Jump to content

A-League Men

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Auxodium III (talk | contribs) at 11:25, 16 October 2012 (→‎All Time A-League Leaders). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For other uses, see A-League Men (disambiguation).

A-League Men
File:Hyundai A-League logo.svg
Founded2004
Country Australia
 New Zealand
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Divisions1
Number of teams10
Level on pyramid1
Domestic cup(s)FFA Cup
International cup(s)AFC Champions League
Current championsTemplate:ALeague BR
(2011–12)
Current premiersTemplate:ALeague CCM
Most championshipsTemplate:ALeague BR
Template:ALeague MV
Template:ALeague SFC (2 titles each)
Most premiershipsTemplate:ALeague CCM
Template:ALeague MV (2 titles each)
TV partnersFox Sports, SKY Sport (New Zealand)
Websitea-league.com.au
Current: 2012–13 A-League

The A-League is the highest Australasian professional association football (soccer) league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia (FFA), it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company Australia[1] and Qantas, and is officially known as the Hyundai A-League. The league is contested by ten teams: nine in Australia and one from New Zealand.[2] Related leagues include the National Youth League and Westfield W-League (women).

Format

Regular season

The regular season runs mainly during the Australian summer, from early October to February of the following year. The competition consists of 27 matches over 25 weeks, with each team playing every other team three times – twice at home and once away. The teams allotted two home matches against an opponent in one season are allotted one home match against that opponent in the following season. Each match sees the winning team awarded three competition points, with one point each for a draw. At the end of the season the teams are ranked firstly by competition points accumulated, then goal difference, total goals scored, head-to-head records between tying teams and finally the number of cards each team has received.[3] The club at the top of this ladder is crowned A-League Premiers, and as of the 2006–07 season, will be entered into the AFC Champions League.[4]

At the completion of the regular season teams are ranked from one to ten with the top six teams progressing to the finals series. The position of each team is determined by the highest number of points accumulated during the Regular Season. If two or more teams are level on points, the following criteria are applied in order until one of the teams can be determined as the higher ranked:

  1. Highest goal difference;
  2. Highest number of goals scored;
  3. Highest number of points accumulated in matches between the teams concerned;
  4. Highest goal difference in matches between the teams concerned;
  5. Highest number of goals scored in matches between the teams concerned;
  6. Lowest number of red cards accumulated;
  7. Lowest number of yellow cards accumulated;
  8. Toss of a coin.

Finals series

The top six teams at the end of the regular season are entered into a finals series,[5] where the top two ranked teams in the regular season compete over two legs (with ties decided by the away goals rule, including extra time), the winner progressing straight to and hosting the Grand Final.

On the same weekend, the third and sixth-ranked teams play each other, the same for the fourth and fifth-ranked teams. The winners of these matches play each other, the winner of which goes ahead to play in a Preliminary Final against the loser of the two-legged match between the top two teams. The winner of this match progresses to the Grand Final. As of the 2006–07 season, this team will also contest the AFC Champions League, although if the team that wins the Premiership goes through to the Grand Final then the other Grand Final competitor will be awarded the second spot in the competition, win or lose.[4] In previous seasons the finals series had four teams, and has been extended to accommodate for the increased number of clubs in the competition.

Related competitions

Main article: FFA Cup

The FFA Cup is a knock-out style cup competition similar to the FA Cup in England that was initially planned to commence in March 2012 and run to January 2013 annually. [6] Since this time plan's for an FFA Cup have been put on the backburner by the FFA as they seek to consolidate the position of the A-League and revamp the second-tier state leagues. Reports suggested that games would be played midweek and the final held on Australia Day. All clubs would be able to enter with smaller teams having to survive earlier knockout rounds before mixing with A-League clubs in the last-32 stage.

The winner of the cup is expected to gain qualification to the AFC Champions League via the A-League's current play-off spot. It is hoped that the cup will help engage local football fans in the community, consequently boosting interest in the A-League.

Discontinued competitions

Main article: A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup

Prior to the 2009–10 season, a pre-season competition was held in August, as a precursor to the main season. In the Pre-Season Cup, the teams were evenly placed into two groups. Each team played the others in the group once over three rounds.

Beginning in 2006, an additional bonus round was then held, with each team playing a cross-over match with a team from a different group. In addition to the standard points (3 for a win, 1 for a draw), there were special bonus points on offer for the bonus round matches:

  • 1 bonus point for 2 goals scored by a team,
  • 2 bonus points for 3 goals scored by a team, or
  • 3 bonus points for 4 or more goals scored by a team.
  • 4 bonus points for scoring 5 goals by a player.

This format was edited for the 2007 competition. The bonus round was removed, and the bonus points system introduced into each of the first three rounds. All eight teams then entered a knock-out round, culminating in the final in late August.

The Pre-Season Cup was removed from 2009-10's A-League schedule in order to give the clubs more control over their own pre-season training.[7]

Branding, promotion and cultural references

The A-League logo, designed by Coast Design Sydney, is a three-dimensional sphere. The two-toned ochre colours represent the sun, earth and desert while the 'glow' emanating from the centre of the logo depicts the playing season's spring and summer time span. The eight 'A' figures that make up the ball shape represent the eight foundation clubs.[8]

The A-League has been promoted using a number of different advertising slogans and strategies since it's inception. At the start of the inaugural season, an A$3 million dollar advertising campaign was launched, with the television and film advertisements produced by Ridley Scott's production company. The theme for the campaign was: "Football, but not as you know it". A new television advertisement was created for the start of the 2007–08 season, which debuted on Foxtel's program Total Football. It was filmed at Bob Jane Stadium in Melbourne. Other campaigns include the "90 minutes, 90 emotions".[9] which was used for two seasons from 2007–09 and was accompanied by the music track "My People" from Australian act The Presets.

