Melbourne City FC has confirmed a number of changes to the mandates of its coaching staff in order to underpin the appointment of Michael Valkanis as interim Head Coach.

Michael Valkanis was announced earlier this week as interim Head Coach, following the departure of John van’t Schip.

Joe Montemurro, Head Coach of the 2015/16 Premiership-Championship double winning women’s team and second assistant to the men’s team, will assume the role of interim Senior Assistant Coach. Montemurro has now worked across all the Club’s teams, having initially joined as Head Coach of the National Premier League (NPL) team in 2015.



Joe Palatsides will act as Assistant Coach A-League team, alongside his current role as Foxtel National Youth League (NYL) and NPL Head Coach and Head of Academy.



Joseph Didulica will continue as Goalkeeping Coach.

Jess Fishlock, who was a playing Assistant with Montemurro, will be promoted with immediate effect to interim W-League Head Coach for the remaining weeks of the W-League season, while continuing her playing duties.

NPL under-20 coach, and former men’s captain, Patrick Kisnorbo will become W-League Assistant Coach for the remainder of the W-League season, alongside second Assistant Paul Kilpatrick.

Melbourne City FC CEO Scott Munn said:

“This interim coaching re-structure further demonstrates our commitment to the development of talent, both on the pitch and in all of our support functions. Over the last three years we have worked hard to develop a single footballing philosophy across all of our teams, and the simplicity of this arrangement validates the effectiveness of the model that has been created.”

Valkanis’ first A-League match in charge will be on Friday 6 January against Western Sydney Wanderers, and Fishlock’s first W-League match in charge will be the Round 11 fixture against Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Sunday 8 January.