Adelaide United FC

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Adelaide United FC

Full name

Adelaide United Football Club

Nickname(s)

The Reds, United

Founded

2003

Ground

Hindmarsh Stadium,
Adelaide

Capacity

16,500

Chairman

Nick Bianco

Manager

John Kosmina

League

A-League

A-League 2005-06

1st (league)
3rd (final)





Home colours





Away colours

Adelaide United FC are a football (soccer) club from Adelaide, Australia. Adelaide United were founded in 2003, to fill the place vacated by Adelaide City Force in the former National Soccer League (NSL). They finished third, playing to sold out crowds at Hindmarsh Stadium, their home ground. They were selected as Adelaide's entry in the re-vamped national league, the Australian A-League.

1 History
- 1.1 National Soccer League
- 1.2 A-League
2 Colours and badge
3 Stadium
4 Supporters
5 Current squad
6 Managers
7 Honours
8 Records
9 External links

[edit] History

[edit] National Soccer League

Main article: Adelaide United FC Season 2003-04

In August 2003, Adelaide City withdrew from the National Soccer League, leaving Adelaide with no NSL presence for the first time since the beginning of the league in 1977. In response, Adelaide United was created in September 2003, and a team was scraped together within a couple of weeks. In October, Adelaide United won its first NSL match, against the Brisbane Strikers 1-0 in front of a crowd in excess of 16,000 people. After an impressive home-and-away season, including a seven-match unbeaten streak during November and December 2003, Adelaide United reached the NSL preliminary final, losing to Perth Glory. The NSL came to an abrupt close at the end of the 2003-04 season.

[edit] A-League

Adelaide United were announced as one of eight teams to compete in the first season of the Hyundai A-League, and are, along with the Perth Glory, one of only two teams to survive from the National Soccer League's last season. United began preparation earlier than most of the other clubs and had announced two thirds of the 20 man squad before February 2005.

The club focused on bringing several Adelaide born players back to South Australia, such as Angelo Costanzo, Travis Dodd and Lucas Pantelis, who had previously played for Adelaide City SC in the NSL. Shengqing Qu was signed from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua as the clubs "marquee" signing (a ruling allowing each club one player to be paid outside the salary cap) in March 2005.

Aurelio Vidmar announced his retirement before the A-League had even started. He was replaced before the fifth round by striker Fernando Rech from Brazil, a former 'player of the year' in the old NSL. By moving to Adelaide, he reunites with former coach John Kosmina who introduced him to Australian audiences at the Brisbane Strikers.

Adelaide United have established links with American club Miami FC setting up a 'sister club' relationship.

[edit] Colours and badge

Adelaide United's kits are sponsored by Reebok, as are the rest of the A-League teams. Their home strip uses the South Australian state colours, and is all-red with gold and blue trim on the sleeves and sides. The away strip is all-white, with red sleeves and gold trim.

The badge also uses the state colours in a stylized swoosh, above what appears to be a soccer ball made with star patterns, as opposed to the traditional hexagons. The Adelaide United badge is a far cry from some other teams, such as Queensland Roar and New Zealand Knights, by taking the form of a traditional football badge.

[edit] Stadium

Main article: Hindmarsh Stadium

Adelaide United play their home matches at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide. The stadium seating capacity is 15,500, with attendances ranging from near-capacity versus Sydney to just under 9,000 for the recent game against Newcastle Jets.

[edit] Supporters

This section is a stub. You can help by expanding it.

[edit] Current squad

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Daniel Beltrame
2	DF	Richie Alagich
3	DF	Kristian Rees
4	MF	Angelo Costanzo
5	DF	Michael Valkanis
6	MF	Ross Aloisi (Captain)
7	MF	Lucas Pantelis
8	FW	Carl Veart
9	MF	Matthew Kemp
10	FW	Fernando
11	FW	Romário (Guest player)
12	MF	Greg Owens
13	MF	Travis Dodd
14	DF	Aaron Goulding

No.	Position	Player
15	FW	Nathan Burns
16	MF	Bobby Petta
17	DF	Adam van Dommele
18	DF	Robert Cornthwaite
19	FW	Qu Shengqing (Marquee)
20	GK	Robert Bajic
21	MF	Jason Spagnuolo
23	FW	Dez Giraldi
25	FW	Bruce Djite (Short-term signing)
26	FW	Elton (Trialist)
27	MF	Cristiano (Trialist)
28	DF	John Paul Rodrigues (Trialist)
29	MF	Diego Walsh (Trialist)
30	GK	Nick Crossley