A-League Men facts for kids
 |
|
| Founded | April 2004 |
|---|---|
| First season | 2005–06 |
| Country |  Australia (11 teams) |
| Other club(s) from |  New Zealand (1 team) |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 12 (14 from 2024–25) |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Australia Cup |
| International cup(s) | |
| Current champions | Central Coast Mariners (2nd title) (2022–23) |
| Current premiers | Central Coast Mariners (3rd title) (2023–24) |
| Most championships | Sydney FC (5 titles) |
| Most premierships | Sydney FC (4 titles) |
| Most appearances | Leigh Broxham (371) |
| Top goalscorer | Jamie Maclaren (152) |
| TV partners |
|
The A-League Men (also known as the Isuzu UTE A-League for sponsorship reasons) is the top professional soccer league for men in Australia and New Zealand. It's the highest level of men's soccer in Australia. The A-League Men started in 2004 as the 'A-League'. Games began in August 2005.
Today, the league is run by the Australian Professional Leagues (APL). Twelve teams play in the league. Eleven teams are from Australia and one is from New Zealand. The men's, women's, and youth leagues are all part of the bigger A-Leagues group.
Seasons run from October to May. There's a 27-round regular season. After that, the top six teams play in a Finals Series. This series ends with a big championship game called the Grand Final. The team that finishes first in the regular season is called the 'Premier'. The team that wins the Grand Final is the season's 'Champion'. This is different from some other sports in Australia.
Successful A-League Men clubs can play in big Asian club competitions. These include the AFC Champions League (ACL) and the AFC Cup. In 2014, the Western Sydney Wanderers became the first and only Australian team to win the AFC Champions League. Like many sports leagues in Australia and the USA, the A-League Men does not have promotion or relegation. This means teams don't move up or down to different leagues based on how they finish.
Contents
History of the A-League
How the A-League Started
Before the A-League, Australia had a national soccer league called the National Soccer League (NSL). It started in 1977. The NSL was popular for a while. But it faced problems in the late 1990s. Many Australian players went to play overseas. Also, TV deals and sponsorships became difficult.
In 2003, the Australian government looked into how soccer was run. They found that the NSL was not doing well financially. So, a new plan was made for a new national competition. The NSL ended in 2004 after 27 years.
Building the New League
The A-League was announced in April 2004. It was planned to replace the NSL. Eight teams would be part of this new league. There would be one team from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Newcastle. A team from New Zealand would also join. The last spot would be from either Melbourne or Sydney. The first games were set for August 2005.
Many groups wanted to be part of the new league. By November 2004, the eight successful teams were chosen. The Hyundai Motor Company became the main sponsor. The league was named the Hyundai A-League.
The first eight teams were Adelaide United, Central Coast Mariners, Melbourne Victory, Newcastle Jets, New Zealand Knights, Perth Glory, Queensland Roar, and Sydney FC. Four of these teams had played in the old NSL. Each club had a special deal. They were the only team from their city for five years. This helped them grow their fan base.
Early Seasons and Changes
The first A-League season started on August 26, 2005. Adelaide United won the first 'Premier's Plate'. This meant they finished first in the regular season. Sydney FC won the first Grand Final in March 2006. They beat the Central Coast Mariners 1-0.
The next season, Melbourne Victory won the Premier's Plate. They also won the Grand Final, beating Adelaide United 6-0. Archie Thompson scored five goals in that game! During this time, the New Zealand Knights team was replaced. They were not doing well. The new team was the Wellington Phoenix.
Growing and Changing the League
Over the years, more teams joined the A-League. Gold Coast United and the North Queensland Fury joined in 2009. Melbourne Heart joined in 2010. Later, North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United left the league.
In 2012, a new team from Western Sydney joined. They were called the Western Sydney Wanderers. In 2014, Melbourne Heart became Melbourne City. In 2018, the league announced it would grow to 12 teams. Western United FC joined in 2019. Macarthur FC joined in 2020.
In 2019, the clubs took over running the league. Before this, Football Australia (FFA) ran it. This change helped the league grow even more. It also made it more like European football leagues. The new group running the league is called the Australian Professional Leagues (APL).
How the Competition Works
The Regular Season
The A-League Men regular season usually runs from October to April. Each team plays every other team two or three times. This makes a total of 27 rounds.
Teams get points for their games:
- Three points for a win.
- One point for a draw (tie).
- Zero points for a loss.
