Wikipedia

A-League Men

(Redirected from A-League)
"A-League" redirects here. For other leagues, see A-League (disambiguation).

A-League Men (currently known as the Isuzu UTE A-League for sponsorship reasons) is the highest-level professional men's soccer league in Australia and New Zealand. At the top of the Australian league system, it is the country's premier men's competition for the sport. A-League Men was established in 2004 as the A-League by the Australian Soccer Association (ASA) as a successor to the National Soccer League (NSL) and competition commenced in August 2005. The league is currently administered by the Australian Professional Leagues (APL), contested by thirteen teams; eleven based in Australia and two based in New Zealand. The men's, women's and youth leagues have now been brought together under a unified A-Leagues banner.[1]

A-League Men
FoundedApril 2004; 20 years ago (April 2004)
First season2005–06
Country Australia (11 teams)
Other club(s) from New Zealand (2 teams)
ConfederationAFC
Number of clubs13
Level on pyramid1
Domestic cup(s)Australia Cup
International cup(s)
Current championsCentral Coast Mariners (3rd title)
(2023–24)
Current premiersCentral Coast Mariners (3rd title)
(2023–24)
Most championshipsSydney FC (5 titles)
Most premiershipsSydney FC (4 titles)
Most appearancesLeigh Broxham (371)
Top goalscorerJamie Maclaren (152)
TV partners
Websitealeagues.com.au/a-league-men/ Edit this at Wikidata
Current: 2024–25 A-League Men

Seasons run from October to May and include a 27-round regular season followed by a finals series playoff involving the six highest-placed teams, culminating in a grand final match. The winner of the regular season tournament is dubbed the 'Premier' while the winner of the grand final is the season's Champion. This differs from other football codes in Australia, where premier refers to the winner of the grand final and the winner of the regular season is the 'minor premier'.

Successful A-League Men clubs gain qualification into the Asian continental club competitions, the AFC Champions League Elite and the AFC Champions League Two. In 2014, the Western Sydney Wanderers became the first and only winning Australian club of the AFC Champions League. Similar to the United States' Major League Soccer, as well as other professional sports leagues in Australia, A-League Men does not practice relegation and promotion.

History

edit

Background

edit

A national round-robin tournament existed in various forms prior to the formation of the A-League, with the most notable being the National Soccer League (NSL). The formation of the NSL came after Australia's qualification for the 1974 FIFA World Cup, which led to discussion of a national league, with 14 teams eventually chosen to participate in the inaugural season of the NSL in 1977.[2]

Under the guidance of the then-governing body, the Australian Soccer Federation (later Soccer Australia), the NSL flourished through the 1980s and early 1990s but then fell into decline with the increasing departure of Australian players to overseas leagues, a disastrous television deal with the Seven Network and the resulting lack of sponsorship.[3][4] Few clubs continued to grow with Sydney Olympic, Perth Glory, and the newly established Adelaide United the exception in a dying league.[5][6][7]

In April 2003, the Australian Federal Government initiated the Independent Soccer Review Committee to investigate the governance and management of the sport in Australia, including that of the NSL.[8] In December 2003, the Crawford Report found that the NSL was financially unviable, and in response the chairman of the sports new governing body, Frank Lowy of the Football Federation Australia, announced that a task force would be formed to create a new national competition as a successor to the NSL which dissolved at the conclusion of the 2003–04 season after 27 years of operation.[9]

Foundations

edit

The A-League was announced in April 2004, as a successor to the NSL.[9] Eight teams would be part of the new national competition, with one team from each city of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle, plus a New Zealand team and one from a remaining expressions of interest from either Melbourne or Sydney. The competition start date was set for August 2005.[10][11]

By June of that year, 20 submissions had been received and a month later 12 consortiums sent in their final bids for the eight spots. Three bids were received from Melbourne, two each from Sydney and Brisbane, one from each of the remaining preferred cities and a bid from the New South Wales Central Coast city of Gosford. Over the next three months, each bid was reviewed and on 1 November 2004, the eight successful bidders and the major sponsor were revealed, for what would be known as the Hyundai A-League, with the Hyundai Motor Company unveiled as the official naming rights sponsor for the league.[11]

The eight founding teams for the league were Adelaide United, the Central Coast Mariners, the Melbourne Victory, the Newcastle Jets, the New Zealand Knights, the Perth Glory, the Queensland Roar, and Sydney FC, with four former NSL clubs taking part, those being Adelaide United, the Newcastle Jets, and the Perth Glory, as well as the Queensland Lions who withdrew their first team from the Queensland State League and entered it in to the competition as the Queensland Roar[12] plus the New Zealand Knights who were formed from the New Zealand Football Kingz. Each club was given a five-year exclusivity deal in its own market as part of the league's "one-city, one-team" policy. This was intended to allow clubs to grow and develop an identity in their respective region without local competition.[13]

Initial seasons

edit

On 26 August 2005, 16 months after the demise of the NSL, the inaugural season of the A-League began.[11] The first season would see Adelaide United win the premier's plate by seven points over Sydney FC with Central Coast and Newcastle filling the final two spots in the final series.[14] In the final series, it was Sydney that took out the title after they defeated Central Coast by a Steve Corica goal to claim the first title on 5 March 2006.[15] The following season saw Melbourne Victory claim the A-League premiers plate when they smashed Adelaide United 6–0 in the final at the Telstra Dome with Archie Thompson scoring five goals in the rout.[16] But the season wasn't without a change with the New Zealand Knights being replaced by the Wellington Phoenix after the Knights were taken over by New Zealand Football after the team only won six times in forty-two games and selected overseas talent instead of local.[17][18]

Development and reforms

edit
See also: List of A-League Men seasons

Both Gold Coast United and the North Queensland Fury joined the league in the 2009–10 season. On 12 June 2009, Melbourne Heart was awarded a licence to join the 2010–11 season.[19] On 1 March 2011 North Queensland Fury's A-League licence was revoked for financial reasons.[20] On 29 February 2012, Gold Coast United also had its licence revoked.[21][22] On 4 April 2012, it was announced that a new Western Sydney-based club, Western Sydney Wanderers, would join the league for the 2012–13 season.[23] In January 2014, Melbourne Heart was acquired by the City Football Group and was renamed Melbourne City ahead of the 2014–15 season.[24] In February 2018, officials announced that the league would expand to 12 teams for the 2019–20 season.[25] Later that year, the league announced that Western United FC would join the competition in 2019–20 and Macarthur would enter the following season (2020–21).[26]

In the lead-up to the expansion announcements in 2019, club stakeholders entered into discussions with Football Federation Australia (FFA) to take over ownership of the competition. The league had been created and operated by the FFA since its inception in 2004, though by 2018 the FFA and clubs were at loggerheads over the permanent ownership structure of the league.[27] A FIFA-backed congress review working group issued a sweeping 100-page report in August 2018, recommending an expanded domestic congress and an independent A-League, controlled and operated by the clubs.[28] On 1 July 2019, the FFA and Australian Professional Football Clubs Association (the body representing the A-League clubs) announced an agreement had been reached for the FFA to relinquish control of the league to the clubs by the following month, in time for the start of the 2019–20 season.[29] The agreement brought the sport in line with the governance structure utilised in most European leagues.[29][30] The new ownership body is called the Australian Professional Leagues, a consortium of the A-League clubs and their owners, with certain rights held by the FFA, and a capital investment & ownership stake held by American firm Silver Lake. A-League officials in May 2021 announced that the league will align to the Domestic Match Calendar to avoid clashing with FIFA Days, as well as introducing Domestic Transfer System and National Club Licensing frameworks.[31][32]

