Melbourne City FC has etched another chapter in Club history, crowned A-League Men’s Champions for a second time after a commanding 1-0 win over rivals Melbourne Victory in Saturday night’s all-Melbourne Grand Final at a sold-out AAMI Park.
Yonatan Cohen’s well-taken strike in the 10th minute proved the difference, as City’s grit, determination and defensive resilience held strong in front of a raucous crowd in what was the first-ever Melbourne Derby Grand Final.
It was Mathew Leckie, bloodied, bruised, and everywhere in midfield, who was deservedly awarded the Joe Marston Medal for best on ground. His relentless energy and leadership epitomised a performance that underlined everything this City team has built across a remarkable 2024/25 campaign.
The Championship win caps a season to remember for Aurelio Vidmar’s side, who not only secured AFC Champions League Elite qualification but also reached their fifth Grand Final in six years, further cementing their status as one of the competition’s most dominant forces.
Head Coach Aurelio Vidmar, in his first full season at the helm, was full of pride post-match: “It’s an unbelievable feeling to be honest.”
“The amount of work that we’ve done throughout the year, all the setbacks that we’ve had, all the hurdles we’ve had to face, we’ve always seemed to jump over them and face adversity in a really positive way.
“To see the reward the boys have gotten tonight in a really tough game, I’m so rapt for everyone. The players obviously, but everyone at the Club. We stayed true to ourselves, we stayed true to our principles and I’m just so proud of everyone tonight.”
Club captain Aziz Behich echoed the sentiment after lifting the trophy: “From top to bottom, the staff and everyone at the Club have helped us as a playing group immensely. We set out at the start of the season what kind of group we wanted to be and what mentality we wanted – and that was a team with a Championship mentality.
“I think we got what we deserved this season.”
The Championship triumph is City’s third major honour of the 2024/25 season, joining the Club Championship and the A-League Women’s Premiership, which was claimed after an undefeated campaign.
Built on resilience, unity, and a relentless hunger for success, Melbourne City’s latest title is another shining example of a club continuing to lead from the front in Australian football.