The team with the most points at the end of the regular season wins the 'Premier's Plate'. This team is called the A-League Premiers. They also get a spot in the AFC Champions League.
If teams have the same number of points, there are rules to decide who ranks higher:
- The team with more wins.
- The team with a better goal difference (goals scored minus goals against).
- The team that scored more goals.
- Then, they look at games played between the tied teams.
- Finally, they might even flip a coin!
Unite Round
For the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons, the A-League introduced a special "Unite Round". During this round, all matches are played in Sydney. The games happen in January at Allianz Stadium and CommBank Stadium. This round is part of a deal with Destination NSW. It was introduced after a big decision about where the Grand Final would be held was changed.
Pride Round
In 2021, Adelaide United player Josh Cavallo became the first openly gay top-level male soccer player. After this, the A-League started a "Pride Round". This round celebrates and supports the LGBTQIA+ community.
The first official Pride Round was in February 2023. Both the A-League Men and Women's competitions took part. Money from ticket sales went to Pride Cup. In 2024, the APL continued the round. They also started training for players and staff about inclusion. Teams celebrate with rainbow corner flags, armbands, and special uniforms.
The Finals Series
After the regular season, the top six teams play in the Finals Series. This series leads up to the A-League Grand Final. The team that wins the Grand Final is crowned the A-League Champion. They receive the A-League Champions Trophy.
The Finals Series lasts for four weeks.
- In the first week, teams ranked 3rd through 6th play single games. The winners move on.
- The two winners then join the 1st and 2nd ranked teams. They play two-legged games over two weeks.
- The two winners of those games then meet in the Grand Final.
Before 2022, the team that finished higher in the regular season usually hosted the Grand Final. But sometimes, if their home stadium was too small, the game would be moved. For example, in 2008, the Central Coast Mariners played their Grand Final in Sydney. Their home stadium was too small for the big event.
In December 2022, the APL announced that Sydney would host the Grand Finals for three seasons. This decision caused a lot of upset among fans. So, in October 2023, the APL changed its mind. The Grand Final hosting rights went back to the original format. Instead, the new "Unite Round" was introduced.
Grand Final Host Stadiums
| 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 |
Playing in Asia
AFC Champions League
A-League clubs can play in the AFC Champions League every season. This is a big competition for clubs in Asia. The Wellington Phoenix team cannot play in this league because they are from New Zealand, which is not part of the Asian Football Confederation.
Teams qualify based on their league finish and the winner of the Australia Cup. The only Australian team to win the Asian Champions League is Western Sydney Wanderers in 2014. Adelaide United also reached the final in 2008.
AFC Cup
Australia will play in the AFC Cup for the first time in the 2023–24 season. This is another Asian club competition. The winner of the 2022 Australia Cup (Macarthur FC) and Central Coast Mariners (who finished second in the 2022–23 A-League season) will play in it.
Other Competitions
A-League clubs also play in the yearly Australia Cup. This is a knock-out tournament. Since 2021, the top eight A-League teams automatically qualify for the main part of the competition.
Most A-League Men clubs also have teams in the A-League Youth competition. This league helps young players develop. Players in youth teams are usually between 16 and 21 years old. A few older players from the main team can also join. The A-League Women is the top women's league. It is also linked to the men's competition.
Clubs in the A-League
The A-League Men currently has 12 teams. Eleven are from Australia and one is from New Zealand. A total of 15 teams have played in the league's history. Only four clubs existed before the A-League started in 2004. These are Adelaide United, the Brisbane Roar, the Newcastle Jets, and the Perth Glory. Some past teams include Gold Coast United and the New Zealand Knights.
Unlike many leagues around the world, there is no system where teams move up or down divisions. This means teams stay in the A-League no matter where they finish. This is similar to how many professional sports leagues work in Australia and North America.