Competition format

edit

Regular season

edit

The regular season runs mainly during the Australian summer, from early October to April of the following year. As of the 2024–25 season, due to the introduction of Auckland FC and an odd number of teams, the competition consists of 29 rounds, with each team playing every other team two or three times, playing 26 games total. Each team will play 24 home and away fixtures, plus two additional third matches (one of which in Unite Round). Additionally, each team will have three byes.[33] 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. The club at the top of this ladder is crowned A-League Premiers, and since the 2005–06 season has been entered into the AFC Champions League.[34][35] The Premier is presented with a trophy known as the Premier's Plate.[36]

At the completion of the regular season the top six placed teams on the league table progress 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:[37]

  1. Highest goal difference;
  2. Highest number of goals scored;
  3. Most wins;
  4. Highest number of points accumulated in matches between the teams concerned;
  5. Highest goal difference in matches between the teams concerned;
  6. Highest number of goals scored in matches between the teams concerned;
  7. Lowest number of red cards accumulated;
  8. Lowest number of yellow cards accumulated;
  9. Toss of a coin.[37]

Unite Round

edit
Main article: Unite Round

For the 2023–24 and 2024–25 season, the Australian Professional Leagues announced "Unite Round". During this round, all matches were held in Sydney, in Allianz Stadium and CommBank Stadium, with some women's matches being held at Leichhardt Oval, across the second weekend of January. The round is part of a partnership with Destination NSW, and was introduced after the Grand Final decision was reversed in October 2023, one year into its original 3-year stretch after severe fan backlash.[38]


Season Dates City Venues (matches) Attendance
Men Women Total
2023–24 12–14 January 2024 Sydney Allianz Stadium (4), CommBank Stadium (4), Leichhardt Oval (4) 36,203 11,222 47,425
2024–25 22–24 November 2024 Allianz Stadium (6), Netstrata Jubilee Stadium (6) 61,911 9,394 71,305


Pride Round

edit

After Adelaide United player Josh Cavallo became the first openly gay top-flight male footballer in October 2021, the A-League partnered with A-League Women to stage a single Pride men's and women's doubleheader during the 2021–22 season.[39]

On 24–26 February 2023, both the A-League Men and Women's competitions staged their first-ever Pride Round, the first occasion in which the leagues had "come together to recognise and promote inclusion for the LGBTQIA+ community". Part proceeds from ticket sales across all of the round's fixtures were donated to Pride Cup.[39] In 2024, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) announced the continuation of the round, as well as providing inclusion training to all players and key stakeholders. The A-Leagues would be collaborating with the PFA and Pride Cup, who would help to deliver the training. The annual Pride Cup double-header between Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory would take place in March, and several men's and women's teams would celebrate by engaging community groups and using indicators such as rainbow corner flags, armbands, special Pride kit and/or rainbow socks.[40]

Finals series

edit
Further information: A-League Men finals series and Australian Professional Leagues § 2022 Grand Final decision
 
Melbourne Victory celebrating after their 2007 A-League Grand Final victory.
 
 
City Terrace and Original Style Melbourne, the active supporter groups of Melbourne City FC and Melbourne Victory FC at the time respectively, protesting the decision by Australian Professional Leagues to give A-Leagues Grand Final hosting rights to Sydney for the next three seasons in the 20th minute of the Melbourne Derby on 17 December 2022.

The top six clubs at the conclusion of the regular season progress to the finals series. The finals series culminates to the A-League grand final, where the winner is crowned A-League champion. The club that wins the grand final is presented with the A-League Champions Trophy.

The finals series consists of six teams who are placed by rank, as determined at the end of the regular season. The finals series runs over four weeks. In the first week of fixtures, the third-through-sixth ranked teams play a single-elimination match, with the two winners of those matches joining the first and second ranked teams in two-legged ties played over two weeks. The two winners of those matches meet in the grand final. This method was initially adopted for the 2021–22 season.[41]

Up until 2022, between the two grand finalists, the team that finished higher on the ladder at the conclusion of the regular season hosted the grand final. The only exception to this was if the FA deemed that team's home ground to be an inappropriate venue. For example, in 2008, Central Coast Mariners (as the higher-placed team) hosted the grand final against the Newcastle Jets at Sydney Football Stadium, due to FFA deciding that Central Coast Mariners' home stadium, Central Coast Stadium with a capacity of 20,000, was too small for the event.[42]

On 12 December 2022, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) announced that the grand finals for the 2022–23, 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons would be hosted in Sydney,[43] a decision which received considerable backlash.[44][45] On 18 October 2023, the APL announced that the Grand Final hosting rights would revert to the original format, and instead a new "Unite Round" was introduced, with a regular season round having all its games played in Sydney.[46]

Grand final host stadium

Stadium Location No. hosted Years hosted
Sydney Football Stadium Sydney 4 2006, 2008, 2013, 2017
Docklands Stadium Melbourne 3 2007, 2009, 2010
Lang Park Brisbane 3 2011, 2012, 2014
Melbourne Rectangular Stadium Melbourne 3 2015, 2021, 2022
Western Sydney Stadium Sydney 2 2020, 2023
Adelaide Oval Adelaide 1 2016
Newcastle International Sports Centre Newcastle 1 2018
Perth Stadium Perth 1 2019
Central Coast Stadium Gosford 1 2024

Continental qualification

edit

AFC Champions League

edit
Further information: Australian soccer clubs in the AFC Champions League
 
Adelaide United against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the AFC Champions League in 2010.

A-League clubs are eligible for participation in the AFC Champions League competition each season since the 2007 edition of the tournament.[47] Wellington Phoenix are not eligible to compete in the Asian Champions League, nor do they compete in the OFC Champions League. Qualification is determined by league finishing positions and the winner of the Australia Cup Final, with the number of positions determined by the Asian Football Confederation club competition ranking. Due to the re-formatting of the AFC Champions League to have an inter-year schedule from September (northern hemisphere autumn-to-spring) instead of an intra-year schedule (northern hemisphere spring-to-autumn),[48] the qualification format for the 2023–24 AFC Champions League was changed, with a single qualification spot going to whichever of which of the Premiers for the 2021–22 or the 2022–23 seasons accrues the most combined points over both seasons.[49]

The only Australian side to win the Asian Champions League is Western Sydney Wanderers in 2014. Adelaide United is the only other club to reach the final, and finished runner-up in 2008.

AFC Cup/AFC Champions League Two

edit

Australian clubs also participated in the AFC Cup for the first time in the 2023–24 season, with allocated slots based on the AFC Club Competitions Ranking which was published on 24 November 2021.[50] Central Coast Mariners won this edition in their first ever participation.[49]

Other competitions

edit

In 2004–05, 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.

