clubs in Belgium. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Belgian Second Division... |
|
| Danny Allsopp |
Hull City Hull City A.F.C. Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football... |
English Championship Football League Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League... |
|
| Archie Thompson Archie Thompson Archibald Gerald Thompson is a New Zealand-born Australian professional football player, currently playing for Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League, where he holds the League all time scoring record... |
Lierse SK | Jupiler League Jupiler League The Belgian Pro League is the top league competition for association football clubs in Belgium. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Belgian Second Division... |
|
| Vince Lia Vince Lia Vince Lia is a football player who plays for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League.-Melbourne Victory:Lia spent the early stages of his professional career in the NSL at South Melbourne... |
Fawkner Blues Fawkner Blues Fawkner Blues is an Australian association football club from Fawkner, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. The club was formed in 1965 by local Italian Australians... |
VPL Victorian Premier League The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League... |
|
| Carl Recchia Carl Recchia Carl Recchia is an Australian football player who played as a central midfielder for the Melbourne Victory in the inaugural season of the Hyundai A-League... |
South Melbourne FC South Melbourne FC South Melbourne FC is a football club based in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Considered the most successful association football club in Australia, they have won four national championships, a string of Victorian State League titles, and represented Oceania in the 2000 FIFA Club World... |
VPL Victorian Premier League The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League... |
|
| Kristian Sarkies Kristian Sarkies Kristian Sarkies is an Australian football player who currently plays for Melbourne Heart... |
South Melbourne FC South Melbourne FC South Melbourne FC is a football club based in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Considered the most successful association football club in Australia, they have won four national championships, a string of Victorian State League titles, and represented Oceania in the 2000 FIFA Club World... |
VPL Victorian Premier League The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League... |
|
| Adrian Leijer Adrian Leijer Adrian Leijer is an Australian football player who currently plays as a centre back for A-League team Melbourne Victory and is also the Captain of the side.-Early years:... |
Melbourne Knights Melbourne Knights Melbourne Knights Football Club is a football club representing Melbourne, Australia in the Victorian Premier League . The club is one of the most successful football clubs in Australia, being a two-time championship and four-time premiership winner in the now defunct National Soccer League... |
VPL Victorian Premier League The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League... |
|
| Simon Storey Simon Storey Simon Storey is an Australian association football player. He has previously played for Melbourne Victory in the A-League in their Championship and Premiership winning team.-Club career:... |
Altona Magic Altona Magic Altona Magic Soccer Club is a football team based in Altona North, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. They currently play in the Victorian State League Division 1.-History:... |
VPL Victorian Premier League The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League... |
|
 Richard KitzbichlerRichard Kitzbichler Richard Kitzbichler is an Austrian football player.-Career:Richard Kitzbichler started his career in 1992 with FC Wacker Innsbruck in the Austrian Bundesliga. In 1997 Kitzbichler signed a contract with SV Austria Salzburg and stayed there until 2002... |
Austria Wien | Austrian Bundesliga Austrian Bundesliga The Austrian Football Bundesliga is the highest-ranking national league club competition in Austrian football. It is the competition which decides the Austrian national football champions, as well the country's entrants for the various European cups run by UEFA.The Austrian Bundesliga, which began... |
|
| Chris Tadrosse Chris Tadrosse Chris Tadrosse is an Australian football player who is currently playing for Bonnyrigg White Eagles. He last played for North Queensland Fury and Borussia Mönchengladbach II in the German Oberliga Nordrhein.-Club career:... |
Blacktown City FC | NSW Premier League |
|
| Ricky Diaco Ricky Diaco Ricky Diaco is an Australian football player who played as a striker for the Melbourne Victory in the inaugural season of the A-League.... |
Bulleen Zebras Bulleen Zebras Whittlesea Zebras is an Australian association football club based in Epping, Melbourne. The Zebras play in the Victorian Premier League.... |
VPL Victorian Premier League The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League... |
|
| Eugene Galekovic Eugene Galekovic Eugen-Josip "Eugene" Galeković is an Australian football player who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Adelaide United in the A-League and internationally for Australia.-Club career:... |
SC Beira-Mar |  Primeira Liga |
2005-06 Hyundai A-League fixtures
Ladder
2005/06 end-of-season awards
- Player of the Year (Victory Medal)
- Kevin MuscatKevin MuscatKevin Muscat is an Australian football player who currently plays for Victorian State League Division 1 side Sunshine George Cross and is assistant coach of Melbourne Victory...
- Kevin Muscat
- Clubman of the Year
- Adrian LeijerAdrian LeijerAdrian Leijer is an Australian football player who currently plays as a centre back for A-League team Melbourne Victory and is also the Captain of the side.-Early years:...
- Adrian Leijer
- Players' Player of the Year
- Adrian LeijerAdrian LeijerAdrian Leijer is an Australian football player who currently plays as a centre back for A-League team Melbourne Victory and is also the Captain of the side.-Early years:...
- Adrian Leijer
- Golden Boot
- Archie ThompsonArchie ThompsonArchibald Gerald Thompson is a New Zealand-born Australian professional football player, currently playing for Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League, where he holds the League all time scoring record...
- Archie Thompson
- Union Supporters Fans' Player of the Year
- Richard KitzbichlerRichard KitzbichlerRichard Kitzbichler is an Austrian football player.-Career:Richard Kitzbichler started his career in 1992 with FC Wacker Innsbruck in the Austrian Bundesliga. In 1997 Kitzbichler signed a contract with SV Austria Salzburg and stayed there until 2002...
- Richard Kitzbichler