| 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 |
| Brisbane Roar | Brisbane | Queensland | Suncorp Stadium | 52,500 | 1957 | 2005 | Ruben Zadkovich |
 Tom Aldred |
| Central Coast Mariners | Gosford | New South Wales | Industree Group Stadium | 20,059 | 2004 | 2005 |  Mark Jackson |
Danny Vukovic |
| Macarthur FC | Campbelltown | New South Wales | Campbelltown Stadium | 17,500 | 2017 | 2020 | Mile Sterjovski |
 Ulises Dávila |
| Melbourne City | Melbourne | Victoria | AAMI Park | 30,050 | 2009 | 2010 | Aurelio Vidmar |
Jamie Maclaren |
| Melbourne Victory | Melbourne | Victoria | AAMI Park | 30,050 | 2004 | 2005 | Tony Popovic |
 Roderick Miranda |
| Newcastle Jets | Newcastle | New South Wales | McDonald Jones Stadium | 30,000 | 2000 | 2005 | Robert Stanton |
Brandon O’Neill |
| Perth Glory | Perth | Western Australia | HBF Park | 20,500 | 1995 | 2005 | Alen Stajcic |
Mark Beevers Adam Taggart |
| Sydney FC | Sydney | New South Wales | Allianz Stadium | 42,500 | 2004 | 2005 | Ufuk Talay |
Luke Brattan |
| Wellington Phoenix | Wellington | Wellington (New Zealand) | Sky Stadium | 34,500 | 2007 | 2007 | Giancarlo Italiano |
 Alex Rufer |
| Western Sydney Wanderers | Sydney | New South Wales | CommBank Stadium | 30,000 | 2012 | 2012 | Marko Rudan |
 Marcelo |
| Western United | Wyndham | Victoria | Wyndham Regional Football Facility | 5,000 | 2017 | 2019 | John Aloisi |
Josh Risdon |
| Future clubs | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | City | State | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | Joined | |
| Auckland FC | Auckland | Auckland (New Zealand) | Mount Smart Stadium | 25,000 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Canberra | Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | 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 | New Zealand | North Harbour Stadium | 22,000 | 1998 | 2005 | 2007 |
| North Queensland Fury | Townsville | Queensland | Dairy Farmers Stadium | 26,500 | 2008 | 2009 | 2011 |
Timeline of Clubs
League member Former member Future member
Future Expansion
The A-League always looks to grow. They want to add more teams in the future. The first eight clubs had special deals for their cities. But this didn't stop new teams from other areas joining.
Leaders of the league have talked about adding teams in many different cities. These include Canberra, Hobart, and Auckland. In 2018, it was announced that the league would grow to 12 teams. Western United joined in 2019. Macarthur FC joined in 2020.
In 2023, the APL confirmed plans for two more teams. These new clubs will be based in Canberra and Auckland. They are expected to join for the 2024–25 season. In October 2023, a businessman named Bill Foley was confirmed as the owner for the new Auckland team.
Big Rivalries
The A-League has many exciting rivalries between teams. These are often called "derbies."
- "Melbourne Derby" – Melbourne City vs Melbourne Victory
* These two Melbourne clubs first played in 2010. Melbourne City (then called Melbourne Heart) won 2-1. Melbourne Victory had been in the league longer and was more successful. This rivalry is very strong. It creates a great atmosphere and draws big crowds.
- "The Original Rivalry" – Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory
* This rivalry comes from the traditional sports competition between South Australia and Victoria. It became even stronger after some big moments in the 2006–07 season. These two teams played in the 2007 and 2009 Grand Finals. Melbourne won both times.
- "Sydney Derby" – Sydney FC vs Western Sydney Wanderers
* This derby started in the 2012–13 season. This was when the Western Sydney Wanderers joined the league. Sydney FC won the first derby 1-0. But the Wanderers won the next game 2-0. A Sydney Derby in 2015 broke the attendance record for a regular season game at Allianz Stadium. In 2016, a match between them set a new A-League crowd record with 61,880 fans.
- "The Big Blue" – Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FC
* This match is called "The Big Blue" because both teams wear blue. It's also Australian slang for a big fight or contest. This rivalry is strong because of many intense games. It also comes from the long-standing competition between Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's two biggest cities. They have played each other in three Grand Finals. A "Big Blue" game is often played on Australia Day each year.
- "The F3 Derby" – Central Coast Mariners vs Newcastle Jets
* This derby is named after the freeway that connects Newcastle and Gosford. These are the only two A-League clubs not based in capital cities. Their stadiums are only an hour apart. The rivalry grew when they competed for the premiership in 2007–08. They even met in the 2008 Grand Final, which the Jets won 1-0. Since 2022, they play for a special trophy made from a piece of the motorway.
- "The Distance Derby" – Perth Glory vs Wellington Phoenix
* This game is known for being one of the longest away trips in world football. The distance between Perth and Wellington (in different countries) is 5,225 km! Since 2015–16, these two teams play for the "Long Distance Derby Cup." This cup goes to the team with the best results from their regular season games.