Since 2014 clubs compete in the annual Australia Cup knock-out tournament (previously known as the FFA Cup).[51] Since 2021, the top eight teams qualify for the competition's Round of 32, while the bottom four teams play-off against each other for the final two slots.[52]

Between 2005 and 2008 clubs participated in the A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup prior to each A-League regular season. In 2013 and 2014 an A-League All Stars Game was also played as a pre-season friendly game between the league's finest players and a high-profile international team.[53][54]

Most A-League Men clubs have teams in the A-League Youth competition, which runs in conjunction with the A-League Men as a national youth developmental and reserve league. All players in the youth teams are between the ages of 16 and 21 as of the start of the calendar year for each new season, while four over-age players from each of the senior teams also allowed to be selected. In addition, the A-League Women operates as the top division of women's league with affiliations to the men's competition.[55]

In response to the debate about the development of a new professional second division, the Australian Championship has been proposed to support the A-League, with the aim to avoid the American franchise-based system and to put in line with European football leagues.[56][31]

Clubs

edit
Further information: List of A-League Men clubs

The A-League Men is currently contested by 13 teams: eleven from Australia and two from New Zealand. A total of 16 teams have competed at some stage in the league's short history. Only four of these clubs – Adelaide United, the Brisbane Roar (as the Queensland Lions), the Newcastle Jets, and the Perth Glory – existed before the A-League was formed in 2004. Gold Coast United, the New Zealand Knights, and the North Queensland Fury have formerly competed in the league.

Unlike most leagues from across the world, there is no system for relegation and promotion of teams. The A-Leagues system thus shares some franchising elements with most other professional leagues in Australia, Major League Soccer, Canadian Premier League, and other major Northern American-based sports leagues.

Current clubs
Team City State Stadium Capacity Founded Joined Head coach Team captain
Adelaide United Adelaide South Australia Coopers Stadium 16,500 2003 2005   Carl Veart   Ryan Kitto
Auckland FC Auckland Auckland Go Media Stadium 25,000 2023 2024   Steve Corica   Hiroki Sakai
Brisbane Roar Brisbane Queensland Suncorp Stadium 52,500 1957 2005   Ruben Zadkovich   Jay O'Shea
Central Coast Mariners Gosford New South Wales Industree Group Stadium 20,059 2004 2005   Mark Jackson   Trent Sainsbury
Macarthur FC Campbelltown New South Wales Campbelltown Sports Stadium 17,500 2017 2020   Mile Sterjovski   Valère Germain
Melbourne City Melbourne Victoria AAMI Park 30,050 2009 2010   Aurelio Vidmar   Aziz Behich
Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victoria AAMI Park 30,050 2004 2005   Arthur Diles (caretaker)   Roderick Miranda
Newcastle Jets Newcastle New South Wales McDonald Jones Stadium 30,000 2000 2005   Robert Stanton   Kosta Grozos
Perth Glory Perth Western Australia HBF Park 20,500 1995 2005   David Zdrilic   Adam Taggart
Sydney FC Sydney New South Wales Allianz Stadium 42,500 2004 2005   Ufuk Talay   Rhyan Grant
Wellington Phoenix Wellington Wellington Sky Stadium 34,500 2007 2007   Giancarlo Italiano   Alex Rufer
Western Sydney Wanderers Sydney New South Wales CommBank Stadium 30,000 2012 2012   Alen Stajcic   Lawrence Thomas
Western United Wyndham Victoria Ironbark Fields 5,000 2017 2019   John Aloisi   Ben Garuccio
Future clubs
Team City State Stadium Capacity Founded Joined
Unnamed Canberra club Canberra Australian Capital Territory TBC TBC TBC TBC
Defunct clubs
Team City State Stadium Capacity Founded Joined Dissolved
Gold Coast United Gold Coast Queensland Skilled Park 27,690 2008 2009 2012
New Zealand Knights Auckland Auckland North Harbour Stadium 22,000 1998 2005 2007
North Queensland Fury Townsville Queensland Dairy Farmers Stadium 26,500 2008 2009 2011

Timeline

edit

League member Former member Future member

Expansion

edit
Main article: Expansion of the A-League Men

While making a relatively modest start to ensure future stability, both the FFA and the soccer media indicated significant interest in expanding the league. The eight foundation clubs had exclusivity clauses for their respective cities valid for five years, but this did not exclude teams from other areas joining the league.

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 and later Singapore.[57][58][59][60]

In February 2018, officials announced that the league would expand to 12 teams for the 2019–20 season.[25][61][62] In December 2018, the FFA announced they accepted the bids of Western United who joined the league in the 2019–20 season and of Macarthur FC, who joined the league in the 2020–21 season.[63]

In 2021, further steps were taken in an attempt to expand from the recent 12 clubs, with goals being set to get 14 clubs in 2022–23 and a potential 16 clubs in 2023–24.[64][65] Neither of these goals were met.

In March 2023, the Australian Professional Leagues confirmed plans for the next two expansion clubs to be based in Canberra and Auckland, ahead of the 2024–25 season.[66]

In October 2023, the preferred bidder as owner of the new Auckland licence was confirmed to be Bill Foley.[67] The licence was officially awarded to Foley on 21 November, 2023.[68] Auckland FC will join the league in the 2024–25 season.

On 13 June 2024, the APL confirmed that the new Canberra men's team would not begin in the 2024–25 season.[69]

Rivalries

edit

There are several key rivalries and local derbies that have formed in the A-League, including:

"Melbourne Derby" – Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory
The two Melbourne clubs first met on 8 October 2010 in a lively game at AAMI Park in front of 25,897 fans. Melbourne City (known at the time as Melbourne Heart) came out on top with a 2–1 victory.[70] A significant narrative in derby history is the role of Melbourne Victory as a more successful club both on and off the field, having joined the A-League five years earlier than City. The rivalry is one of the most intense and well respected in the A-League, producing noticeable atmosphere and some of the largest attendances in the league.[71]

"The Original Rivalry" – Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory
The rivalry stems from the traditional cross-border rivalry between sporting teams from South Australia and Victoria but was strengthened by multiple incidents in the 2006–07 season, such as the confrontation between Melbourne Victory captain Kevin Muscat and Adelaide United coach John Kosmina.[citation needed] The two clubs contested the 2007 and 2009 A-League Grand Finals, with Melbourne winning the 2009 Grand Final 1–0 against a 10-man Adelaide United side. The two clubs were also involved in the first and only occasion in the A-League during the 2008–09 A-League season, where they both finished on the top of the ladder equal on both points and goal difference.

"Sydney Derby" – Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers
The derby was contested for the first time in the 2012–13 season with the introduction of the second Sydney-based club, Western Sydney Wanderers, into the league. Sydney FC grabbed bragging rights by winning the first derby 1–0 at Parramatta Stadium,[72] however Western Sydney Wanderers won the return match at Allianz Stadium 2–0. A Sydney Derby held early in the 2015 season broke the Allianz Stadium record for attendance during a regular season in any football code, dating back to the stadium's opening in 1988.[73] A match in 2016 between the two teams broke the record A-League crowd with 61,880 fans attending the match at ANZ Stadium.[74] Sydney Derby is intensified by the geographic distinction between the two clubs within Sydney, as well as historical grievances related to the foundation of Sydney FC.

