Piorkowski quits Victory to look abroad

Injury-plagued Melbourne Victory defender Daniel Piorkowski has left the A-League club and wants to secure an overseas deal.

The 24-year-old former Young Socceroo has had a wretched two years with injury, with hamstring and shoulder injuries restricting him to a handful of games.

He missed the Victory's grand final win after tearing his hamstring off the bone late in the season, before finally cementing a first-team spot last year.

But then Piorkowski injured his shoulder and missed the rest of the season, though he leaves the club having fought back to full fitness and with the Victory's blessing.

"I want to explore playing in Europe and not die wondering," Piorkowski said.

"It's time to move on, have a crack overseas and fulfil a dream that's been strong for me, so we'll see what works out."

Helping Piorkowski's cause will be the fact he holds a European passport thanks to his Polish parents.

Meanwhile, the Victory have appointed former Socceroo Mehmet Durakovic as their inaugural national youth league coach.

Durakovic, who played for his country 64 times and won national soccer league titles with South Melbourne, has spent the past three years as assistant coach at the Victorian Institute of Sport.