Melbourne Victory sack Arthur Diles

Melbourne Victory have parted ways with head coach Arthur Diles, who was informed on Monday that his tenure had ended following the club’s fourth‑placed finish. According to News Corp journalist Marco Monteverde, chairman John Dovaston and football director John Didulica are deep in discussions with former Macarthur FC boss Ante Milicic, currently managing China’s women’s national team, about taking charge for the 2026/27 season.

Diles had led Victory to last year’s A‑League Grand Final, losing 1‑0 to Melbourne City, but this season ended with elimination at the hands of Sydney FC. His spell included a 40 percent win rate across fifty league matches and a shock Australia Cup exit to Olympic Kingsway. The board viewed the latest elimination as a failure, particularly given Juan Mata’s success and Diles’ inability to secure a reliable goalscorer. Monteverde reports that Diles was stunned by the timing, having just taken part in player retention meetings.