Vidosic previously served as the club’s technical director and was head coach of the club’s women’s team before taking over from Patrick Kisnorbo when he left to join French side Troyes during last season.

The 62-year-old led Melbourne City to the A-League Premiers Plate before suffering a 6-1 defeat against Central Coast Mariners in the A-League Grand Final in Sydney in June.

“We are immensely grateful to Rado for his contributions to Melbourne City over the past five years,” the club’s CEO Brad Rowse said in a statement.

“From our men’s and women’s teams to our youth academy, Rado’s impact has been significant. We wish him the very best in his future endeavours.”

Vidmar returns to take his first job in the A-League since leaving Adelaide United in 2010.

He led that club to the final of the 2008 AFC Champions League, when they lost over two legs to Japan’s Gamba Osaka, and he was named the A-League’s coach of the year for 2008-09.

Vidmar then worked as an assistant with Australia’s national team set-up for six years and led the Socceroos in a caretaker capacity in a friendly against Canada in October 2013 following Holger Osieck’s sacking.

He returned to club football in 2016 and had spells with BG Pathum United, Lion City Sailors in Singapore and Bangkok United.

“In Aurelio we have someone whose credentials speak for themselves and who is also committed to playing an attacking, possession-based brand of football that aligns with our own football philosophy,” City’s football director Michael Petrillo said.

Vidmar’s first game in charge will be against Sydney FC in the A-League on Friday before Melbourne City host Thailand’s Buriram United in Group H of the AFC Champions League on Wednesday.

Melbourne City lead their AFC Champions League group with seven points from their first three games, three ahead of Japan’s Ventforet Kofu with Buriram in third and Chinese Super League side Zhejiang FC bottom on three points.