2005–06 Melbourne Victory FC season

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Melbourne Victory 2005–06 football season

Melbourne Victory2005–06 season

Manager| Ernie Merrick
A-League| 7th
Pre-Season Challenge Cup| Semi-final
Top goalscorer| Archie Thompson (8)
Highest home attendance| 18,260 vs Sydney FC (16 October 2005)
Lowest home attendance| 10,078 vs New Zealand Knights (4 February 2006)
Average home league attendance| 14,158

2006–07 ->

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.

## Players

[edit]

### First-team squad

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

1  | GK |  AUS | Michael Theoklitos
2  | MF |  AUS | Kevin Muscat (captain)
3  | DF |  AUS | Daniel Piorkowski
4  | DF |  AUS | Mark Byrnes
5  | DF |  BEL | Geoffrey Claeys
6  | DF |  AUS | Steve Pantelidis
7  | FW |  AUS | Michael Ferrante
8  | MF |  AUS | Andy Vlahos
9  | FW |  AUS | Daniel Allsopp
10  | FW |  AUS | Archie Thompson
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

11  | MF |  AUS | Vince Lia
12  | MF |  AUS | Carl Recchia
13  | MF |  AUS | Kristian Sarkies
15  | DF |  AUS | Adrian Leijer
16  | DF |  AUS | Simon Storey
17  | MF |  AUT | Richard Kitzbichler
18  | MF |  AUS | Chris Tadrosse
19  | FW |  AUS | Ricky Diaco
20  | GK |  AUS | Eugene Galeković

### Transfers

[edit]

Player | From | Country/State & League From | Date

|
|
|

Michael Theoklitos | Bulleen Zebras |  VPL |
Kevin Muscat | Millwall |  English Championship |
Daniel Piorkowski | Melbourne Knights |  VPL |
Mark Byrnes | FC Hameenlinna |  Finnish First Division |
Geoffrey Claeys | Excelsior Mouscron |  Jupiler League |
Steve Pantelidis | Heidelberg United FC |  VPL |
Michael Ferrante | Fawkner Blues |  VPL |
Andy Vlahos | Cercle Brugge |  Jupiler League |
Danny Allsopp | Hull City |  English Championship |
Archie Thompson | Lierse SK |  Jupiler League |
Vince Lia | Fawkner Blues |  VPL |
Carl Recchia | South Melbourne FC |  VPL |
Kristian Sarkies | South Melbourne FC |  VPL |
Adrian Leijer | Melbourne Knights |  VPL |
Simon Storey | Altona Magic |  VPL |
Richard Kitzbichler | Austria Wien |  Austrian Bundesliga |
Chris Tadrosse | Blacktown City FC |  NSW Premier League |
Ricky Diaco | Bulleen Zebras |  VPL |
Eugene Galekovic | SC Beira-Mar |  Primeira Liga |

## Matches

[edit]

### 2005-06 Hyundai A-League fixtures

[edit]

Sydney FC v  Melbourne Victory 28 August 2005 Round 1|  Sydney FC | 1 : 1|  Melbourne Victory | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney

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17:00 UTC+10 | Yorke 44' |  | Thompson 73' | Attendance: 25,208
Referee: Mark Shield

Melbourne Victory v  Perth Glory 4 September 2005 Round 2|  Melbourne Victory | 2 : 2|  Perth Glory | Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne

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17:00 UTC+10 | Kitzbichler 11'
Muscat 85' (pen) |  | Caceres 40'
Despotovski 56' | Attendance: 17,960
Referee: Matthew Breeze

Adelaide United v  Melbourne Victory 9 September 2005 Round 3|  Adelaide United | 1 : 0|  Melbourne Victory | Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide

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19:30 UTC+9:30 | Brain 1'
Alagich 15' |  |  | Attendance: 8,785
Referee: Peter O'Leary

