Melbourne City captain Patrick Kisnorbo has announced his retirement from professional football, following the conclusion of the Hyundai A-League 2015/16 Season.
The announcement sees Kisnorbo draw the curtain on a professional playing career spanning 16 years which commenced, and concluded, in Melbourne.
The commanding central defender, who made 76 appearances across three A-League campaigns, will remain at the City Football Academy and embark on a new chapter in his career, assuming a coaching position in the Club’s youth system.
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Kisnorbo, who turned 35 in March, will take on a coaching role within Melbourne City FC’s National Premier Leagues program in June, where he will help to nurture and develop City’s new emerging talent through its expanding youth structures.
Kisnorbo said it had been a challenging decision to call time on his playing career, which included a decade in the United Kingdom.
“For any footballer, the day you announce your retirement is inevitably a sad one,” Kisnorbo said.
“But it also a time to reflect on your career as a whole, your achievements and I think now is the right time for me to step back and embark on a new challenge.
“My time in the A-League has been fantastic and I really have to thank everyone at Melbourne City, especially my teammates.
“I spent the majority of my three years in Melbourne with my teammates and they became my family.
“It was an absolute pleasure to work with everyone at the Club and obviously it’s going to be sad that I won’t be able to lead the team out onto the pitch again.
“The transition to coaching will be an exciting one; I’ve always wanted to move into coaching and it was just a matter of when that time was going to be.
“Now I can focus my energies on coaching; I have so much to learn and can’t wait to start.”
Commencing his professional career with South Melbourne in 2000 as a teenager, Kisnorbo quickly emerged as a talented defender and was picked up by Scottish Premier League club Heart of Midlothian in 2003.
Enjoying successful spells with Hearts, Leeds United and Leicester City, captaining the latter during their time in the Championship, Kisnorbo established himself as a fierce competitor, earning 18 appearances for the Socceroos – and missing out on a place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa due to injury.
After joining the Club for the 2013-14 A-League season, Kisnorbo’s leadership, reliability and performances saw the number 24 elevated to captain by Head Coach John van’t Schip – which he wore with honour during the Club’s previous two campaigns.
Kisnorbo, who played at North Glenroy, Essendon City, Fawkner Blues, Bulleen Zebras, Richmond SC and South Melbourne at junior level, will help develop Melbourne City’s best youth prospects through the Club’s Academy structures.
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