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After two promotions in two years, the coaches behind Malvern’s rise are moving on
By Sacha Pisani2 September 2026
Malvern City will enter their historic first season in VPL1 without the coaching duo that helped take them there, with Fausto De Amicis and Fabrizio Soncin departing after two-and-a-half years at the club.
The pair have decided to explore new opportunities following a remarkable period at Malvern that delivered back-to-back promotions and took the team into Victoria’s second tier for the first time.
Their rise began gathering serious momentum in 2025, when Malvern embarked on a 14-game winning streak on the way to promotion. They backed it up in VPL2 this season, earning another step up the Victorian pyramid and completing one of the club’s most significant periods of progress.
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Malvern credited De Amicis and Soncin with developing a “clear winning mentality centred around professionalism and a high work ethic”, while also highlighting the impact they had across the wider club.
“It is paramount that we express the board and committee’s appreciation for their tremendous, long-lasting contribution and the positive impact that they have had on all our community including our supporters, sponsors and of course our players,” the club said.
Soncin has also penned an emotional open letter to Malvern City members reflecting on the journey, the decision to leave and the people who helped make the past two-and-a-half years possible.
Here is the letter in full below.
“Thank you, Malvern City FC,” Soncic wrote. “After two and a half years, the time has come for me to say farewell to Malvern City.
“It has been an incredibly rewarding journey, highlighted by two promotions and, professionally, the achievement of everything we set out to accomplish when we arrived. That mission is now complete, and I would like to think we leave the club in a better place than when we started.
“A huge thank you to the Committee for everything you have done to support us and, most importantly, for creating an environment that allowed us to focus on what we were employed to do. The trust, support and backing we received made a significant difference.
“A special mention must go to President John Hatzis. John, your support through thick and thin has been unwavering, and I am genuinely grateful for everything you have done for me and for the football department. It has been a privilege to work alongside you.
“Throughout our time at Malvern, doing what was best for the club was always at the forefront of every decision we made — including the decision and timing to move on. While it is never easy to walk away, professionally, we achieved what we set out to achieve, and the time is right for the next chapter.”
“On a personal level, I leave with a heavy heart, but also with a heart full of gratitude. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity, the experiences, the challenges, the successes and, most importantly, the friendships I have made along the way.
“There are too many people to mention individually, but to the players, staff, volunteers, supporters, sponsors and everyone who played a part in our journey — thank you. You all contributed to making these two and a half years so memorable.
“My time at Malvern City will forever be etched in my memory. I leave proud of what we achieved, grateful for the people I met, and confident that the club is in a strong position for the future.”