How the League is Run
Logos and Trophies
The current A-League logo was revealed in 2017. It is part of a bigger rebranding for the A-League and its related competitions. The logo's design is inspired by football's atmosphere, diversity, and unity. It has different colors for each of the 12 A-League clubs. The first A-League logo was designed in 2005. Its colors represented the sun, earth, and desert. The eight 'A' shapes in the ball represented the eight founding clubs.
The A-League has two main trophies: the Premier's Plate and the A-League Trophy.
- The Premier's Plate is given to the A-League Premiers. This is the team that finishes first in the regular season.
- The A-League Trophy is given to the A-League Champions. This is the team that wins the Grand Final.
Both trophies were designed by D3 Design. The A-League Trophy is sometimes nicknamed the "Toilet Seat" because of its shape. When it was first shown in 2005, the league wanted a new kind of trophy. They wanted it to show the league's modern style. The design was inspired by the ancient Olympic Games. Winners there received a laurel wreath. The trophy is a modern version of that wreath.
Team Rules and Player Pay
An A-League team must have at least 20 players. They can have up to 26.
- Teams can have a maximum of five "foreign" players. These are players from outside Australia (and New Zealand for Wellington Phoenix).
- Three players in the squad must be under 20 years old.
- Clubs can sign three more young players to full-time contracts. These players get paid less than the main squad.
A-League clubs have rules about how much they can spend on player salaries. This is called a "salary cap." However, each club can have two "marquee" players. Their salaries do not count towards the cap. This allows clubs to sign famous or very talented players. Clubs can also have "guest players" for up to 14 games. Their salaries are also exempt.
Famous marquee players who have played in the A-League include Alessandro Del Piero, William Gallas, and Keisuke Honda. Well-known Australian marquee players include Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill.
Since the 2021–22 season, the league added a "designated player" spot. Their salary is also exempt from the cap. For the 2022–23 season, clubs could have two designated players.
There are also rules to help clubs keep players for a long time. If a player has been at a club for 5-10 years, part of their salary might not count towards the cap. This is called a "loyalty player allowance."
The salary cap for A-League clubs was $2.1 million for the 2020–21 season. Clubs must spend at least $1.7 million. The salary cap applies to most players. But the top 2 highest-paid players (Designated Players) do not count.
Stadiums
A-League games have been played in 33 different stadiums since 2005.
Sponsors
The A-League has always had a main sponsor. From 2004 to 2020, Hyundai Motor Company was the sponsor. The league was known as the "Hyundai A-League."
In 2020, Bunnings Warehouse became a major sponsor. Then, in October 2021, Isuzu UTE became the new naming rights partner. They signed a 3-year deal. So, the league is now called the Isuzu UTE A-League.
| Period | Sponsor | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2005/06–2019/20 | Hyundai | Hyundai A-League |
| 2020/21 | No title sponsor | A-League |
| 2021/22–2023/24 | Isuzu UTE | Isuzu UTE A-League |
League Championships
As of the 2022–23 season, 14 different clubs have played in the A-League. Eight of these clubs have won the Grand Final trophy. Eight clubs have also won at least one Premier's Plate. Five clubs have won both the Premiership and Championship in the same season. This has happened 10 times.
Remember:
- The 'Premier' is the winner of the regular season.
- The 'Champion' is the winner of the Grand Final.
| 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) | 17 |
| Melbourne Victory | 4 | 2007, 2009, 2015, 2018 | 3 | 2006–07, 2008–09, 2014–15 | 7 | 3 (2007, 2009, 2015) | 17 |
| Brisbane Roar | 3 | 2011, 2012, 2014 | 2 | 2010–11, 2013–14 | 5 | 2 (2011, 2014) | 17 |
| Central Coast Mariners | 2 | 2013, 2023 | 3 | 2007–08, 2011–12, 2023–24 | 5 | 17 | |
| Melbourne City | 1 | 2021 | 3 | 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23 | 4 | 1 (2021) | 13 |
| Adelaide United | 1 | 2016 | 2 | 2005–06, 2015–16 | 3 | 1 (2016) | 17 |
| Newcastle Jets | 1 | 2008 | 0 | – | 1 | 17 | |
| Western United | 1 | 2022 | 0 | – | 1 | 3 | |
| Western Sydney Wanderers | 0 | – | 1 | 2012–13 | 1 | 10 | |
| Perth Glory | 0 | – | 1 | 2018–19 | 1 | 17 | |
| Macarthur FC | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 2 | |
| Wellington Phoenix | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 15 |
League Records
Brisbane Roar holds the record for the longest unbeaten run. They went 36 league matches without losing!
