Matthew Guy, who led the Victorian Liberals to an election thrashing in 2018, is again party leader after toppling Michael O'Brien in a leadership coup.
MPs voted 20 to 11 for a leadership spill at a party room meeting on Tuesday morning.
Mr Guy was elected unopposed and shadow police minister David Southwick was elected as his deputy.
Daniel Andrews faces a new opponent as the Victorian Liberals replace their leader a year out from election
The returned leader arrived at the party room meeting flanked by key supporters including MPs Tim Smith, James Newbury, Bev McArthur, Richard Riordan and Bill Tilley.
The 47-year-old former opposition leader and member for Bulleen resigned after a disastrous loss in the 2018 state election, which saw the party shed 10 of its 37 seats in the lower house.
Mr O'Brien has faced sustained criticism for failing to land political blows on Premier Daniel Andrews and his Labor government amid the pandemic.
The next Victorian election is due in November 2022.
Speaking after he was returned to leadership, Mr Guy said his thoughts were with Victorians suffering during Covid lockdown.
Matthew Guy led the Victorian Liberals to an election thrashing in 2018
'Small business people who can't open and are doing it very tough today, our thoughts are still with them, and with a lot of Victorians, who have mental health challenges for the period we have been through,' he said.
Mr Guy paid tribute to Mr O'Brien, saying it's hard to be in opposition during a pandemic when governments get so much air time.
'It's very difficult to get airtime as a state opposition during Covid period, ask any Opposition Leader around Australia,' he said.
Mr O'Brien stepped down gracefully, thanking his supporters for backing him and wishing Mr Guy well in the job.
Victorian Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien has been ousted after three years