Australian Patrick Kisnorbo, whose parents are Mauritian and who is currently employed by Melbourne City, is now in pole position to become the new coach of ESTAC.
Kisnorbo, 41, spent most of his career as a central defender in Scotland, then in England (Leeds and Leicester) before coming to Melbourne, his hometown, where he began his career as a youth and women’s coach and assistant to the pros six years ago. Patrick Kisnorbo is the pride of the small Mauritian community in Melbourne. Patrick Kisnorbo is the son of a Mauritian living in Australia. He started playing football at a very young age with his hometown team Essendon City before going on to shine in the first team in Melbourne.
Co-owned by the City Football Group, the appointment is a reward for the 41-year-old’s stellar record with City, who have placed Rado Vidosic, head of the club’s W-League side, in charge on an interim basis.
The move will herald a reunion between Kisnorbo and his French mentor Erick Mombaerts, who is Troyes’ technical director and a long-time proponent of his pupil’s potential to coach in Europe.
Mombaerts tutored Kisnorbo in the coaching arts at City before bequeathing him the role when he returned home after a short but fruitful partnership.
Troyes – who sit 13th in Ligue 1 – sacked Bruno Irles earlier this month, paving the way for former Leicester and Leeds defender Kisnorbo to become the first Australian to take charge at a club in one of world football’s top five leagues.
Kisnorbo has been eyeing an overseas opportunity since first serving his coaching apprenticeship under Mombaerts at City, and back in February came close to being headhunted by a club in the EFL.
Mombaerts never doubted that his protege would attract attention, saying late last year: “PK has the level to coach in Europe … he knows everything about tactics and is a strong enough character.
“He’s also building up valuable experience but I don’t know his feeling about this (in terms of one day pursuing offshore options). “He is working in an excellent environment at Melbourne City, and can continue to develop his skills there.
Ligue 1 will be trimmed down from 20 clubs to 18 next season, handing Kisnorbo the testing assignment of keeping them in the top division when the competition resumes after the World Cup hiatus.
