List of Australian soccer champions
The Australian soccer champions are the winners of the highest league in Australian association football, which is currently the A-League. As is the case in most Australian sports, the winners of a post-season playoffs competition, known as the finals, has traditionally been crowned champion, unlike the first-past-the-post system used in many other countries. The team that finished first-past-the-post was often referred to as the Minor Premiers while the finals winning team was awarded the Premiership. In an attempt to create more prestige around the first-past-the-post title, it was renamed the Premiership and the finals winning team is now awarded the Championship. Both the Champions and Premiers are awarded direct entry into the Asian Champions League each season.
In 1962, the national governing body for association football in Australia was established, known as the Australian Soccer Federation (ASF). The ASF organised the first national club tournament that same year when a knockout cup competition named the Australia Cup was first held. The Australia Cup was abolished in 1968 when the growing issue of interstate travel became untenable. A national league was first discussed in 1974 when the Australian national team made its inaugural World Cup appearance. In 1977, the Australian Soccer Association established the National Soccer League (NSL) of Australia,[1] which included teams from Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. The competition ran a promotion-relegation system for its entire lifespan as well as a knockout cup competition. For the first seven seasons, the NSL awarded the championship to the team that finished first-past-the-post and was dominated by Sydney-based teams. By the mid-80s, the league had introduced a post-season playoffs competition that would crown the champions and the title was shared more evenly around the nation. Seasons initially ran over the winter months until 1989 when it was changed to the summer months to avoid conflicts with Australian rules football and the two rugby codes. By 2000, each major capital city had secured at least one NSL title outside of Perth. The Perth Glory made history in 2002–03 when they were crowned champions and the victory meant the five major cities of Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney had all secured at least one NSL title over the duration of the league's history.
The National Soccer League was disbanded in 2004 and an 8-team A-League competition was established in 2005, which included a salary cap and no promotion-relegation. Adelaide, Newcastle and Perth were the only NSL teams retained in the new competition. It included one team from each of the major capital cities, two regional teams and a team from New Zealand. As is the case in many sporting leagues in Australia, a New Zealand-based team has been allowed entry into the top tiered Australian league since 1999. The decision to retain a New Zealand-based team in the top league has proved problematic in recent years due to Football Federation Australia's decision to move from the Oceania Football Confederation to the Asian Football Confederation in 2006. As a result, a New Zealand-based team can be crowned Premiers and/or Champions of Australia but is ineligible to compete in the Asian Champions League.[2] In 2014, Football Federation Australia reintroduced a knockout cup competition known as the FFA Cup.
South Melbourne have won four Championships, the most of any Australian team while Sydney City holds the record for most Premierships with a total of five. Of the current A-League teams, Brisbane Roar has won three Championships, the most of any A-League team while Melbourne Victory and Perth Glory share an A-League record three Premierships.
National Soccer League (1977–2004)
A-League (2005–present)
Bold indicates Domestic Double winners – i.e. League Championship and League Premiership OR League Championship and Australia/NSL/FFA Cup winners OR League Premiership and Australia/NSL/FFA Cup
Bold and Underlined indicates Domestic Treble winners – i.e. League Championship, League Premiership and Australia/NSL/FFA Cup winners
Italic indicates Continental Double winners – i.e. League Championship and OFC/AFC Champions League winners OR League Premiership and OFC/AFC Champions League winners
Total Championships won
Teams in bold compete in the A-League as of 2014–15 season.
