The winds of change are officially blowing in the Hyundai A-League, with the official announcement that Melbourne Heart will be moving forward under the rebadged name of Melbourne City FC, in-line with their new ownership of English Premier League powerhouse, Manchester City. However, after some controversy, the new City team will not be wearing Manchester City’s iconic sky blue strip.
The club unveiled its new identity, including name, badge and playing strip today, along with the announcement that Spanish superstar David Villa will suit up for the side on a 10-game loan at the start of the forthcoming season. Villa has signed a deal with Melbourne City’s sister team, the also-owned-by-Man-City New York City FC in the US Major League Soccer competition. However the new MLS season doesn’t begin until March 2015, and thus Villa will run out for Melbourne City in the interim period before relocating to New York.
ANNOUNCEMENT | David Villa will join the Club for a period of the 2014-15 season > http://t.co/9zDkgdOZ8Z pic.twitter.com/LSIvaG06ml
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) June 5, 2014
The controversy surrounding playing strips has also been settled. Despite rumours suggesting that Melbourne City could run out in Manchester City’s iconic sky blue strip, those have proven false – avoiding a nasty clash with Sydney FC and their traditional sky blue colours of New South Wales.
The re-branded team will run out in home uniforms that are predominantly white, with a vertical sky and navy blue strip adorning the side. And in an effort to appease loyal supporters of the club, the away strip will remain the traditional white and red striped strip of Melbourne Heart.
The 2014-15 A-League season kicks off on October 10th.