The A-League has been featured in the FIFA series by EA SPORTS since the 2008 edition of the game, as well as the Football Manager series by SI Games and the Championship Manager series by Beautiful Game Studios.[10]

In 2008, 2009 and 2010 a Fox reality show, Football Superstar, offered as a prize a contract with an A-League club. The clubs that have participated so far are Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar.

Current clubs

Template:A-League 2012-2013 map

There are nine clubs from Australia and one from New Zealand in the A-League. Only four of these clubs, Template:ALeague AU, Brisbane Roar (as Queensland Roar), Newcastle Jets, and Template:ALeague PG, existed before the A-League was formed.

Unlike most European leagues, there is no system for promotion and relegation of teams nor a national knockout cup competition along the lines of the FA Cup. The A-League system thus shares some franchising elements with most other professional leagues in Australia, Major League Soccer and other major American-based sports leagues.

Wellington Phoenix replaced the Template:ALeague NZK at the start of the 2007–08 season.[11][12]

On 1 March 2011 the FFA officially announced that the licence held by franchise North Queensland Fury had been revoked for financial reasons.[13]

The Newcastle Jets officially announced that their license had been handed back to the FFA, but later took it back.

On 29 February 2012, a second Queensland club, Gold Coast United, also had its licence revoked. This was later confirmed by the announcement of the new Western Sydney based club to take over its licence.[14][15]

On 4 April 2012 it was announced that a new club in Western Sydney would take part in the 2012–13 A-League season.[16]

Team City Stadium Founded Joined Head Coach Captain
Current A-League Clubs
Adelaide United South Australia Adelaide, SA Hindmarsh Stadium 2003 2005 Australia John Kosmina Australia Eugene Galeković
Brisbane Roar Queensland Brisbane, QLD Suncorp Stadium 1957 2005 Australia Rado Vidošić Australia Matt Smith
Central Coast Mariners New South Wales Gosford, NSW Bluetongue Stadium 2004 2005 Australia Graham Arnold Malta John Hutchinson
Melbourne Heart Victoria (state) Melbourne, VIC AAMI Park 2008 2010 Australia John Aloisi Brazil Fred
Melbourne Victory Victoria (state) Melbourne, VIC AAMI Park & Etihad Stadium 2004 2005 Australia Ange Postecoglou Australia Adrian Leijer
Newcastle Jets New South Wales Newcastle, NSW Hunter Stadium 2000 2005 Australia Gary van Egmond Australia Jobe Wheelhouse
Perth Glory Western Australia Perth, WA NIB Stadium 1995 2005 Scotland Ian Ferguson Australia Jacob Burns
Sydney FC New South Wales Sydney, NSW Allianz Stadium 2004 2005 England Ian Crook Northern Ireland Terry McFlynn
Wellington Phoenix New Zealand Wellington, NZL Westpac Stadium 2007 2007 New Zealand Ricki Herbert Australia Andrew Durante
Western Sydney Wanderers New South Wales Sydney, NSW Parramatta Stadium 2012 2012 Australia Tony Popovic Australia Michael Beauchamp
Team City Stadium Founded Joined Ceased Operations Last Head Coach Last Captain
Defunct Franchises
Gold Coast United Queensland Gold Coast, QLD Skilled Park 2008 2009 2012 England Mike Mulvey Australia Michael Thwaite
New Zealand Knights New Zealand Auckland, NZL North Harbour Stadium 1998 2005 2007 New Zealand Ricki Herbert England Darren Bazeley
North Queensland Fury Queensland Townsville, QLD Dairy Farmers Stadium 2008 2009 2011 Czech Republic František Straka Australia Ufuk Talay

Expansion

Main article: Expansion of the A-League

While making a relatively modest start in order to ensure future stability, both Football Federation Australia and the media have indicated significant interest in expanding the league. The eight foundation clubs had exclusivity clauses for their respective cities valid for five years, but this does not exclude teams from other areas. Some have questioned the logic in expanding the league so soon as many clubs are struggling to stay afloat and think by expanding they are only diluting the playing talent even further.

Before the introduction of the A-League, FFA chairman Frank Lowy speculated that he hoped to expand the league into other cities, mentioning Canberra, Hobart, Wollongong, Geelong, Bendigo, Cairns, Ballarat, Albury, Wodonga, Launceston, Christchurch, Auckland, Sunshine Coast and possibly Darwin.[17][18][19][20]

On 29 September 2009 West Sydney were given an A-League license for the 2011–12 season.[21][22] On 2 October, the club was officially named Sydney Rovers FC.[23] This was to be short lived as on 10 December 2010 it was officially announced that Sydney Rovers FC would not be admitted to the competition and that the league administration would commence the search for a new Western Sydney Franchise.[24] The A-League found a new franchise to be named the Western Sydney Wanderers. Consortiums from Wollongong, Tasmania and Canberra are seeking to convince the FFA to instead award the 12th licence to their bids. In April 2012 the FFA announced that a new license would indeed be given to create a Western Sydney team in time for the 2012–2013 season.[25]

Squad and salary cap

An A-League squad must have between 20 and 23 players, with a maximum of 5 players from outside Australia (and New Zealand, in the case of Wellington Phoenix).[26] The squad must also include at least three under-20 players.[27]

