Former Leeds United defender makes history at Melbourne City with A-League triumph

The former Whites defender and stand-in Elland Road captain led City to a league and title double in Australia during his debut campaign as a manager in the men's game.

Melbourne ended the year as A-League Championship winners before securing the sought-after title in the Grand Final on Sunday night.

Kisnorbo - who took charge in September stepping up from his assistant manager role with the club - helped Melbourne exact revenge on five-time champions Sydney FC as they reversed their defeat in the A-League showpiece event a year ago with an impressive 3-1 win.

The triumph is City's first title victory in their short 11-year history.

"Honestly after tonight, it's a new start for the next season," Kisnorbo told reporters post-match about wanting to back up his success.

"So I'll look at some things and say some good things but we have to start already preparing for next year.

"Because it's no point just trying to do things once - look at Sydney, they've had continued success.

"We want to do that."

He also paid tribute to former boss Erik Mombaerts in the aftermath of the title win: "Erick laid the foundations last season.

"We tried to get better in what we did (this season), and it’s the same for next season. We need to get better at what we did this year.

"So, if we can do that individually, (and) collectively improving, that’s what we want to do, and that’s what we need to start to look towards… that’s sort of my focus, going into next season already."

Kisnorbo spent four years with Leeds United from 2009 to 2013 and was part of the side that won promotion to the Championship from League One under Simon Grayson.

He also played a key role in the club's famous victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in the FA Cup.

The Australian retired from playing in 2016 to take up coaching, joining Mebourne's youth academy before involvement in the women's and now men's teams Down Under.