"The Big Blue" – Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC
This match is so named because blue is the main colour of both teams' playing kits, and is also Australian slang for a fight or a contest.[75] The rivalry has emerged as a result of a number of spiteful encounters between the teams in recent years, and due to the longstanding rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's two largest cities. The teams have competed against each other in three grand finals; in 2010 & 2017, with Sydney winning 4–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw on both occasions and in 2015, with Victory winning 3–0.[76] In 2010, Sydney FC won the A-League Premiership on the final day of the season by defeating Victory 2–0. A Big Blue match is traditionally played on Australia Day each year.

"The F3 Derby" – Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets
Named after the former name of the freeway that connects the cities of Newcastle and Gosford,[77] this match features the only two clubs in the A-League that are not based in state or national capital cities. The two teams' stadiums are just one hour apart, and the derby was intensified when they competed against each other for the premiership in the 2007–08 A-League season and eventually met in the Grand Final, which was won 1–0 by the Jets. Since 2022, the teams have competed for a trophy made out of a core drill sample of the motorway.[78]

"The Distance Derby" – Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix
First contested in Wellington with their introduction to the A-League in 2007–08, this fixture is considered one of the longest away trips in world football for a domestic top-flight competition, with the distance between the two cities (which themselves are in different countries) being 5,225 km.[79] Since 2015–16, the two teams have contested the "Long Distance Derby Cup", which is awarded to the team with the best results from the three regular season fixtures between them.[80]

"New Zealand Derby" / "Mai te Raki ki te Tonga" – Auckland FC v Wellington Phoenix
With the introduction of expansion club Auckland FC for the 2024–25 season, Wellington will have an opponent from the same country for the first time. The first ever edition of this derby is scheduled for 2 November 2024 at Wellington Regional Stadium, and they will meet a further two times during the season.[81][82] On 9 August 2024, Auckland announced the signing of former Wellington goalkeeper Alex Paulsen, on loan from AFC Bournemouth which was thought to be in contravention of the "Caceres rule" which the APL had only announced that morning would be reviewed.[83] Following this announcement, Wellington raised concerns with Football Australia "seeking further information" about the loan move.[84][85] Shortly before the start of the 2024–25 season, the League announced the official name of the derby would be "Kiwi Clasico",[86] however, official channels stopped using that name once the season began.[87] On the day of the first ever match between the two clubs, Te Āti Awa and Ngāti Whātua presented a special taonga to be awarded to the winner, and dubbed the derby "Mai te Raki ki te Tonga", which translates to ‘From the North to the South’ from te reo Māori.[88]

Organisation

edit

Logo and trophies

edit
 
The A-League Trophy was designed to resemble a laurel wreath. (Image features A-League logo from 2004 to 2017)
 
The Premier's Plate is awarded to the highest finishing team in the regular season. (Image features A-League logo from 2017 to 2021)

The current A-League logo was unveiled in September 2021, as part of a re-branding of both the A-League and W-League, bringing them under the same umbrella of "A-Leagues" by the Australian Professional Leagues.[89] The logo was designed by R/GA, a creative agency in Sydney, and led to a major controversy but narrowly avoided legal trouble with building company in Adelaide over design similarities.[90][91] Isuzu UTE became the naming rights sponsor of the A-League Men in October 2021, and therefore features on all branding.[92] This partnership was extended a further two years in December 2023.[93]

In January 2017, Football Federation Australia unveiled their new A-League logo which formed part of a wider rebranding branding of the A-League and its subsidiary competitions, the W-League and Youth League. The logo design was "inspired by soccer's three outstanding features – atmosphere, diversity and unity" and has colour alterations tailored to each of the 12 A-League clubs. The changes came into effect before the 2017/18 season.[94] The original A-League logo was designed by Coast Design Sydney. It was the inaugural logo of the league. The two-toned ochre colours represented the sun, earth and desert while the 'glow' emanating from the centre of the logo depicted the playing season's spring and summer time span. The eight 'A' figures that made up the ball shape represented the eight foundation clubs of the league.[95]

The A-League has two trophies which are competed for during the season: the Premier's Plate and the A-League Trophy.[96] The Premier's Plate is awarded to the A-League Premiers, the regular season winners, and the A-League Trophy is awarded to the A-League Champions, the winner of the Grand Final. Both pieces of silverware were designed by Sydney design company D3 Design. The A-League Trophy is nicknamed the "Toilet Seat" due to its shape.[97][98][99] Where as the Premier's Plate follows a traditional trophy design, the A-League Trophy differs. In 2005, John O'Neill, FFA CEO commented during the unveiling of the A-League Trophy, "We have a new national league and we feel it is important to re-define the conventional view of a trophy to reflect this". Clive Solari of D3 Design explained the trophy's design, saying "We wanted our trophy concept to embody the historical significance of sport in a contemporary design. So we looked to history to see how great achievements have been rewarded across all types of games for thousands of years. The winners of the world's original sporting competition, the Olympic Games, were presented with a laurel wreath on their heads. We used this model as a basis for a unique, cutting-edge design – our trophy is a modern and versatile translation of the wreath. The winners can hold it above their heads as a symbol of success".[100]

Squad formation and salary cap

edit
See also: List of foreign A-League Men players and Marquee player (A-League Men)
 
Alessandro Del Piero joined the league in 2012, as Sydney FC's marquee player.

The A-League match-day squad includes the typical 11 players, and five substitutes of which one must be a goalkeeper. Prior to the 2013–14 season, just four substitutes including one goalkeeper were allowed to be named in the starting line-ups for the teams.[101]

An A-League squad must comprise a minimum of 20 players with a maximum of 26, subject to several limitations. Within the squad, there can be a maximum of five "foreign" or "Visa" players, from outside Australia (and New Zealand, in the case of Wellington Phoenix), that hold a temporary working-visa. Three players in the squad must also be under 20 years of age. In addition to these three under 20 players, clubs are allowed to sign an additional three youth players onto full-time contracts at a lower pay rate than the rest of the squad.[102][103][104] The A-League had initially proposed that the quota of five visa players per A-League club be reduced to four in the 2015–16 season, with the limit of four possibly become "3+1", which means three imports from anywhere and one from Asia (following regulations in the AFC Champions League).[105] However, after opposition to the proposal by both players and managers, the move was placed on hold.[106]