Queensland Roar v  Melbourne Victory 18 September 2005 Round 4|  Queensland Roar | 1 : 1|  Melbourne Victory | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

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15:00 UTC+10 | Baird 62'
McKay 40' |  | Allsopp 88' | Attendance: 15,444
Referee: Ben Williams

Melbourne Victory v  Newcastle Jets 25 September 2005 Round 5|  Melbourne Victory | 1 : 0|  Newcastle Jets | Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne

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17:00 UTC+10 | Thompson 68' |  |  | Attendance: 13,831
Referee: Craig Zetter

Central Coast Mariners v  Melbourne Victory 30 September 2005 Round 6|  Central Coast Mariners | 1 : 2|  Melbourne Victory | Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium, Gosford

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20:00 UTC+10 | Heffernan 33' |  | Thompson 73'
Leijer 81' | Attendance: 9,313
Referee: Ben Williams

Melbourne Victory v  New Zealand Knights 10 October 2005 Round 7|  Melbourne Victory | 3 : 0|  New Zealand Knights | Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne

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19:00 UTC+10 | Kitzbichler 23'
Muscat 62'
Diaco 64' |  |  | Attendance: 11,010
Referee: Peter Green

Melbourne Victory v  Sydney FC 16 October 2005 Round 8|  Melbourne Victory | 5 : 0|  Sydney FC | Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne

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13:00 UTC+10 | Kitzbichler 34'
Muscat 53' 78'
Thompson 57' 69' |  | Talay 58' | Attendance: 18,206
Referee: Matthew Breeze

Perth Glory v  Melbourne Victory 23 October 2005 Round 9|  Perth Glory | 2 : 1|  Melbourne Victory | Members Equity Stadium, Perth

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17:00 UTC+8 | Deane 22'
Sekulovski 55' |  | Thompson 39' | Attendance: 12,312
Referee: Mark Shield

Melbourne Victory v  Adelaide United 28 October 2005 Round 10|  Melbourne Victory | 0 : 1|  Adelaide United | Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne

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20:00 UTC+10 |  |  | Veart 83' | Attendance: 16,201
Referee: Matthew Breeze

Melbourne Victory v  Queensland Roar 4 November 2005 Round 11|  Melbourne Victory | 0 : 1|  Queensland Roar | Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne

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20:00 UTC+11 |  |  | Matt McKay 15' | Attendance: 13,239
Referee: Mark Shield

Melbourne Victory v  Newcastle Jets 11 November 2005 Round 12|  Melbourne Victory | 0 : 0|  Newcastle Jets | Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne

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20:00 UTC+11 |  |  |  | Attendance: 12,407
Referee: Simon Przydacz

Melbourne Victory v  Central Coast Mariners 18 November 2005 Round 13|  Melbourne Victory | 0 : 2|  Central Coast Mariners | Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne

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20:00 UTC+11 |  |  | Hutchinson 38'
Heffernan 75' | Attendance: 13,892
Referee: Ben Williams

New Zealand Knights v  Melbourne Victory 28 November 2005 Round 14|  New Zealand Knights | 2 : 3|  Melbourne Victory | North Harbour Stadium, Auckland

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20:00 UTC+11 | Christie 31'
Devine 41' (pen) |  | Muscat 41' (pen)
Kitzbichler 44'
Kitzbichler 75' | Attendance: 1,922
Referee: Peter O'Leary

Sydney FC v  Melbourne Victory 3 December 2005 Round 15|  Sydney FC | 2 : 1|  Melbourne Victory | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney

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19:00 UTC+11 | Corica 24'
Carney 81' |  | Allsopp 88' | Attendance: 17,272
Referee: Mark Shield

Melbourne Victory v  Perth Glory 29 December 2005 Round 16|  Melbourne Victory | 2 : 2|  Perth Glory | Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne

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20:00 UTC+11 | Thompson 23'
Allsopp 45' |  | Mori 24'
Ward 67' | Attendance: 14,754
Referee: Peter O'Leary