For the 2012–13 season, each club has a salary cap of A$2.48 million (excluding Marquee, guest and replacement players) on top of Third Party Agreements.[26] The minimum salary is A$48,507.[26][28]

Club Visa 1 Visa 2 Visa 3 Visa 4 Visa 5 Non-Visa Foreign
Template:ALeague AU Argentina Jerónimo Neumann Argentina Marcelo Carrusca Netherlands Sergio van Dijk Portugal Fábio Ferreira None Brazil Cássio1
Template:ALeague BR Albania Besart Berisha Brazil Henrique Germany Thomas Broich Japan Yuji Takahashi South Korea Do Dong-Hyun None
Template:ALeague CCM Netherlands Patrick Zwaanswijk New Zealand Michael McGlinchey Scotland Nick Montgomery None None Malta John Hutchinson2
Template:ALeague MH Argentina Jonatan Germano Brazil Fred Croatia Josip Tadić Republic of Ireland Steven Gray Liberia Patrick Gerhardt None
Template:ALeague MV Argentina Marcos Flores Brazil Guilherme Finkler Ivory Coast Adama Traore Mauritius Jonathan Bru New Zealand Marco Rojas None
Template:ALeague NUJ Brazil Bernardo Ribeiro Brazil Tiago England Emile Heskey England Michael Bridges Switzerland Dominik Ritter None
Template:ALeague PG Republic of Ireland Billy Mehmet Republic of Ireland Liam Miller Japan Ryo Nagai Netherlands Bas van den Brink Scotland Steven McGarry Zambia Ndumba Makeche1
New Zealand Shane Smeltz2
Template:ALeague SFC Brazil Fabio Croatia Kruno Lovrek Italy Alessandro Del Piero Netherlands Pascal Bosschaart Panama Yairo Yau Iraq Ali Abbas1
Northern Ireland Terry McFlynn1
Template:ALeague WP Barbados Paul Ifill Belgium Stein Huysegems Solomon Islands Benjamin Totori Spain Dani Sánchez United States Alex Smith Malta Manny Muscat2
Panama Ricardo Clarke3
Western Sydney Croatia Dino Kresinger Croatia Mateo Poljak Germany Jérome Polenz Italy Iacopo La Rocca Netherlands Youssouf Hersi Japan Shinji Ono5

i

These players do not fill a Visa position:
1Those players who were born and started their professional career abroad but have since gained Australian Residency (and New Zealand Residency, in the case of Wellington Phoenix);
2Australian residents (and New Zealand residents, in the case of Wellington Phoenix) who have chosen to represent another national team;
3Injury Replacement Players;
4Guest Players (eligible to play a maximum of ten games)
5Additional Expansion Club Visa Player

Marquee player

In order to combat fears that the salary cap would reduce the capacity of the clubs to attract crowds through big-name players, the league allows each team to have one "marquee" player, whose salary is exempt from the salary cap. Arguably the best-known example of a marquee player in the A-League was when Italian and Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero signed for Sydney FC, on a two-year four million dollar deal, beginning in the 2012-13 season. From the 2008–09 season, A-League clubs may have a Junior Marquee player who is under the age of 23. The Junior Marquee can be paid up to A$150,000 above the salary cap. On 19 April 2010 the A-League announced that in addition to marquee players and junior marquee, the 2010–11 season would also allow for an Australian marquee player.[29]

Club Australian Marquee International Marquee Junior Marquee player Captain Vice-Captain
Template:ALeague AU Australia Dario Vidošić[30] Netherlands Sergio van Dijk[31] None Australia Eugene Galeković[32] Brazil Cássio[32]
Template:ALeague BR None Germany Thomas Broich[33] None Australia Matt Smith[34] Australia Shane Stefanutto[34]
Template:ALeague CCM None None Australia Oliver Bozanic[35] Malta John Hutchinson[36] Netherlands Patrick Zwaanswijk
Template:ALeague MH None Brazil Fred[37] None Brazil Fred[37] Australia Matt Thompson[38]
Template:ALeague MV Australia Archie Thompson[39] Argentina Marcos Flores[40] None Australia Adrian Leijer[41] Australia Archie Thompson
Template:ALeague NUJ None England Emile Heskey None Australia Jobe Wheelhouse[42] Australia Ryan Griffiths
Template:ALeague PG None New Zealand Shane Smeltz[43] None Australia Jacob Burns[44] Australia Michael Thwaite
Template:ALeague SFC Australia Brett Emerton[45] Italy Alessandro Del Piero[46] Australia Terry Antonis Northern Ireland Terry McFlynn[47] Australia Brett Emerton
Template:ALeague WP None None[48] None Australia Andrew Durante[49] New Zealand Ben Sigmund
Template:ALeague WSW None Japan Shinji Ono[50] None Australia Michael Beauchamp[51] Australia Tarek Elrich

Youth league

Main article: A-League National Youth League

Before the 2008–09 A-League season, a national youth league was set up in conjunction with the A-League in order to continue to blood young Australian talent into the league as well as into the Australian national team and its affiliates such as the under 17, under 20 and under 23 teams. The league's inaugural season was made up of seven teams, each linked to the corresponding Australian club in the A-League (excluding Template:ALeague WP) and had strong links to players training at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). Some changes were implemented for the 2009–10 season, including the addition of the Template:ALeague GCU and a team from the AIS. Wellington Phoenix does not have a team in the youth league.

The original format of the youth league was similar to the previous A-league, made up of 21 rounds (18 games each plus three byes) corresponding with the A-League fixtures and occasionally used as curtain raisers. The new format has 27 rounds, however each team has three byes over the season.

