Aurelio Vidmar facts for kids
Vidmar in 2010
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 3 February 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Adelaide, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Attacking midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985–1991 | Adelaide City | 157 | (29) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1992 | Kortrijk | 30 | (10) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1994 | Waregem | 57 | (25) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1995 | Standard Liège | 32 | (22) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1996 | Feyenoord | 15 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Sion | 14 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1998 | Tenerife | 25 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–1999 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 24 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2003 | Adelaide City | 110 | (21) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | → Croydon Kings (loan) | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | Adelaide United | 27 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 494 | (125) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Australia Olympic | 4 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–2001 | Australia | 44 | (17) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams managed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2010 | Adelaide United | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2016 | Australia U-23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Australia U-20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Australia (caretaker) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Bangkok Glass | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | Lion City Sailors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | BG Pathum United | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Bangkok United | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023– | Melbourne City | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Aurelio Vidmar, born on February 3, 1967, is a famous Australian football (soccer) manager and a former player. He is currently the manager of Melbourne City.
He used to be the captain of Australia's national football team, known as the Socceroos. He also coached Australia's Under-23 team.
Because of his amazing career with the national team and his dedication to Adelaide United, a part of Hindmarsh Stadium is even named after him – the Vidmar End!
Contents
Playing Career
Aurelio Vidmar started his football journey with his hometown team, Adelaide City. He then moved to Europe in the mid-1990s.
Playing in Europe and Japan
Vidmar played in Belgium, where he was the top scorer in the league during the 1994–95 season. This means he scored more goals than anyone else! He also played in Spain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
Later, he played in Japan before returning to Australia in 1999. He rejoined Adelaide City.
Returning to Australia
When Adelaide United took over Adelaide City's spot in the National Soccer League, Vidmar joined them. He was made captain by the coach, John Kosmina.
Aurelio Vidmar retired from playing in 2005. He had a long career of 20 years, playing 517 games and scoring 127 goals.
International Career
Vidmar was a key player for the Australia national team for 12 years. He played in three attempts to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
He scored against Diego Maradona's Argentina in a big qualifying match in 1993. He also played in a memorable game against Iran in 1997 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Vidmar also played in the famous match where Australia beat American Samoa 31–0 in 2001, scoring two goals himself. He often captained the Socceroos between 1995 and 2001. In total, he played 44 games for Australia and scored 17 goals.
He was also chosen to play for the Australian Olympic soccer team at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Managerial Career
After retiring as a player in 2005, Vidmar became an assistant coach at Adelaide United. He was then appointed as the head coach on May 2, 2007.
Coaching Adelaide United
His first season as head coach, the 2007–08 A-League season, was a bit tough. Adelaide finished 6th, missing the finals for the first time.
However, Vidmar worked hard to improve the team. He brought in new players like Cristiano and Sasa Ognenovski. He made Adelaide's defense stronger and their attack better.
He made history by leading Adelaide to the 2008 AFC Champions League Final. This was the first time an Australian team reached such a big final! Because of this success, Adelaide United's CEO signed Vidmar for another three years.
Later Coaching Roles
Vidmar was honored by being inducted into the Football Federation Australia Football Hall of Fame in 2008. He is also in the Football Federation of South Australia Hall of Champions.
After leaving Adelaide United, Vidmar coached the Young Socceroos. He was also a temporary coach for the main Socceroos team for one match in 2013.
In 2018, he became the Director of Football for Adelaide United FC. He resigned from this role in 2019. In 2022, Vidmar coached Bangkok United in Thailand, but he resigned later that year for personal reasons.
Melbourne City
On November 1, 2023, Aurelio Vidmar was announced as the new manager for Melbourne City. He will lead the team until the end of the 2023-24 season.
Personal Life
Aurelio Vidmar has a brother named Tony Vidmar. Tony is also a former professional football player.
Honours
Player
Adelaide City
- NSL Championship: 1986
FC Sion
- Swiss Cup: 1995–96
Australia
- FIFA Confederations Cup: runner-up, 1997; 3rd place, 2001
- OFC Nations Cup: 2000
Individual
- Belgian League top scorer: 1994–95 (22 goals)
- Oceania Footballer of the Year: 1994
- Football Federation of South Australia Hall of Champions: 2008
- Football Federation Australia Hall of Fame: 2008
- South Australia Sports Hall of Fame 2019
Manager
Adelaide United
- A-League Men Championship
- Runner-up (1): 2009
- A-League Men Premiership
- Runner-up (1): 2008–09
- A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup
- Winners (1): 2007
- Runner-up (1): 2008
BG Pathum United
- Thailand Champions Cup: 2021
Individual
- A-League Coach of the Year: 2008–09
- Thai League 1 Coach of the Month: August 2022
Images for kids
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Vidmar in 2010
See also
In Spanish: Aurelio Vidmar para niños