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Melbourne | |
|
1984, 1990–91, 1997–98, 1998–99 |
| Marconi | |
|
1988, 1989, 1992–93 |
| Adelaide City | |
|
1986, 1991–92, 1993–94 |
| Brisbane Roar | |
|
2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14 |
| Sydney Olympic | |
|
1989–90, 2001–02 |
| Melbourne Knights | |
|
1994–95, 1995–96 |
| Perth | |
|
2002–03, 2003–04 |
| Sydney City | |
|
1978, 1979 |
| Melbourne Victory | |
|
2006–07, 2008–09 |
| St. George | |
|
1982, 1987 |
| Sydney FC | |
|
2005–06, 2009–10 |
| Wollongong | |
|
1999–2000, 2000–01 |
| Central Coast | |
|
2012–13 |
| Brisbane Strikers | |
|
1996–97 |
| Brunswick | |
|
1985 |
| Heidelberg | |
|
1980 |
| Newcastle Jets | |
|
2007–08 |
By State/Territory
| Region | Number of titles | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | |
Marconi (3), St. George (2), Sydney City (2), Sydney FC (2), Sydney Olympic (2), Wollongong (2), Central Coast (1), Newcastle Jets (1) |
| Victoria | |
South Melbourne (4), Melbourne Knights (2), Melbourne Victory (2), Brunswick (1), Heidelberg (1) |
| Queensland | |
Brisbane Roar (3), Brisbane Strikers (1) |
| South Australia | |
Adelaide City (3) |
| Western Australia | |
Perth (2) |
| Australian Capital Territory | |
|
| Northern Territory | |
|
| Tasmania | |
|
| New Zealand | |
Total Premierships won
Teams in bold compete in the A-League as of 2013–14 season.
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney City | |
|
1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985 |
| South Melbourne | |
|
1984, 1992–93, 1997–98, 2000–01 |
| Marconi | |
|
1979, 1989, 1989–90, 1995–96 |
| Melbourne Knights | |
|
1990–91, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1994–95 |
| Sydney United | |
|
1986, 1996–97, 1998–99 |
| Melbourne Victory | |
|
2007–08, 2008–09, 2014–15 |
| Perth | |
|
1999–2000, 2001–02, 2003–04 |
| Central Coast | |
|
2007–08, 2011–12 |
| Brisbane Roar | |
|
2010–11, 2013–14 |
| Sydney Olympic | |
|
2002–03 |
| Adelaide United | |
|
2005–06 |
| Wollongong | |
|
1988 |
| St. George | |
|
1983 |
| Sydney FC | |
|
2009–10 |
| Western Sydney | |
|
2012–13 |
| APIA Leichhardt | |
|
1987 |
| West Adelaide | |
|
1978 |
By State/Territory
| Region | Number of titles | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | |
Sydney City (5), Marconi (4), Sydney United (3), Central Coast (2), APIA Leichhardt (1), St. George (1), Sydney FC (1), Sydney Olympic (1), Western Sydney (1), Wollongong (1) |
| Victoria | |
South Melbourne (4), Melbourne Knights (4), Melbourne Victory (3) |
| Western Australia | |
Perth (3) |
| Queensland | |
Brisbane Roar (2) |
| South Australia | |
Adelaide United (1), West Adelaide (1) |
| Australian Capital Territory | |
|
| Northern Territory | |
|
| Tasmania | |
|
| New Zealand | |
Cup winners
Australia Cup (1962–1968)
| Seasons | Champion | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Sydney Yugal (1) | 8–1 | St. George |
| 1963 | Slavia Melbourne (1) | 0–0 3–2 |
Polonia Melbourne |
| 1964 | George Cross (1) | 3–2 | APIA Leichhardt |
| 1965 | Sydney City (1) | 1–1 2–1 |
APIA Leichhardt |
| 1966 | APIA Leichhardt (1) | 2–0 | Sydney City |
| 1967 | Melbourne Hungaria (1) | 4–3 | APIA Leichhardt |
| 1968 | Sydney City (2) | 3–0 3–1 |
Melbourne Hakoah |