Stadia

Primary venues used in the A-League:

Melbourne Victory Template:ALeague BR Template:ALeague SFC Template:ALeague WP Template:ALeague NUJ
Etihad Stadium Suncorp Stadium Allianz Stadium Westpac Stadium Hunter Stadium
Capacity: 56,347 Capacity: 52,500 Capacity: 45,500 Capacity: 36,000 Capacity: 33,000
Melbourne Heart Template:ALeague WSW Template:ALeague PG Template:ALeague CCM Template:ALeague AU
AAMI Park Parramatta Stadium[note 1] nib Stadium Bluetongue Stadium Hindmarsh Stadium
Capacity: 30,050 Capacity: 21,500 Capacity: 20,500 Capacity: 20,059 Capacity: 17,000

Notes:

  1. ^ Previously used by Template:ALeague SFC for an AFC Champions League game on 25 April 2007 and in two A-League matches against Template:ALeague PG on 7 February and 21 November 2010.

Other venues used by A-League clubs include:

Stadium Location Capacity Notes
AMI Stadium Christchurch, NZ 38,628 Used by Template:ALeague WP for two A-League matches against Template:ALeague AU on 30 January and 5 December 2010[52]
Adelaide Oval Adelaide, SA 40,000 Used by Template:ALeague AU for three A-League matches against Template:ALeague SFC on 28 December 2007, 3 January 2009 and 29 December 2010 and for an A-League match against Template:ALeague MV on 11 February 2011
Arena Manawatu Palmerston North, NZ 18,000 Used by Template:ALeague WP for an A-League match against Template:ALeague SFC on 12 December 2009
Aurora Stadium Launceston, TAS 20,000 Hosted a Regional Round fixture between Template:ALeague MV and Template:ALeague GCU on 1 February 2012,[53] and is scheduled to host another Template:ALeague MV game against Template:ALeague CCM on 12 January 2013
Campbelltown Stadium Sydney, NSW 21,000 Hosted a Regional Round fixture between Template:ALeague SFC and Template:ALeague PG on 7 December 2011[53]
Canberra Stadium Canberra, ACT 25,011 Used by Template:ALeague CCM for an A-League match against Template:ALeague PG on 4 September 2009 and again for an A-League match against Template:ALeague AU on 31 October 2009
Carrington Park Bathurst, NSW 13,000 Hosted a Regional Round fixture between Template:ALeague AU and Template:ALeague NUJ on 25 January 2012[53]
Docklands Stadium Melbourne, VIC 53,359 Used by Template:ALeague MV for eight matches during 2006–07 season,[note 1] then served as team's permanent home venue for three subsequent seasons. Since 2010–11[note 2] it was used for five matches every season, serving as the venue for special highly-attended occasions like Melbourne, Cross Border or Big Blue derbies.
Dairy Farmers Stadium Townsville, QLD 26,500 Used by Template:ALeague NQF in the 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons
Eden Park Auckland, NZ 50,000 Used by Template:ALeague WP for an A-League match against Template:ALeague AU on 19 November 2011[54]
Falcons Park Morwell, VIC 12,000 Hosted a Regional Round fixture between Template:ALeague MH and Template:ALeague WP on 4 December 2011[53]
Forsyth Barr Stadium Dunedin, NZ 30,748 Hosted a Regional Round fixture between Template:ALeague WP and Template:ALeague BR on 14 December 2011,[53] and is scheduled to host another Template:ALeague WP match against Template:ALeague BR on 3 March 2013
Jubilee Oval Sydney, NSW 22,000 Used by Template:ALeague SFC for an A-League match against Template:ALeague BR on 4 December 2011[55]
North Harbour Stadium Albany, NZ 25,000 Used by Template:ALeague NZK in the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons
Olympic Park Stadium Melbourne, VIC 18,500 Used by Template:ALeague MV in the 2005–06 season and part of the 2006–07 season[note 1]
Patersons stadium Subiaco, WA 43,500 Scheduled to host two A-League matches of Template:ALeague PG, against Template:ALeague BR on 7 October 2012 and against Template:ALeague WSW on 27 December 2012
Port Macquarie Regional Stadium Port Macquarie, NSW 10,000 Used by Template:ALeague NUJ for an A-League match against Template:ALeague MH on 31 October 2010 (as the emergency replacement venue)
Robina Stadium Gold Coast, QLD 27,400 Used by Template:ALeague GCU from 2009–10 till 2011–12 seasons

Notes:

  1. ^ a b Olympic Park Stadium was Melbourne Victory's home stadium during the 2005–06 season. Their round 2 match of the 2006–07 season, on 2 September 2006, was originally a one-off game at Docklands Stadium. After the success of the event, a further seven home games were relocated to Docklands Stadium, which went on to become Melbourne finals series' home venue and as of the 2007–08 season, the full-time home ground of the club.
  2. ^ Due to the existing contract with Docklands, the newly built Melbourne Rectangular Stadium was the Victory's home stadium on a limited basis for the 2010–11 season and became the team's permanent home stadium from 2011 onwards.

Crowds

Average crowds for the regular season are listed below. These figures do not include finals, international friendlies or AFC Champions League matches.