Although A-League clubs have restricted salaries (salary cap), the league allows each club to have two "marquee" players whose salaries are exempt from the cap, plus a number of other 'exemptions' or 'allowances' to incentivise clubs to spend in specific areas. Guest players are also excluded for up to a maximum of 14 league matches.[107] From the formation of the league, clubs have been allowed to sign one international marquee player. From the 2008–09 season, A-League clubs have been permitted a junior marquee player; one that is under the age of 23. Now known as the 'Homegrown Player allowance', clubs can spend up to a collective $150,000 on three Australian players aged 23 or younger that have come through the club's youth system.[108] On 19 April 2010, the A-League announced that, in addition to the international marquee and junior marquee, clubs would be allowed an Australian marquee player from the 2010–11 season.[109] Notable marquee and guest players in the A-League have included Alessandro Del Piero, William Gallas, Dwight Yorke, Keisuke Honda, Damien Duff, Emile Heskey, Robbie Fowler, Shinji Ono, David Villa and former FIFA World Player of the Year Romário. Famous Australian Marquees include Harry Kewell, John Aloisi, Brett Emerton, Joshua Kennedy and Tim Cahill. From the 2021–22 A-League Men season, the league added a designated player slot, whose salary is exempt from the cap, but must be $300,000–$600,000 per season.[110] The following season, the league added a second designated player slot for each club.[111]

Commencing in the 2015–16 season, players who have played at their club for 5–10 years will be covered by a "loyalty player allowance", allowing up to $200,000 of their salary to be exempted from the cap. Additionally, clubs are now permitted a mature-age rookie whose wages are outside the salary cap.[107]

The 2016–17 season saw the introduction of a third 'Full Season Guest Marquee' spot, designed to attract high-profile players on short-term deals.[112]

The salary cap for A-League clubs is $2.1 million for the 2020–21 season. In the case for Western United and debuting Macarthur FC, they are entitled to a $333,000 allowance thus increasing their salary cap to $2.433 million. Clubs must spend at least the salary floor which is $1.7 million. The salary cap applies to the 18 to 23 players that clubs have registered to their A-League player roster, the top 2 highest-paid players (Designated Players) don't count in the cap. Unless specifically exempt, all payments and benefits (e.g. cars, accommodation, etc.) provided by a club to a player are included in the club's salary cap. Players registered at a club for more than 4 consecutive years as a professional are considered as Loyalty Players and have the following amounts exempt from a club's salary cap; Year 4 – 12.5%, Year 5 – 25%, and 5% increments after that up until a max of 50%. Teams can spend an unlimited amount on 4 U-23 Australian players who have come from the youth team, called Homegrown Players. Teams can sign up to 9 U-20 players on minimum wage called Scholarship Players who don't count in the squad unless they are one of the 3 U21's in the squad, any payments above the national minimum wage to these Players are included in the club's Salary Cap.[113]

A-League salaries and marquees
Season Marquee player Australian marquee Junior marquee Designated player Mature-aged rookie Salary cap Minimum salary
2005–06 1 No No No No $1,500,000[114]
2006–07 1 No No No No $1,600,000[115]
2007–08 1 No No No No $1,800,000[115]
2008–09 1 No 1 No No $1,900,000[116]
2009–10 1 No 1 No No $2,250,000[117]
2010–11 1 1 1 No No $2,350,000[114]
2011–12 1 1 1 No No $2,400,000[118]
2012–13 1 1 1 No No $2,468,000[119] $48,000[120]
2013–14 1 1 1 No No $2,500,000[119] $50,000[119]
2014–15 1 1 1 No No $2,550,000[119] $51,000[121]
2015–16 2 1 No 1 $2,600,000[108] $55,000[108]
2016–17 3 1 No 1 $2,650,000[122] $55,715[122]
2017–18 2 1 No 1 $2,928,000[122] $61,287[122]
2018–19 2 1 No 1 $3,063,000[123] $64,113[122]
2019–20 2 1 No No $3,200,000[123] $47,792–$64,113[124]
2020–21 2 1 No No $2,100,000[125] $45,000–$62,500[125]
2021–22 2 1 1 No
2022–23 2 1 2 No

Stadiums

edit
Main article: List of A-League Men stadiums

A-League games have been played in 33 stadiums since the inaugural season of the A-League in 2005.

Sponsorship

edit

Since its formation, the A-League has been sponsored by an official naming rights partner.[11] In 2004, the Hyundai Motor Company was announced as the sponsor for the first three seasons of the league, known for commercial purposes as the "Hyundai A-League". In 2008, Hyundai renewed its initial contract with FFA for another four seasons until 2012, and that contract was further extended by four seasons until 2016.[126] This sponsorship deal was then further extended to the end of the 2019–20 A-League season.[127]

On 23 December 2020, it was announced that the new major sponsor of the A-League and W-League would be home improvement store Bunnings Warehouse.[128]

On 6 October 2021, Isuzu UTE was announced as the naming rights partner of the A-League Men in a 3-year deal, with the league known as the Isuzu UTE A-League.[129]

Period Sponsor Name
2005/06–2019/20 Hyundai Hyundai A-League
2020/21 No title sponsor A-League
2021/22–Present Isuzu UTE Isuzu UTE A-League

League championships

edit
See also: List of Australian soccer champions

As of the 2023–24 season, 15 different clubs have competed in the league, with eight having won the trophy, and eight winning at least one premier's plate. 6 clubs have won a Premiership-Championship double, a feat achieved 11 times in total.

The winner of the regular season tournament is dubbed the 'Premier' while the winner of the grand final is the season's 'Champion'. This differs from other football codes in Australia, where 'premier' refers to the winner of the grand final and the winner of the regular season is the 'minor premier'.

Team Champions Year(s) won Premiers Year(s) won Total combined 'Double' A-League seasons
Sydney FC 5 2006, 2010, 2017, 2019, 2020 4 2009–10, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20 9 3 (2010, 2017, 2020) 19
Melbourne Victory 4 2007, 2009, 2015, 2018 3 2006–07, 2008–09, 2014–15 7 3 (2007, 2009, 2015) 19
Central Coast Mariners 3 2013, 2023, 2024 3 2007–08, 2011–12, 2023–24 6 1 (2024) 19
Brisbane Roar 3 2011, 2012, 2014 2 2010–11, 2013–14 5 2 (2011, 2014) 19
Melbourne City 1 2021 3 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23 4 1 (2021) 14
Adelaide United 1 2016 2 2005–06, 2015–16 3 1 (2016) 19
Newcastle Jets 1 2008 0 – 1 19
Western United 1 2022 0 – 1 5
Western Sydney Wanderers 0 – 1 2012–13 1 12
Perth Glory 0 – 1 2018–19 1 19
Macarthur FC 0 – 0 – 0 4
Wellington Phoenix 0 – 0 – 0 17

Records

edit
Main article: A-League Men records and statistics
 
Jamie Maclaren is the leading A-League goalscorer, scoring 151 goals with three clubs.

Brisbane Roar hold the record for the longest unbeaten run in the competition with 36 league matches without defeat.[130]

Jamie Maclaren holds the record for the greatest number of A-League goals, with 151 goals, playing for Perth Glory, Brisbane Roar, and Melbourne City.[131] The A-League record for most goals in a single match is held by Archie Thompson, scoring 5 goals against Adelaide United on 18 February 2007, during the 2007 A-League Grand Final; and Jamie Maclaren who scored 5 goals against Melbourne Victory on 17 April 2021.

Jamie Maclaren has scored the most A-League hat-tricks with 8.

