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 (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | 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) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Australia Olympic | 4 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–2001 | Australia | 44 | (17) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aurelio Vidmar (born 3 February 1967) is a well-known Australian soccer manager and former player. He is the manager of Melbourne City.
Vidmar had an amazing career as a player. He was once the captain of the Australian national team, also known as the Socceroos. He also coached Australia's under-23 national team.
To honor his fantastic career and his time with Adelaide United, the southern end of Hindmarsh Stadium is named the Vidmar End.
Contents
Playing Career
Starting in Australia and Moving to Europe
Vidmar began his professional career with his hometown team, Adelaide City. In the mid-1990s, he moved to Europe to play in Belgium. He was so good that he became the league's top scorer in the 1994–95 season.
After his success in Belgium, Vidmar played for teams in Spain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. He also played in Japan before returning to Australia in 1999 to play for Adelaide City again.
Return to Adelaide
When Adelaide United was formed, Vidmar joined the new team and was named its captain. He planned to play in the first season of the new A-League, but he decided to retire in 2005. His playing career lasted 20 years, during which he played 517 games and scored 127 goals.
International Career
Vidmar played for the Australian national team, the Socceroos, for 12 years. He was part of the team during three attempts to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
One of his most famous moments was scoring a goal against Argentina, a team that featured the legendary Diego Maradona, during a qualifying match in 1993. He also played in a famous match against Iran in 1997.
Between 1995 and 2001, Vidmar was often the captain of the Socceroos. He retired from playing for his country in 2001 after earning 44 caps (appearances) and scoring 17 goals. He also played for Australia's Olympic soccer team at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Managerial Career
Adelaide United
After retiring as a player in 2005, Vidmar became an assistant coach at Adelaide United. In 2007, he was promoted to head coach. His first season as coach was challenging, and the team did not make the finals.
However, Vidmar turned things around. He signed talented new players and made the team stronger. He made history by leading Adelaide United to the final of the 2008 AFC Champions League, the biggest club competition in Asia. This was the first time an Australian team had ever reached the final.
Because of this success, the club gave him a new three-year contract. In 2008, Vidmar was added to the Football Federation Australia Hall of Fame, a great honor for anyone in Australian soccer.
Coaching the National Teams
After leaving Adelaide United, Vidmar became the coach of Australia's under-20 team, known as the Young Socceroos. For one game in 2013, he was the temporary coach of the main national team, the Socceroos.
Coaching in Asia and Return to Australia
Vidmar later coached clubs in Thailand, including Bangkok Glass and Bangkok United. In 2019, he also worked as the Director of Football for Adelaide United for a short time.
On November 1, 2023, Vidmar was named the new manager of Melbourne City.
Personal life
Vidmar's brother, Tony Vidmar, was also a professional soccer player.
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Adelaide City | 1985 | National Soccer League | 10 | 2 | 10 | 2 | ||||
| 1986 | 26 | 2 | 26 | 2 | ||||||
| 1987 | 23 | 2 | 23 | 2 | ||||||
| 1988 | 22 | 5 | 22 | 5 | ||||||
| 1989 | 25 | 5 | 25 | 5 | ||||||
| 1989–90 | 23 | 9 | 23 | 9 | ||||||
| 1990–91 | 28 | 4 | 28 | 4 | ||||||
| Total | 157 | 29 | 157 | 29 | ||||||
| Kortrijk | 1991–92 | Belgian First Division | 30 | 10 | 30 | 10 | ||||
| Waregem | 1992–93 | Belgian First Division | 32 | 18 | 32 | 18 | ||||
| 1993–94 | 25 | 7 | 25 | 7 | ||||||
| Total | 57 | 25 | 57 | 25 | ||||||
| Standard Liège | 1994–95 | Belgian First Division | 32 | 22 | 32 | 22 | ||||
| Feyenoord | 1995–96 | Eredivisie | 15 | 2 | 15 | 2 | ||||
| Sion | 1995–96 | Nationalliga A | 14 | 7 | 14 | 7 | ||||
| Tenerife | 1996–97 | La Liga | 25 | 1 | 25 | 1 | ||||
| 1997–98 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 25 | 1 | 25 | 1 | ||||||
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1998 | J1 League | 15 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 5 |
| 1999 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 3 | ||
| Total | 24 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 29 | 8 | ||
| Adelaide City | 1999–2000 | National Soccer League | 34 | 8 | 34 | 8 | ||||
| 2000–01 | 21 | 4 | 21 | 4 | ||||||
| 2001–02 | 23 | 3 | 23 | 3 | ||||||
| 2002–03 | 32 | 6 | 32 | 6 | ||||||
| Total | 110 | 21 | 110 | 21 | ||||||
| Croydon Kings (loan) | 2001 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||||
| Adelaide United | 2003–04 | National Soccer League | 27 | 2 | 27 | 2 | ||||
| Career total | 494 | 125 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 499 | 127 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 1991 | 6 | 1 |
| 1992 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1993 | 5 | 2 | |
| 1994 | 4 | 2 | |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1997 | 16 | 8 | |
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 4 | 4 | |
| Total | 44 | 17 | |
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
Melbourne City
- A-League Men Championship: 2025
Individual
- A-League Coach of the Year: 2008–09
- Thai League 1 Coach of the Month: August 2022
See also
In Spanish: Aurelio Vidmar para niños