Team Crowd average
2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13
Template:ALeague AU 10,948 12,162 12,697 11,712 10,765 11,552 8,083 8,950
Template:ALeague BR 14,785 16,465 16,951 12,995 8,652 9,279 13,157 17,364
Template:ALeague CCM 7,899 9,828 12,738 10,465 7,426 7,713 9,607 9,192
Template:ALeague GCU  –  –  –  – 5,392 3,434 3,546  –
Template:ALeague MH  –  –  –  –  – 8,312 9,082 10,907
Template:ALeague MV 14,158 27,728 26,064 24,516 21,105 15,234 20,281 42,032
Template:ALeague NUJ 8,912 11,442 13,177 9,729 6,340 8,429 12,117 14,868
Template:ALeague NZK 3,909 3,014  –  –  –  –  –  –
Template:ALeague NQF  –  –  –  – 6,723 4,245  –  –
Template:ALeague PG 9,734 7,671 7,606 7,942 9,209 8,488 8,309 14,085
Template:ALeague SFC 16,669 14,999 16,382 12,380 12,987 7,656 11,861 35,419
Template:ALeague WP  –  –1 11,684 7,193 8,965 7,981 8,691 12,057
Template:ALeague WSW  –  –  –  –  –  –  – 10,458
Whole season 11,281 12,900 14,608 12,181 9,831 8,393 10,490 17,533

Referees

The A-League also features some of Australia and New Zealand's top match officials.[56] Referees include:

A Panel Referees: B Panel Referees:

Queensland Chris Beath, FIFA
New South Wales Matthew Breeze, FIFA/AFC
New South Wales Strebre Delovski, FIFA
Queensland Peter Green, FIFA/AFC
New Zealand Peter O'Leary, FIFA
New South Wales Gerard Parsons
Australian Capital Territory Ben Williams, FIFA/AFC

New South Wales Kurt Ams
Scotland Chris Boyle
Victoria (state) Kevin Docherty
Queensland Jarred Gillett
Queensland Matthew Gillett
New South Wales Kris Griffiths-Jones
Queensland Allan Milliner
Australia Ryan Shepheard
New Zealand Jamie Cross, FIFA/A-League 4th Official
New Zealand Matthew Conger, A-League 4th Official

A Panel Assistant Referees B Panel Assistant Referees

New South Wales Rodney Allen, FIFA/AFC
Victoria (state) Hakan Anaz, FIFA/AFC
New Zealand Brent Best, FIFA
Victoria (state) Luke Brennan, FIFA
South Australia Paul Cetrangolo
Western Australia Matthew Cheeseman
South Australia Matthew Cream, FIFA/AFC
New South Wales Daniel Dewhurst
New South Wales Scott Edeling
Victoria (state) Shaun Evans
Western Australia Joe Fusari
New South Wales Alex Glasgow, FIFA
South Australia Daniel Goodwin
New Zealand Jan Hintz, FIFA
New South Wales Sarah Ho, FIFA
Queensland Brad Hobson, FIFA
New Zealand Glen Lochrie, FIFA
New Zealand Mark Rule, FIFA
Australia Denis Silk, FIFA/AFC
New South Wales Murray Wilson

Queensland Ashley Beecham
Queensland Graham Buzzi
Australian Capital Territory Allyson Flynn, FIFA
Australia Ryan Gallagher
Australia Nathan Macdonald
Victoria (state) James Nicolopoulos
Western Australia Michael Nugus
Western Australia Josh Manella
Queensland David Walsh
South Australia Curtis Wordsworth

Champions and premiers

Main article: List of A-League champions

The club that accumulates the most points during the regular season receives the title of Premiers. Media reports sometimes erroneously refer to the Premiers as the minor premiers, a term used in other football codes in Australia, and the term used in the old National Soccer League. The team that wins the Grand Final receives the title of Champions.[57]

Season Pre-season cup Regular season Grand final
Premiers Points Runners-up Champions Score Runners-up
2005–06
Details 		Template:ALeague CCM Template:ALeague AU 43–36
Ladder 		Template:ALeague SFC Template:ALeague SFC 1–0
Grand Final 		Template:ALeague CCM
2006–07
Details 		Template:ALeague AU Template:ALeague MV 45–33
Ladder 		Template:ALeague AU Template:ALeague MV 6–0
Grand Final 		Template:ALeague AU
2007–08
Details 		Template:ALeague AU Template:ALeague CCM 34–34
GD: 5–4
Ladder 		Template:ALeague NUJ Template:ALeague NUJ 1–0
Grand Final 		Template:ALeague CCM
2008–09
Details 		Template:ALeague MV Template:ALeague MV 38–38
GF: 39–31
Ladder 		Template:ALeague AU Template:ALeague MV 1–0
Grand Final 		Template:ALeague AU
2009–10
Details 		Was not held Template:ALeague SFC 48–47
Ladder 		Template:ALeague MV Template:ALeague SFC 1–1 (a.e.t.)
4–2 (p.s.o)
Grand Final 		Template:ALeague MV
2010–11
Details 		Was not held Template:ALeague BR 65–57
Ladder 		Template:ALeague CCM Template:ALeague BR 2–2 (a.e.t.)
4–2 (p.s.o)
Grand Final 		Template:ALeague CCM
2011–12
Details 		Was not held Template:ALeague CCM 51–49
Ladder 		Template:ALeague BR Template:ALeague BR 2–1
Grand Final 		Template:ALeague PG

See also the list of champions from 1977 to 2004 in the previous National Soccer League competition.

Premiership Winners

Titles Team Years
2 Template:ALeague CCM 2008, 2012
2 Template:ALeague MV 2007, 2009
1 Template:ALeague AU 2006
1 Template:ALeague BR 2011
1 Template:ALeague SFC 2010

Championship Winners

Titles Team Years
2 Template:ALeague BR 2011, 2012
2 Template:ALeague MV 2007, 2009
2 Template:ALeague SFC 2006, 2010
1 Template:ALeague NUJ 2008

Oceania Club Championship

In 2004–2005 Australia was still a part of the Oceania Football Confederation and Sydney FC won the right to compete in the Oceania Club Championship after defeating the Central Coast Mariners in a qualifying tournament. It has been suggested that the Wellington Phoenix should compete in the OFC Champions League after 2011, as the club will no longer be eligible for AFC Champions League football.