Shane Smeltz and Bobô are the only players to have scored hat-tricks in consecutive matches.[132][133]

Henrique was the first, and so far only, player to score a hat-trick coming on as a substitute, for Brisbane Roar against Newcastle Jets.[134]

In 2015, Austrian striker Marc Janko broke the record for scoring in consecutive matches when he scored in seven games for Sydney FC.[135]

Media coverage

edit

In Australia

edit
 
Newcastle Jets against Sydney FC at Newcastle Stadium in 2007.

From the start of the 2005–06 season to the 2012–13 season, television coverage of the A-League in Australia had been restricted to the subscription-only Fox Sports channel, to which only 7% of Australian residents had access.[136]

On 19 November 2012, free-to-air Australian public broadcasting television network SBS secured the shared rights, alongside long-time A-League broadcasters Fox Sports, to the A-League from the 2013–14 season with a A$160 million four-year broadcast deal.[137]

SBS's coverage ended in the 2016–17 season, with Network Ten securing free-to-air broadcast rights. Ten simulcasted the Fox Sports coverage of the Saturday night fixture on its digital multichannel One.[138]

From the 2019–20 season, ABC TV has broadcast one game a weekend (Saturday 5pm) live on its primary channel. It also has the right to broadcast delayed coverage of some finals matches and the Grand Final.[139] Fox Sport's contract with the A-League, which was renegotiated in June 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, concluded in July 2021.[140]

Since August 2021, as part of a five-year deal with ViacomCBS, the A-Leagues are being broadcast by Network 10 and Paramount+ streaming service. Initially one A-League Men match per weekend was broadcast on Ten's main channel and all matches were streamed on Paramount.[141] Paramount+ and 10 hold broadcasting rights through to 2028.[142]

Other countries

edit

In New Zealand the league has been broadcast on Sky Sport since its inaugural season. In the 2019–20 season, the league also broadcast on Qatari beIN Sports after Sky ink four-year partnership for extensive soccer coverage, especially the A-league.[143]

The growth of coverage of the A-League outside Australia saw the league broadcast in 65 countries around the world in 2013/14.[144] Full match broadcasts are available in the United States, China, Italy, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Canada, the Caribbean, Hong Kong, Singapore and Myanmar.[144] In addition to the full match broadcasts, highlights of A-League matches can be viewed in 53 countries throughout Asia and the Middle East, including Japan and South Korea.[144] In 2014, a three-season deal with Sony TEN allowed the league to be broadcast live in Asian nations including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.[145] Every A-League match is also live streamed globally, allowing games to be viewed online through a subscription service provided in a partnership with the FFA.[146] All games were also broadcast live in the United States on ESPN+ until 2021. Most games in the United Kingdom are broadcast by BT Sport but use Paramount+ live feed for every live game. For the 2014–15 Season, the A-League was broadcast in 173 countries.[147]

Promotion

edit

The A-League has been promoted using a number of different advertising slogans and strategies since its inception. At the start of the inaugural season, a A$3 million dollar advertising campaign was launched, with the television and film advertisements produced by Ridley Scott's production company Scott Free Productions. 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", which was used for two seasons from 2007 to 2009 and was accompanied by the music track "My People" from Australian act The Presets.[148]

Current broadcasters

edit
Broadcasters in Australia
Seasons Pay FTA
2005–13 Fox Sports None
2013–17 SBS
2017–19 One
2019–21 ABC
2021–28[142] Paramount+ 10 and 10 Bold

Broadcasters as of the 2024–25 season are as follows:

Territory Network
  Australia Network 10
Paramount+
  New Zealand Sky Open
Sky Sport
Pacific Islands Australia TV
Pasifika TV[149]
International Sport24 (in-flight and ship only)
YouTube (unsold markets only)
  Austria Sportdigital
  Germany
  Switzerland
  Cambodia SPOTV
  Indonesia
  Malaysia
  Singapore
  South Korea
  Thailand
  Vietnam
  Philippines
TAP DMV
  China China Sports Media
  Fiji Fiji TV
  Ghana Sporty TV
  Nigeria
  South Africa
  Hong Kong MYTV Super
Indian subcontinent FanCode
  Ireland TNT Sports
  United Kingdom
  Macau Macau Cable
  Papua New Guinea EMTV
  Spain LaLiga+
  Turkey S Sport
  United States ESPN

