2023–24 Melbourne City FC season

The 2023–24 season is the 14th in the history of Melbourne City Football Club, and the 10th since the club was taken over by the City Football Group. In addition to the A-League Men, Melbourne City participated in the Australia Cup for the ninth time, and is participating in the AFC Champions League for the second time. They are managed by Aurelio Vidmar after the club and Rado Vidošić mutually terminated his contract after 2 league matches.

Background
Melbourne City won three consecutive A-League Men premierships; the first ever A-League Men club to do so and played their fourth consecutive Grand Final in the 2022–23 season. Rado Vidošić became new head coach during the 2022 FIFA World Cup mid-season break in place of Patrick Kisnorbo leaving for French club Troyes. City lost the Grand Final 1–6 to the Central Coast Mariners; three of four recent Grand Final lost; twice in neutral CommBank Stadium, as the 2023 Grand Final was played after an APL decision of moving A-Leagues Grand Finals to Sydney for the next three seasons earlier in the season.

Pre-season


Valon Berisha, Matt Sutton, Raphael Borges Rodrigues and Kerrin Stokes all departed City following conclusions to their playing contracts on 9 June 2023. A further two departures were made the same day of Tom Glover and Aiden O'Neill in search of footballing opportunities in Europe. City's first signing of the 2023–24 season was German midfieilder Tolgay Arslan coming off Serie A club Udinese for two seasons on 15 June 2023. Two academy players Arion Sulemani and Emin Durakovic both signed three-year scholarship contracts for City a week later. Only a day later, three young players signed for City; Patrick Beach, Alessandro Lopane and Zane Schreiber all on multi-year deals. City were drawn to play NPL Victoria side Oakleigh Cannons in the 2023 Australia Cup Round of 32. On 30 June 2023, rumoured Steven Ugarkovic joined City for until the end of the 2024–25 season and Marco Tilio departed City for Scottish club Celtic.

Experienced A-League Men goalkeeper Jamie Young signed for City on 4 July 2023. The Round of 32 clash in the Australia Cup details were confirmed to play on 13 August 2023 at Jack Edwards Reserve; home of Oakleigh Cannons. On 6 July 2023, Terry Antonis joined City for the 2023–24 season. Four days later, City made their second international signing French defender Samuel Souprayen for a two-year deal. Max Caputo extended his contract on 13 July 2023 to last until the end of the 2025–26 season. Official start dates for the A-Leagues seasons were confirmed, with the A-League Men to begin between 20 and 22 October 2023. City's first friendly of the season was confirmed to play Dandenong Thunder at George Andrews Reserve.

Croatian winger Marin Jakoliš signed for City on loan from Ligue 2 club Angers SCO on 2 August 2023. Four days later, former player Aziz Behich returned to City on a two-year deal. Jordon Hall re-signed for City for an extra season, and Frenchman Florin Berenguer departing City after five seasons, 111 appearances and four silverware on 9 August 2023. The friendly against Dandenong Thunder resulted in a 3–1 win via goals by Arslan and two for Antonis.

August
City kicked off their season in the Australia Cup Round of 32 against Oakleigh Cannons on 13 August 2023. Despite going behind twice, City claimed the win thanks to two penalty goals by Arslan and a late winner by Lopane sending them through to the Round of 16. It was confirmed for the third consecutive time, that City would host Wellington Phoenix in the Round of 16. On 17 August 2023, Callum Talbot was called up to the Olyroos squad for the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification and Moroccan attacking midfielder Hamza Sakhi signed for City on loan for the season off Ligue 2 club Auxerre. Australia Cup Round of 16 details were confirmed to play host back at Jack Edwards Reserve against the Wellington Phoenix.

Full A-Leagues fixtures were released on 24 August 2023, with City confirmed to play the opener to locals Western United and play host to two Melbourne Derbies. The same day had City's AFC Champions League group stage opponents against Thai club Buriram United, Japanese club Ventforet Kofu and Chinese club Zhejiang. City in their Round of 16 clash on 27 August 2023, backed a revenge win after two bowouts in previous Australia Cups against Wellington Phoenix with a 3–0 win via two goals by Maclaren and the opener by Arslan; wth two season debutants of Sakhi and returning Behich.

September
Two call-ups to the Socceroos squad in the September were made of Leckie and Behich on 1 September 2023 and Jamie Maclaren was confirmed City captain ahead of the 2023–24 season. City's quarter-final Australia Cup match up was confirmed against South Australian side North Eastern MetroStars at T.K. Shutter Reserve. On 8 September 2023, Leckie was confirmed a knee injury and therefore missing out on Socceroos match against Mexico. Only a week later, Nabbout suffered an achilles injury in a behind-closed-friendly ruling him out for the 2023–24 season immediately implementing an injury loan replacement of Brazilian winger Léo Natel. City continued to progress through the Australia Cup, by winning their quarter-final match 2–1 against North Eastern MetroStars in a late comeback on 15 September 2023 via a header goal by Good and last minute winner by Arslan; his fourth of the season.

City were set to host their Australia Cup semi-final at AAMI Park against Sydney FC. In the mid-week, they began their AFC Champions League group stage campaign in their first at home in a 0–0 draw with Ventforet Kofu on 20 September 2023. With only four days time until City's semi-final clash with Sydney, it resulted in a 2–1 loss as City's first loss of the season and ending their Australia Cup run one short of the final. On 25 September 2023, four players; Sebastian Esposito, Max Caputo, Zane Schreiber and Harrison Shillington were called up to the Young Socceroos' squad for the October window and Harry Politdis signed a senior deal for the 2023–24 season.

Results summary
Home figures include Melbourne City's 1–0 loss on neutral ground against Western Sydney Wanderers on 12 January 2024.

Matches
The league fixtures were announced on 24 August 2023.

Appearances and goals
''Includes all competitions. Players with no appearances not included in the list.''

Disciplinary record
''Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total cards are equal. Players with no cards not included in the list.''

Clean sheets
''Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total clean sheets are equal. Numbers in parentheses represent games where both goalkeepers participated and both kept a clean sheet; the number in parentheses is awarded to the goalkeeper who was substituted on, whilst a full clean sheet is awarded to the goalkeeper who was on the field at the start and end of play. Goalkeepers with no clean sheets not included in the list.''