Season Qualified clubs
Team Final Position
2004–05
Details 		Template:ALeague SFC Winners
Details

AFC Champions League

See also: Australian clubs in the AFC Champions League

Two A-League clubs have participated in the AFC Champions League competition each season[58] since the 2007 competition. These teams were determined by finishing positions in the 2005–06 A-League season, the 2008 competition by finishing positions in the 2006–07 season, and so on.

The Champions and Premiers qualify for the cup. In the case where the same team is Champion and Premier, the losing grand finalist qualifies. The fact that a whole season passes before clubs compete in the Champions League is controversial,[citation needed] as the next season passes before the Champions League begins. For example, Newcastle Jets competed in the 2009 Champions League, even though they finished last in the 2008–09 A-League season.

Season Qualified clubs
Team Final Position Team Final Position Team Final Position
2007
Details 		Template:ALeague SFC Group stage (2nd)
Details 		Template:ALeague AU Group stage (3rd)
Details
2008
Details 		Template:ALeague MV Group stage (2nd)
Details 		Template:ALeague AU Runners-up
Details
2009
Details 		Template:ALeague NUJ Round of 16
Details 		Template:ALeague CCM Group stage (4th)
Details
2010
Details 		Template:ALeague MV Group stage (4th)
Details 		Template:ALeague AU Round of 16
Details
2011
Details 		Template:ALeague SFC Group stage (3rd)
Details 		Template:ALeague MV Group stage (4th)
Details
2012
Details 		Template:ALeague BR Group stage (3rd)
Details 		Template:ALeague CCM Group stage (3rd)
Details 		Template:ALeague AU Quarter Finals
Details
2013
Details 		Template:ALeague BR TBD Template:ALeague CCM TBD Template:ALeague PG TBD

All Time A-League Leaders

See also: A-League all-time records

Awards

Johnny Warren Medal

The Johnny Warren Medal, named after the late former Socceroo and media advocate Johnny Warren, is presented to the player who is deemed to be the best player overall at the end of the season as judged by his fellow players. Each player in the A-League votes three times over the season: after Round 7, Round 14 and Round 21. Players are not allowed to vote for players from their own team.

Year Player Club
2005–06 Australia Bobby Despotovski Template:ALeague PG
2006–07 Australia Nick Carle Template:ALeague NUJ
2007–08 Australia Joel Griffiths Template:ALeague NUJ
2008–09 New Zealand Shane Smeltz Template:ALeague WP
2009–10 Costa Rica Carlos Hernández Template:ALeague MV
2010–11 Argentina Marcos Flores Template:ALeague AU
2011–12 Germany Thomas Broich Template:ALeague BR

Joe Marston Medal

The Joe Marston Medal is given to the best player in an A-League Grand Final. It is named after Joe Marston, a Socceroo in the 1950s.

Year Player Club
2006 Trinidad and Tobago Dwight Yorke Template:ALeague SFC
2007 Australia Archie Thompson Template:ALeague MV
2008 Australia Andrew Durante Template:ALeague NUJ
2009 Australia Tom Pondeljak Template:ALeague MV
2010 Australia Simon Colosimo Template:ALeague SFC
2011 Australia Mathew Ryan Template:ALeague CCM
2012 Australia Jacob Burns Template:ALeague PG

NAB Young Footballer

The NAB Young Footballer Award is awarded to a youth (under 20) player judged by a panel of experts to be the best young performer throughout the season.

Year Player Club
2005–06 Australia Nick Ward Template:ALeague PG
2006–07 Australia Adrian Leijer Template:ALeague MV
2007–08 Australia Bruce Djite Template:ALeague AU
2008–09 Australia Scott Jamieson Template:ALeague AU
2009–10 Australia Tommy Oar Template:ALeague BR
2010–11 Australia Mathew Ryan Template:ALeague CCM
2011–12 Australia Mathew Ryan Template:ALeague CCM

Reebok Golden Boot

The Reebok Golden Boot is presented to the player who scores the most goals during the season. Only regular A-League matches between Round 1 and Round 27 (or to Round 21 before season 2009–10) are included.

Year Player/s Club Goals
2005–06 Australia Alex Brosque
Australia Bobby Despotovski
Scotland Stewart Petrie
Australia Archie Thompson 		Template:ALeague QR
Template:ALeague PG
Template:ALeague CCM
Template:ALeague MV 		8
2006–07 Australia Daniel Allsopp Template:ALeague MV 11
2007–08 Australia Joel Griffiths Template:ALeague NUJ 12
2008–09 New Zealand Shane Smeltz Template:ALeague WP 12
2009–10 New Zealand Shane Smeltz Template:ALeague GCU 19
2010–11 Netherlands Sergio van Dijk Template:ALeague AU 16
2011–12 Albania Besart Berisha Template:ALeague BR 19

Goalkeeper of the Year

Year Player Club
2005–06 Australia Clint Bolton Template:ALeague SFC
2006–07 Australia Michael Theoklitos Template:ALeague MV
2007–08 Australia Michael Theoklitos Template:ALeague MV
2008–09 Australia Eugene Galeković Template:ALeague AU
2009–10 Australia Eugene Galeković Template:ALeague AU
2010–11 Australia Michael Theoklitos Template:ALeague BR
2011–12 Australia Mathew Ryan Template:ALeague CCM