See also

edit

Notes

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Official site. Archived 30 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  2. ^ Hay, Roy; Murray, Bill, eds. (2006). The World Game Downunder. Melbourne: Australian Society for Sports History. p. 120. ISBN 0975761668.
  3. ^ "Ch7 broadcast football: Prepare your fallout shelter". The Football Sack. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  4. ^ "A brief history of the NSL: Part IV". The Roar. 19 April 2011. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Origins". Sydney Olympic Football Club. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  6. ^ Howe, Andrew (21 February 2013). "History against the Wanderers". footballaustralia.com.au. Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 11 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  7. ^ "Wanderers help lay some ex-NSL ghosts to rest". The Roar. 25 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  8. ^ Baum, Greg (18 November 2009). "Crawford wants sport to be for all, not just the privileged". The Age. Melbourne. Archived from the original on 11 September 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  9. ^ a b Hill, Simon (8 April 2014). "Simon Says: 10 years on from last NSL game, the past and present are starting to share the future". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  10. ^ Lynch, Michael (23 March 2004). "Hundreds of jobs on hold in league revamp". The Age. Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2014. If the 'eighth best' application comes from Sydney or Melbourne, either of those cities would have two teams.
  11. ^ a b c d "Our History". Hyundai A-League. Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  12. ^ "About Us – Lions FC". Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Was one-team one-city a mistake by the FFA?". The Roar. Archived from the original on 13 November 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  14. ^ Fox, Marc (30 January 2006). "Final four confirmed". Archived from the original on 4 September 2006.
  15. ^ Lucas, Adam (5 March 2006). "Sydney FC prevails". Archived from the original on 3 September 2006.
  16. ^ Paine, Chris (10 February 2007). "Thompson haul guides Victory to A-League crown". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  17. ^ "New franchise keeps NZ in A-League". Herald Sun. 20 March 2007. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  18. ^ Gilhooy, Daniel (14 December 2006). "Soccer: NZ Soccer willing to rescue 'embarrassing' Knights". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  19. ^ Reed, Ron (13 June 2009). "Melbourne awarded licence for second A-League team". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 8 December 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  20. ^ "HAL Hath No Fury". Australian FourFourTwo. 1 March 2011. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  21. ^ Gatt, Ray (29 February 2012). "Gold Coast owner Clive Palmer loses A-League licence". The Australian. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  22. ^ "Glimmer of hope for Gold Coast's future". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Service. 4 March 2012. Archived from the original on 16 April 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  23. ^ "New Hyundai A-League club for Western Sydney". Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  24. ^ "Manchester City buy A-League's Melbourne Heart". The Guardian. 23 January 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  25. ^ a b "FFA announce A-League expansion to 12 teams but clubs are wary of 'smokescreen'". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 February 2018. Archived from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  26. ^ "A-League approves Western Melbourne, Macarthur South-West Sydney expansion bids". ABC News. 21 December 2018. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  27. ^ "Football's 'heart and soul' deserting the game amid governance gridlock". The World Game. SBS. 3 August 2018. Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  28. ^ "A-League could go independent by 2019". The World Game. SBS. 7 August 2018. Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  29. ^ a b Vince Rugari (1 July 2019). "FFA to relinquish control of A-League after independence deal reached". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  30. ^ "New Leagues Working Group (NLWG) update". Football Federation Australia. 30 June 2019. Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  31. ^ a b "'Final model': Major A-League second division meeting set for June". Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  32. ^ Marco Monteverde. "Football Australia announces domestic match calendar". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  33. ^ Comito, Matthew (17 July 2024). "Dates announced for 2024-25 A-Leagues season". A-Leagues. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  34. ^ "Grand Final rematch to open HAL season". A-League.com.au. Football Federation Australia. 1 May 2006. Archived from the original on 3 September 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2006.
  35. ^ "2012–2013 A-League season: full fixture list and new finals series". Fox Sports. 19 June 2012. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  36. ^ "A-League: HAL 7 (2011–2012 Season)". back-of-the-net.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  37. ^ a b "A-League Competition rules". A-Leagues. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023.
  38. ^ "A-Leagues scrap controversial Grand Final decision in favour of Unite Round". ABC News. 18 October 2023.
  39. ^ a b Lynch, Joey (7 February 2023). "Australia's A-Leagues launch first Pride round". ESPN.com. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  40. ^ "The 2024 A-Leagues Pride Celebration is this week: Everything you need to know". A-Leagues. 3 March 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  41. ^ "Extra finals adds to drama for 2021/22 Isuzu UTE A-League season". A-League. 29 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  42. ^ "SFS to host A-League grand final". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 February 2008. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  43. ^ "Why Sydney is the new home of the A-Leagues Grand Finals". 12 December 2022. Archived from the original on 12 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  44. ^ "'Terrible decision': A-Leagues' move to sell off grand final rights to Sydney sparks fan anger". TheGuardian.com. 12 December 2022. Archived from the original on 12 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  45. ^ Rugari, Vince (12 December 2022). "'Absolute disgrace': A-League grand final move slammed by fans, owners and a Socceroo". Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  46. ^ "A-Leagues announce first ever Unite Round to take place this season". A-Leagues. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  47. ^ "Australia received two spots in AFC Champions League". 18 July 2006. Archived from the original on 6 March 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2006.
  48. ^ "AFC Executive Committee unveils dynamic enhancements to the AFC Club Competitions". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  49. ^ a b "A big AFC change has sparked a new A-Leagues table scramble: How it works". Australian Professional Leagues. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  50. ^ "Slot allocation for AFC Champions League and AFC Cup 2023 confirmed". AFC. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  51. ^ "FFA Cup How Draw Works". Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016.
  52. ^ Bossi, Vince; Rugari, Dominic (19 December 2019). "A-League's worst teams to play off for spot in FFA Cup". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  53. ^ "Stage set for Manchester United to play A-League all-stars". The Australian. Archived from the original on 22 November 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  54. ^ "Italian giants Juventus coming to Sydney". Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 21 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  55. ^ "Women in a league of their own". Football Federation Australia. 28 July 2008. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
  56. ^ Lynch, Joey (30 July 2021). "Football Australia adds national second tier to football pyramid in calendar restructure". ESPN. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  57. ^ "ASA announce several significant initiatives". Australian Soccer Association. 22 March 2004. Archived from the original on 9 September 2006.
  58. ^ "A-League launch speech by FFA chairman Mr Frank Lowy AC". Australian Soccer Association. 13 November 2004. Archived from the original on 12 September 2006.
  59. ^ Osbourne, Paul (10 August 2006). "Chief talks up Townsville". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 12 March 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2007.
  60. ^ Ormond, Aidan (4 January 2010). "Gippsland's A-League Call". Australian FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  61. ^ Davutovic, David (5 December 2016). "A-League expansion plans revealed with two new teams to join in 2018–19". Herald Sun. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  62. ^ A-League expansion further delayed as FFA focus on operating model Archived 1 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine(in English)
  63. ^ Hytner, Mike (13 December 2018). "FFA settle on staggered A-League expansion over next two years". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  64. ^ Marco Monteverde (22 November 2021). "Expansion for A-League could come as early as next season". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 December 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  65. ^ "A-League Men expansion: Which clubs could join the competition?". 24 November 2021. Archived from the original on 7 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  66. ^ "A-Leagues set to expand to Canberra and Auckland for 2024–25 season". ABC News. 14 March 2023. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  67. ^ tomsmithies (10 October 2023). "Premier League owner confirmed as preferred bidder for A-Leagues expansion licence in Auckland". A-Leagues. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  68. ^ "Auckland expansion team awarded full A-Leagues license". A-Leagues. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  69. ^ "Update: Canberra expansion bid". A-Leagues. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  70. ^ "Heart Claim Inaugural Derby Win". Melbourne Heart. 8 October 2010. Archived from the original on 20 February 2011.
  71. ^ "Melbourne Derby: Does Victory v. City trump Sydney derby as A-League's biggest rivalry?". foxsports.com.au. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  72. ^ "Del Piero does it again". A-League. 20 October 2012. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013.
  73. ^ "FLOURISHING A-LEAGUE SMASHES MORE RECORDS". The World Game. SBS. Archived from the original on 3 May 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  74. ^ Ormond, Aidan (8 October 2016). "Sydney FC's epic second half blows away Wanderers". Archived from the original on 23 November 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  75. ^ "Blue". The Macquarie Essential Dictionary. The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. 1999. p. 81.
