Melbourne Knights FC Official Website Ivan Franjic will lead Melbourne Knights in the club’s 70th year after being confirmed as Club Captain at the Knights Season Launch on Wednesday night.
Franjic will captain a new look Knights squad that’s seen the arrival of ten new signings under Head Coach Ben Cahn ahead of the 2023 NPL Victoria season, with brother Joseph Franjic appointed to the vice captaincy.
The defender returns to Somers Street alongside his brother Joseph ‘Joey’ after the pair played for Heidelberg United where they reached the NPL Victoria Finals and Australia Cup Round of 32 in 2022.
The new Knights skipper returns to his junior club after representing the Socceroos on 20 occasions, playing at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and was part of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup winning side.
At club level the PFA A-League Team of the Decade defender, who last played for Knights in 2008 amassed 242 national league appearances across stints at Brisbane Roar where he won three Championships and two Premierships, Perth Glory where he won one Premiership, Melbourne City where he claimed an Australia Cup winners medal and Macarthur FC.
The 35-year-old also played abroad in Korea and Russia representing Daegu FC and Torpedo Moscow.
Franjic said he was honoured to be named club captain in a historic year for Melbourne Knights.
“It’s a great honour, I remember growing up watching players like Viduka and Simunic, I’d go to every game with my dad on the weekend and they were the days for us, you wouldn’t miss a game, it was like a religion,” Franjic said.
“To come back and Captain a club that means so much to me is something special and something I’ll hold very highly in my career
Knights will kick off their 2023 NPL Victoria campaign on the road against St Albans on Sunday, February 19 (5pm KO).
Memberships for Melbourne Knights 70th Anniversary Season are on sale now with packages available to view and purchase below.