Manager of the Year

Year Name Club
2005–06 Scotland Lawrie McKinna Template:ALeague CCM
2006–07 Scotland Ernie Merrick Template:ALeague MV
2007–08 Australia Gary van Egmond Template:ALeague NUJ
2008–09 Australia Aurelio Vidmar Template:ALeague AU
2009–10 Scotland Ernie Merrick Template:ALeague MV
2010–11 Australia Ange Postecoglou Template:ALeague BR
2011–12 Australia Graham Arnold Template:ALeague CCM

Fair Play Award

The Fair Play Award goes to the team with the lowest points on the fair play ladder at the conclusion of the home and away season (Yellow Card = 1 point, Direct Red Card = 3 points, 2nd Caution Red Card = 2 points).

Year Club
2005–06 Template:ALeague PG
2006–07 Template:ALeague PG
2007–08 Template:ALeague NUJ
2008–09 Template:ALeague QR
2009–10 Template:ALeague SFC
2010–11 Template:ALeague BR
2011–12 Template:ALeague BR

Zurich Referee of the Year

Year Referee
2005–06 Australia Mark Shield
2006–07 Australia Mark Shield
2007–08 Australia Mark Shield
2008–09 Australia Matthew Breeze
2009–10 Australia Strebre Delovski
2010–11 Australia Matthew Breeze
2011–12 Australia Jarred Gillett

Foreign Player of the Year

Year Player/s Club
2008–09 Scotland Charlie Miller Template:ALeague QR
2009–10 Costa Rica Carlos Hernández Template:ALeague MV
2010–11 Argentina Marcos Flores Template:ALeague AU
2011–12 Germany Thomas Broich Template:ALeague BR

Solo Goal of the Year

Year Player/s Club
2009–10 Costa Rica Carlos Hernández Template:ALeague MV
2010–11 Australia Erik Paartalu Template:ALeague BR
2011–12 Costa Rica Carlos Hernández Template:ALeague MV

Media coverage

Coverage history

From the start of the inaugural 2005 season, TV coverage has been restricted to the subscription-only Fox Sport channel which obtained exclusive rights until June 2013, preventing A-League games, as well as Socceroos matches from free-to-air viewing. That decision has been the source of much debate among the football community in Australia, as it has somewhat restricted the growth of football in Australia with an exclusive audience.

Current television coverage

Domestic

The current television viewing rights are as follows:

International

A-League-related television programs

  • The World Game - (SBS)
  • Fox Sports FC - (Fox Sports)

Internet

Replays of A-League matches, as well as highlights and A-League-related informational programming are available in from AFC TV.

Rivalries

While there are only two local derbies in the A-league, many 'rivalries' have formed. These include:

  • Template:ALeague MH v Template:ALeague MV: "Melbourne derby" The two teams first met on 8 October 2010 in a lively game at AAMI Park in front of 25,897 fans. Melbourne Heart came out on top with a 2–1 victory. Although the crowd was dominated by Victory fans, the Heart fans made their presence known. Aziz Behich was sent off after receiving two yellow cards. Even though they have only played three games, the rivalry is one of the most intense and well respected in the A-league, producing noticeable atmosphere and the largest crowds in the league, along with controversy with 11 goals and 2 reds cards in only three games.
  • Template:ALeague SFC v Template:ALeague MV: "The Big Blue" The clash between Australia's two biggest cities is considered one of the biggest rivalries in the league by both sets of fans. Sydney and Melbourne have been historical rivals for over a century, and their football teams are no exception. These contests are often full of spite and controversy on and off the pitch, the most recent example being a clash between Daniel Allsopp and Sydney coach John Kosmina.
  • Template:ALeague SFC v Template:ALeague BR: This traditional New South Wales-Queensland Rivalry was first ignited in the 2007–08 A-League Finals Series when Brisbane Roar (then known as Queensland Roar) secured victory over Sydney FC after two hard fought legs with the second leg being played in front of a then club record crowd of 36,211 at Suncorp Stadium. After being stagnant for the seasons to follow, the rivalry between the biggest club in their respective states re-ignited in 2011 when Sydney ended Brisbane's 36 game unbeaten streak 2–0, The following month there was an on field clash between Sydney's Pascal Bosschaart and Brisbane's Besart Berisha following a 2–1 victory at Suncorp Stadium.
  • Template:ALeague PG v Template:ALeague WP: "The Distance Derby". Named because these 2 teams are geographically the furthest teams apart in the A-league, They first met in the finals during the 2009–10 season with Wellington beating Perth on penalty shoot 1–1 (4–2) on penalties. Perth Glory and Wellington Phoenix again met in the finals of the 2011–12 season, This time Perth winning 3–2 in extra time.