  76. ^ Greco, John (17 May 2015). "Victory outclass Sydney FC in Grand Final". Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  77. ^ "Fans steamed up for derby – if they get there". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 November 2006. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2006.
  78. ^ Comito, Matthew (9 December 2022). "The most unique trophy in world football? The piece of motorway that 'represents the rivalry'". A-Leagues. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  79. ^ "Bon Voyage: 8 of the Longest Away Days in World Football". 90min.com. 15 February 2018. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  80. ^ "Glory and Phoenix battle for Long Distance Derby Cup". Archived from the original on 16 October 2015.
  81. ^ Rosengarten, Jake (1 August 2024). "Derby Dates: The biggest Isuzu UTE A-League matches to put in your diary NOW". A-Leagues. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  82. ^ Rosengarten, Jake (1 August 2024). "Fixtures Talking Points: A New TV format, byes & everything you need to know". A-Leagues. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  83. ^ Rosengarten, Jake (8 August 2024). "'Caceres Clause' to be reviewed ahead of 2024-25 A-Leagues Season". A-Leagues. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  84. ^ "Alex Paulsen loaned to Auckland FC from Bournemouth". 1News. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  85. ^ "A-League shock as Alex Paulsen provisionally joins Auckland FC". RNZ. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  86. ^ Pisani, Sacha (5 September 2024). "The A-Leagues' newest derby has an amazing new nickname". A-Leagues. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  87. ^ Pisani, Sacha (29 October 2024). "Six acts that have ignited world football's newest rivalry ahead of kick off this weekend". A-Leagues. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  88. ^ "The derby has a name and there's something extra to play for". Wellington Phoenix. 2 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  89. ^ "The W-League is no more — say hello to A-League Men and A-League Women". ABC News. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  90. ^ Conrad, Alex; Monteverde, Marco (30 September 2021). "A-League avoids legal stoush over new logo". news.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  91. ^ Bossi, Dominic (30 September 2021). "'Quite bizarre': Adelaide company might take action over A-League logo". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  92. ^ "Australian men's football comp rebrands: Isuzu UTE A-League Men". www.mediaweek.com.au. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  93. ^ "Isuzu UTE extends A-Leagues partnership through to 2026". A-Leagues. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  94. ^ "FFA reveal new branding and A-League logo". SBS Australia. 24 January 2017. Archived from the original on 27 October 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  95. ^ "Logo signals refreshing new era". A-League.com.au. Football Federation Australia. 1 November 2004. Archived from the original on 12 September 2006. Retrieved 19 December 2006.
  96. ^ Ormond, Aidan (19 March 2007). "Gold medal trophy". Australian FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  97. ^ Hill, Simon (2 January 2013). "Goal-line technology,'toilet seats' and MRPs: Simon Hill reveals his hopes and dreams for football". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 1 December 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  98. ^ "The top 10 A-League flops". The World Game. 2 October 2014. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015. Then there's the A-League prize – a shiny metal ring that looks like something you stick your rear end in to eject fecal waste through. Aptly nicknamed the 'toilet seat', the A-League trophy is actually an impressive piece of kit close up, but in the lexicon of famous football championship bling, it's a definite flop.
  99. ^ "EPL trophy influenced FFA Cup design". Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  100. ^ "New A-League trophy revealed". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Service. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  101. ^ Orr, Michael (15 August 2013). "A-League increases available substitutes to five". SBnation.com. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  102. ^ "Open slather as clubs push for squad quotas to be scrapped". The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  103. ^ "A-League Collective Bargaining Agreement 2008–2013". Australian PFA. 2 May 2010. Archived from the original on 19 April 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  104. ^ "A-League salary cap to rise". The Daily Telegraph. 23 April 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  105. ^ Moore, Craig (15 March 2014). "Reducing the A-League imports to four will only help the development of our young Australian players". The Courier-Mail. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  106. ^ Davutovic, David (24 January 2015). "A-League chiefs are set to backflip and not reduce visa spots for next season". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  107. ^ a b "Sweeping changes to A-League cap unveiled". MSN. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  108. ^ a b c "A-League Salary Cap Summary". Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  109. ^ "A-League CBA". Australian PFA. 2 May 2010. Archived from the original on 19 April 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  110. ^ "A-League to use Designated Players; W-League players gets pay rise". ESPN. 9 September 2021. Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  111. ^ Comito, Matt (10 July 2022). "New rules bolster ALM clubs' firepower in hunt to sign top talent". Keep Up. Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  112. ^ "FFA finalise third "guest" marquee". Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  113. ^ "Salary Cap System". A-League. August 2017. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  114. ^ a b "Can our talent reside in the A-League?". theroar.com.au. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  115. ^ a b "A-League lifts its salary cap to $1.8m". The Age. 23 April 2007. Archived from the original on 29 October 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  116. ^ "New Season To Start with a Bang". Australian FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 3 May 2008.
  117. ^ "Football federation ignored Sydney FC's alleged breach of salary cap". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 June 2011. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  118. ^ "FFA, players on collision course". The Australian. Archived from the original on 28 April 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  119. ^ a b c d "A-League players strike a deal for a minor increase to salary cap, minimum wages". The Advertiser. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  120. ^ "A-League clubs to see slight salary cap raise under new pay deal". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  121. ^ "Foreign marquee quota doubled in revised salary cap". SBS website. Archived from the original on 24 June 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  122. ^ a b c d e "A-League salary cap could be scrapped when new CBA is negotiated in 2018". Fox Sports (Australia). Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  123. ^ a b "New A-League expansion teams to be given bigger salary cap". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  124. ^ "Salary Cap System". Hyundai A-League. August 2017. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  125. ^ a b Davidson, John (5 October 2020). "A-League clubs and PFA reach payment deal". The World Game. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  126. ^ "Hyundai Extends A-League Partnership Until 2016" (Press release). Hyundai Motor Company, Australia. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  127. ^ "Hyundai extends partnership with FFA through to 2020". MyFootball. 25 July 2016. Archived from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  128. ^ "Leagues sign historic deal with Bunnings". A-League. 23 December 2020. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  129. ^ "Isuzu UTE Australia becomes first naming rights partner of A-League Men". A-League. 6 October 2021. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  130. ^ "Roar record to stand for a while". The Courier-Mail. 4 February 2011. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  131. ^ "Statistics: Goals (Overall)". ultimatealeague.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  132. ^ Quartermaine, Braden (1 April 2012). "Hat-trick to Shane Smeltz sees Perth Glory knock out Melbourne Heart". Herald Sun. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  133. ^ Baumbach, Julian (30 December 2017). "Sydney FC Smash Perth For Six To End 2017". Sydney FC. Archived from the original on 31 December 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  134. ^ "Henrique hat-trick leads Brisbane Roar to first win of A-League season over Newcastle Jets". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 November 2014. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  135. ^ Gatt, Ray (15 March 2015). "Marc Janko races past Del Piero's Sydney FC goal-scoring record". The Australian. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  136. ^ "FOXTEL Announces Solid Growth Despite Difficult Consumer Environment" (Press release). Foxtel. 11 August 2011. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  137. ^ "Football returns to free-to-air TV on SB". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Service. Archived from the original on 6 March 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  138. ^ "New TV deal for Football". Hyundai A-League. Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  139. ^ "ABC TV becomes Free-to-Air Broadcast Partner of the Hyundai A-League". A-League. 3 October 2019. Archived from the original on 3 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  140. ^ "Foxtel and FFA come to an agreement over A-League and W-League". mumbrella. 22 June 2020. Archived from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  141. ^ "A-League announces Channel 10 as new broadcast partner in five-year deal". ABC News (Australia). 26 May 2021. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  142. ^ a b "Football Australia and Paramount Australia agree to historic multi-year, multi-platform media rights deal for Australian National Teams through to 2028". Football Australia. 28 August 2024.
  143. ^ "Champions League and La Liga headline Sky NZ's co-branded BeIN channel – SportsPro Media". sportspromedia.com. 3 September 2019. Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  144. ^ a b c "Hyundai A-League broadcast to global audience in 2013/14". footballaustralia.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  145. ^ "A-League and FFA Cup's Asia TV deal". Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  146. ^ "Watch A-League's Top Football LIVE!". aleague.livesport.tv. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  147. ^ "Hyundai A-League 2014/15 Season Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  148. ^ "New A-League ad hits the screens". Australian FourFourTwo. 9 August 2007. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  149. ^ "Cash block to Phoenix A-League licence extension". Stuff NZ. 27 October 2014. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
edit
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to A-League.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A-League_Men&oldid=1263652239"