NSL Cup (1977–1997)
| Seasons | Champion | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Brisbane City (1) | 1–1 (5-3 Pens) | Marconi |
| 1978 | Brisbane City (2) | 2–1 | Adelaide City |
| 1979 | Adelaide City (1) | 3–1 | St. George |
| 1980 | Marconi (1) | 0–0 (a.e.t.) 3–0 (Replay) |
Heidelberg |
| 1981 | Brisbane Lions (1) | 3–1 | West Adelaide |
| 1982 | APIA Leichhardt (2) | 2–1 | Heidelberg |
| 1983 | Sydney Olympic (1) | 1–0 1–0 |
Heidelberg |
| 1984 | Newcastle Rosebud (1) | 1–0 | Melbourne Knights |
| 1985 | Sydney Olympic (2) | 2–1 | Preston |
| 1986 | Sydney City (3) | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | West Adelaide |
| 1987 | Sydney United (1) | 1–0 1–0 |
South Melbourne |
| 1988 | APIA Leichhardt (3) | 0–0 (5–3 Pens) | Brunswick |
| 1989 | Adelaide City (2) | 2–0 | Sydney Olympic |
| 1989–90 | South Melbourne (1) | 4–1 | Sydney Olympic |
| 1990–91 | Parramatta Eagles (1) | 1–0 | Preston |
| 1991–92 | Adelaide City (3) | 2–1 | Marconi |
| 1992–93 | Heidelberg (1) | 2–0 | Parramatta Eagles |
| 1993–94 | Parramatta Eagles (2) | 2–0 | Sydney United |
| 1994–95 | Melbourne Knights (1) | 6–0 | Heidelberg |
| 1995–96 | South Melbourne (2) | 3–1 | Newcastle Breakers |
| 1996–97 | Collingwood (1) | 1–0 | Marconi |
FFA Cup (2014–)
| Seasons | Champion | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Adelaide United (1) | 1–0 | Perth |
Total Cups won
Teams in bold competed in the 2014 FFA Cup competition proper.
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|
| APIA Leichhardt | |
|
1966, 1982, 1988 |
| Adelaide City | |
|
1979, 1989, 1991–92 |
| Sydney City | |
|
1965, 1968, 1986 |
| Sydney Olympic | |
|
1983, 1985 |
| Parramatta Eagles | |
|
1990–91, 1993–94 |
| South Melbourne | |
|
1989–90, 1995–96 |
| Brisbane City | |
|
1977, 1978 |
| Heidelberg | |
|
1992–93 |
| Marconi | |
|
1980 |
| Melbourne Knights | |
|
1994–95 |
| Sydney United | |
|
1987 |
| Adelaide United | |
|
2014 |
| Brisbane Lions | |
|
1981 |
| Collingwood | |
|
1996–97 |
| George Cross | |
|
1964 |
| Melbourne Hungaria | |
|
1967 |
| Newcastle Rosebud | |
|
1984 |
| Slavia Melbourne | |
|
1963 |
| Sydney Yugal | |
|
1962 |
By State/Territory
| Region | Number of titles | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | |
APIA Leichhardt (3), Sydney City (3), Sydney Olympic (2), Parramatta Eagles (2), Marconi (1), Newcastle Rosebud (1), Sydney United (1), Sydney Yugal (1) |
| Victoria | |
South Melbourne (2), Collingwood (1), George Cross (1), Heidelberg (1), Melbourne Hungaria (1), Melbourne Knights (1), Slavia Melbourne (1) |
| South Australia | |
Adelaide City (3), Adelaide United (1) |
| Queensland | |
Brisbane City (2), Brisbane Lions (1) |
| Australian Capital Territory | |
|
| Northern Territory | |
|
| Tasmania | |
|
| Western Australia | |
|
| New Zealand | |
Multiple trophy wins
See The Double and The Treble
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See also
Notes
- 1^ A compromised playoffs competition was conducted in these years.
References
- ↑ Hay, Roy, ed; Murray, Bill, ed. (2006). The world game downunder. Melbourne: Australian Society for Sports History. p. 120. ISBN 0975761668.
- ↑ Phoenix seek Champions League resolution
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