Supporters Groups

All teams in the league have their own supporters groups – some with more than one, or several.[61][62][63]

References

  1. ^ "New A-League stars ready to roll". ABC. 2 OCtober 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "North Qld, Gold Coast to join A-League". ABC News. 26 August 2008. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Hyundai A-League > Rules". A-League.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 October 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2006. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b "Grand Final rematch to open HAL season". A-League.com.au. 1 May 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2006.
  5. ^ Template:PDFlink Football Federation Australia, 20 April 2009. Retrieved on 28 April 2009.
  6. ^ "Small players to get a shot at A-League's best". Melbourne: The Age. 17 February 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  7. ^ Hassett, Sebastian (20 April 2009). "Clubs ditch Pre-Season Cup". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "Logo signals refreshing new era". 1 November 2004. Retrieved 19 December 2006.
  9. ^ "New A-League ad hits the screens". FourFourTwo. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  10. ^ "Hyundai A-League To Feature in FIFA 08 Video Game". 20 August 2007. Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2007. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "Kiwis alive as Townsville pulls pin". Fox Sports. 19 March 2007. Retrieved 19 March 2007.
  12. ^ "NZ Phoenix to rise in A League". News.com.au. 28 March 2007. Retrieved 28 March 2007.
  13. ^ HAL Hath No Fury
  14. ^ Gatt, Ray (29 February 2012). "Gold Coast owner Clive Palmer loses A-League licence". The Australian.
  15. ^ http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/news/1095969/Glimmer-of-hope-for-Gold-Coast-s-future
  16. ^ http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/New-Hyundai-ALeague-club-for-Western-Sydney/46702
  17. ^ "ASA announce several significant initiatives". 22 March 2004.
  18. ^ "A-League launch speech by FFA chairman Mr Frank Lowy AC". 13 November 2004.
  19. ^ Osbourne, Paul (10 August 2006). "Chief talks up Townsville". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 12 March 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2007. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ [1]
  21. ^ Fourfourtwo.com FFA Okay West Sydney For 2011
  22. ^ Fourfourtow.com All There Is To Know On The New Sydney Side
  23. ^ Fourfourtwo.com Sydney Rovers...Its Official!- now defunct as of 25 October
  24. ^ theworldgame.com.au All over red Rovers
  25. ^ "Western Sydney confirmed for A-League in 2012–13". ABC. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  26. ^ a b c "A-league Collective Bargaining Agreement 2008–2013". Australian PFA. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  27. ^ "A-League salary cap to rise". The Daily Telegraph. 23 April 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2011.[dead link]
  28. ^ "Consumer Price Index, Australia, December 2010". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 25 January 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  29. ^ "A=League CBA". Australian PFA. 2 May 2010. Archived from the original on 19 April 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/dario-vidosic-to-return-to-a-league-after-signing-three-year-deal-with-adelaide-united/story-e6frf4gl-1226088971759
  31. ^ http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/serg-shocked-at-marquee-status/story-e6frecj3-1226026295439
  32. ^ a b "Galekovic takes over as Reds skipper". A-League. Football Federation Australia. 28 December 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  33. ^ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/soccer/paartalu-blows-stack-on-broichs-uncapped-salary-at-roar/story-fndmcftf-1226454413615
  34. ^ a b http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/soccer/matt-smith-to-replace-matt-mckay-as-brisbane-roar-skipper/story-e6frepmf-1226130040246
  35. ^ http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/128420,mariners-confirserm-bozanic-deal.aspx
  36. ^ "Hutchinson puts hand up as Mariners sink". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 February 2010.
  37. ^ a b http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/218712,fred-replacs-colosimo-as-heart-skipper.aspx
  38. ^ "Colosimo named inaugural Heart captain". The Age. Melbourne. 13 July 2010.
  39. ^ http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/harry-kewell-deal-puts-carlos-hernandez-under-pressure-as-melbourne-victory-face-salary-cap-issues/story-e6frf4gl-1226119174506
  40. ^ http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/melbournevictory/news-display/Flores-joins-Victory-revolution/47983
  41. ^ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/adrian-leijer-has-to-fill-big-boots/story-e6frf9if-1226007899556
  42. ^ http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/newcastle-jets-appoint-jobe-wheelhouse-captain/2302338.aspx
  43. ^ http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/201980,smeltzs-new-glory-days.aspx
  44. ^ "Jacob Burns to captain Perth Glory". The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 July 2009.
  45. ^ http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/socceroos-star-brett-emerton-will-officially-become-sydney-fcs-new-marquee-player-on-thursday/story-e6frf4gl-1226121703177
  46. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/del-piero-signs-with-sydney-20120905-25exy.html
  47. ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-01/mcflynn-keeps-armband/2865690
  48. ^ Maddaford, Terry (26 November 2010). "My life in sport: Ricki Herbert". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  49. ^ http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=598972
  50. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/ono-signs-as-wanderers-first-marquee-player-20120928-26p8u.html
  51. ^ http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1121315/Beauchamp-named-Wanderers-captain
  52. ^ http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=33975
  53. ^ a b c d e FFA Take A-League Into The Regions, au.fourfourtwo.com, 29 September 2011. Retrieved on 13 November 2011.
  54. ^ "Massive crowd turns out for Phoenix match". TVNZ.co.nz. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  55. ^ Lavicka laments another slow start, Football Federation Australia, 28 November 2011. Retrieved on 30 November 2011.
  56. ^ http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/2009GameDev/default.aspx?s=ccommunity_referees_news_news_item_new&id=33901
  57. ^ "Australia's finest designers in trophy challenge". Football Federation Australia. 19 December 2005. Retrieved 29 November 2006.
  58. ^ "Australia received two spots in AFC Champions League". 18 July 2006.
  59. ^ "Fans steamed up for derby – if they get there". Sydney Morning Herald. 11 November 2006. Retrieved 12 November 2006.
  60. ^ "Postecoglou signs three-year deal with Melbourne Victory". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 April 2012.
  61. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/supporters-should-weed-out-the-idiots-who-tarnish-game-20120815-24950.html
  62. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/more-than-just-dribblers--these-coves-are-committed/2006/03/01/1141191731880.html
  63. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane_Roar_FC#cite_note-27

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A-League_Men&oldid=518103024"