Kevin Muscat says he needs a break from football as he prepares to coach Melbourne Victory for the final time.
The coach has confirmed he will leave last season's champions after Wednesday's Asian Champions League group game against Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
The 45-year-old, who has been with the club for the last 14 years, said he had the feeling it was the right time to go.
Muscat said he had met with the club's board and chairman regularly and had held discussions over his future before the decision was finalised.
"There wasn't one point; it's not something I have decided overnight. Things have been going through my mind," he said.
The English-born coach, who played 138 games for Victory after joining them from Millwall in 2005, was the club's assistant coach in the final two years of his playing career.
He took over as head coach when Ange Postecoglou left in 2013 and guided the team to the double of Premiers' Plate and championship in his second season in charge.
Muscat won his second Grand Final as Victory coach in 2017/18 when they beat Newcastle Jets but the club's hopes of defending their title were blown away in this season's semi-finals when they were thrashed 6-1 by Sydney FC.
Regarding his future, he added: "I don't really know (what comes next). I will take the time to go on holiday, that will give me time to focus on what is next."
Victory have confirmed that marquee Keisuke Honda will also leave the club after Wednesday's clash with Hiroshima.
The club are winless from their five ACL games so far and are out of contention to make the knockout stages.
Melbourne Victory are 9/5 to win their next game against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, who are 6/4 with the draw 11/5. Victory are 7/2 to win by a one-goal margin.
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Kevin Muscat says he needs a break from football as he prepares to coach Melbourne Victory for the final time.
The coach has confirmed he will leave last season's champions after Wednesday's Asian Champions League group game against Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
The 45-year-old, who has been with the club for the last 14 years, said he had the feeling it was the right time to go.
Muscat said he had met with the club's board and chairman regularly and had held discussions over his future before the decision was finalised.
"There wasn't one point; it's not something I have decided overnight. Things have been going through my mind," he said.
The English-born coach, who played 138 games for Victory after joining them from Millwall in 2005, was the club's assistant coach in the final two years of his playing career.
He took over as head coach when Ange Postecoglou left in 2013 and guided the team to the double of Premiers' Plate and championship in his second season in charge.
Muscat won his second Grand Final as Victory coach in 2017/18 when they beat Newcastle Jets but the club's hopes of defending their title were blown away in this season's semi-finals when they were thrashed 6-1 by Sydney FC.
Regarding his future, he added: "I don't really know (what comes next). I will take the time to go on holiday, that will give me time to focus on what is next."
Victory have confirmed that marquee Keisuke Honda will also leave the club after Wednesday's clash with Hiroshima.
The club are winless from their five ACL games so far and are out of contention to make the knockout stages.
Melbourne Victory are 9/5 to win their next game against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, who are 6/4 with the draw 11/5. Victory are 7/2 to win by a one-goal margin.
Source: bet365.com