Adelaide United v  Melbourne Victory 5 January 2006 Round 17|  Adelaide United | 1 : 0|  Melbourne Victory | Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide

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20:00 UTC+11 | Dodd 14' |  |  | Attendance: 13,427
Referee: Mark Shield

Queensland Roar v  Melbourne Victory 15 January 2006 Round 18|  Queensland Roar | 0 : 1|  Melbourne Victory | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

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19:00 UTC+11 |  |  | Thompson 55' | Attendance: 12,710
Referee: Mark Shield

Newcastle Jets v  Melbourne Victory 21 January 2006 Round 19|  Newcastle Jets | 1 : 0|  Melbourne Victory | EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle

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17:00 UTC+11 | Coveny 36' |  |  | Attendance: 9,073
Referee: Matthew Breeze

Central Coast Mariners v  Melbourne Victory 27 January 2006 Round 20|  Central Coast Mariners | 3 : 1|  Melbourne Victory | Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium, Gosford

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20:00 UTC+11 | Spencer 28'
Spencer 63'
Heffernan 88' |  | Michael Ferrante 13' | Attendance: 11,925
Referee: Simon Przydacz

Melbourne Victory v  New Zealand Knights 3 February 2006 Round 21|  Melbourne Victory | 2 : 1|  New Zealand Knights | Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne

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17:00 UTC+11 | Byrnes 2'
Muscat 21' (pen) |  | Brockie 90' | Attendance: 10,078
Referee: Angelo Nadi

## Ladder

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
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|

1  | Adelaide United | 21  | 13  | 4  | 4  | 33  | 25  | +8  | 43  | Qualification for 2007 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series
2  | Sydney FC (C) | 21  | 10  | 6  | 5  | 35  | 28  | +7  | 36
3  | Central Coast Mariners | 21  | 8  | 8  | 5  | 35  | 28  | +7  | 32  | Qualification for Finals series
4  | Newcastle Jets | 21  | 9  | 4  | 8  | 27  | 29  | −2  | 31
5  | Perth Glory | 21  | 8  | 5  | 8  | 34  | 29  | +5  | 29  |
6  | Queensland Roar | 21  | 7  | 7  | 7  | 27  | 22  | +5  | 28
7  | Melbourne Victory | 21  | 7  | 5  | 9  | 26  | 24  | +2  | 26
8  | New Zealand Knights[a] | 21  | 1  | 3  | 17  | 15  | 47  | −32  | 6

Source: ultimatealeague.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions
Notes:

1. ^ New Zealand Knights cannot qualify for the AFC Champions League as they are not recognised as an AFC club.

## 2005–06 end-of-season awards

[edit]

* Player of the Year (Victory Medal)
* Kevin Muscat
* Clubman of the Year
* Adrian Leijer
* Players' Player of the Year
* Adrian Leijer
* Golden Boot
* Archie Thompson
* Union Supporters Fans' Player of the Year
* Richard Kitzbichler

* v
* t
* e

Melbourne Victory FC seasons

* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

* v
* t
* e

2005–06 in Australian soccer

« 2004–05

2006–07 »

National teams|

* Men's (2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying, finals) (2007 AFC Asian Cup qualifying)
* Men's U20 (2006 AFC Youth Championship qualifying)
* Men's U17 (2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship finals) (2006 AFC Youth Championship qualifying)
* Women's U20 (2006 AFC U-19 Women's Championship qualifying, finals)

League competitions|

* A-League (Grand Final)

Cup competitions|

* A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup
* Club World Championship Qualifying Tournament

Club seasons

A-League|

* Adelaide United
* Central Coast Mariners
* Melbourne Victory
* New Zealand Knights
* Newcastle Jets
* Perth Glory
* Queensland Roar
* Sydney FC

* A-League transfers

*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[DF]: Defender
*[FW]: Forward
*[Pos]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points