It’s been a whirlwind few days for new Melbourne Knights coach Michael Calandrella.
Last Sunday, Calandrella guided Brunswick Juventus to promotion up into Victorian Premier League 1 for next season as it won the VPL2 play off match.
The following day, he signed a contract to become the new Knights coach.
Calandrella said it was a massive honour to join the Knights.
He said it had been a bit of a whirlwind.
“It’s definitely an honour and I’m over the moon,” he said. “They don’t belong in the second tier.
“I’m taking over to try and get them back to where they should be.
“It’s a massive challenge for them.”
Calandrella said the club had approached him about coming across to join it.
He said that when a club like the Knights approach you, you take the time to listen.
“The Knights reached out and I had a couple of conversations,” he said.
“The thing I liked was they were really honest about everything and where the club is at.
“They have that ambition and it looked like the perfect fit.
“We had some good chats and it was something I knew I would take it on.”
The Knights are coming off one of their toughest seasons in a long time.
They finished bottom of the National Premier League ladder with just four wins of the season.
There were also multiple coaching changes and the club will now play in Victorian Premier League 1 next season.
Calandrella said the club was hoping it would be a short stay in VPL1. He said since his appointment his phone had been running hot.
“We want to get back up there as soon as we can,” he said. “They know that there is some disappointment in them being relegated.
“It’ll be a different league, opportunity and the style of how the game is played. We are ambitious to get back to the top tier, where we belong.
“The work has definitely started.”
Tara Murray