Jamie Maclaren has scored the most goals in A-League history, with 151 goals. He played for Perth Glory, Brisbane Roar, and Melbourne City.
The record for most goals in a single match is 5 goals. This was achieved by:
- Archie Thompson for Melbourne Victory against Adelaide United in 2007.
- Jamie Maclaren for Melbourne City against Melbourne Victory in 2021.
Jamie Maclaren also holds the record for the most hat-tricks (scoring three goals in one game) with 8.
Shane Smeltz and Bobô are the only players to score hat-tricks in two games in a row.
Henrique is the only player to score a hat-trick after coming on as a substitute. He did this for Brisbane Roar against Newcastle Jets.
In 2015, Austrian player Marc Janko set a record by scoring in seven games in a row for Sydney FC.
Media Coverage
In Australia
From 2005 to 2013, A-League games in Australia were only shown on the subscription channel Fox Sports.
In 2012, the free-to-air TV network SBS also started showing games. They shared the rights with Fox Sports.
SBS stopped showing games in 2017. Then, Network Ten started broadcasting one game a weekend. This game was shown on their digital channel 10 Bold.
From 2019, ABC TV broadcast one live game each Saturday. They also showed some finals matches and the Grand Final later.
Since August 2021, the A-Leagues are broadcast by Network 10 and the Paramount+ streaming service. Paramount+ streams all matches. Two matches per weekend are also shown on 10 Bold.
Other Countries
In New Zealand, the league has been shown on Sky Sport since it began.
The A-League is shown in many countries around the world. In 2013–14, it was broadcast in 65 countries. Full games are available in places like the United States, China, and the UK. Highlights can be seen in many Asian and Middle Eastern countries.
In 2014, a deal with Sony TEN allowed the league to be shown live in several Asian nations. Every A-League match is also streamed live online. This allows games to be watched globally through a subscription service. Most games in the United Kingdom are shown by BT Sport. By the 2014–15 season, the A-League was broadcast in 173 countries.
Promoting the League
The A-League has used different slogans and advertising campaigns. For the first season, a big advertising campaign was launched. The theme was: "Football, but not as you know it."
A new TV ad was made for the 2007–08 season. Other campaigns included "90 minutes, 90 emotions." This was used from 2007 to 2009. It featured the music track "My People" by The Presets.
Current Broadcasters
| Seasons | Pay | FTA |
|---|---|---|
| 2005–13 | Fox Sports | None |
| 2013–17 | SBS | |
| 2017–19 | One | |
| 2019–21 | ABC | |
| 2021–24 | Paramount+ | 10 and 10 Bold |
Broadcasters for the 2023–24 season are:
| Territory | Network |
|---|---|
| Australia |
Network 10 |
| Paramount+ | |
| New Zealand |
Sky Open |
| Sky Sport | |
| Pacific Islands | Australia TV |
| Pasifika TV | |
| International | Sport24 (in-flight and ship only) |
| YouTube (unsold markets only) | |
 Austria |
Sportdigital |
 Germany |
|
 Switzerland |
|
 Brunei |
Astro SuperSport |
 Malaysia |
|
 China |
China Sports Media |
 Fiji |
Fiji TV |
 Finland |
Veikkaus TV |
 Ghana |
Sporty TV |
 Liberia |
|
 Nigeria |
|
 Hong Kong |
MYTV Super |
| Indian subcontinent | FanCode |
 Indonesia |
Mola |
 Timor-Leste |
|
 Ireland |
TNT Sports |
 United Kingdom |
|
 Japan |
SPOTV |
 South Korea |
|
 Macau |
Macau Cable |
 Myanmar |
Sky Net |
 Papua New Guinea |
EMTV |
 Philippines |
Premier Sports |
 Singapore |
StarHub TV |
 Thailand |
3BB TV |
 Vietnam |
VieON |
Images for kids
-
City Terrace, a fan group for Melbourne City FC, protesting in 2022.
-
Original Style Melbourne, a fan group for Melbourne Victory FC, protesting in 2022.
See Also
In Spanish: A-League para niños
- Australian soccer league system
- A-League Women
- A-League Youth
- E-League
- List of A-League head coaches
