With the club’s first-ever goalscorer and local hero, Carl Veart, taking charge at the helm, Adelaide United are looking to bounce back after narrowly missing the finals last season.

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Last season
A-League: 7th
Finals: Missed
FFA Cup: Champions

They’ll win the league because…

Missing the finals by a single point last season will motivate the Reds to return to the big stage for the first time since their triumph in 2016. United have added some much-needed firepower to their list, signing Socceroos Asian Cup hero, Tomi Juric, former La Liga defender, Javi Lopez, and George Timotheou, who previously played for Schalke 04. 

A change in leadership should also give the Reds a boost on their quest for a second A-League crown. New manager Carl Veart has handed the captain’s armband to local boy and A-League veteran, Stefan Mauk. Based on their quality signings and a renewed leadership group, United fans will have a lot to look forward to as they usher in a new era for the club.

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They’ll be cellar dwellers because…

While Adelaide has made some quality signings, the Reds have lost many experienced players such as Paul Izzo, Nikola Mileusnic, Riley McGree and James Troisi.

Losing a huge amount of experience could unsettle the side as United look to rebuild under a new manager. Adelaide’s defence could be the most heavily affected unit by these departures, since the club does not have a goalkeeper over the age of 22. 

Talk around the water cooler… look smart in front of your colleagues with this valuable piece of information 

The Reds have an exceptional opening game record and have only lost once in the first round since the 2012/13 season.

Western United will be looking to disrupt that streak when they host Adelaide in round one.

The off-season brought

After losing several attacking options in the form of Troisi, Mileusnic and George Blackwood, Adelaide needed a major signing to replace the talent they lost in their final third.

Luckily for United, Socceroo Juric had just finished his stint with CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria and was looking for a move back home. The inclusion of Juric will give United a target man capable of taking the league by storm. 

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Key player

Stefan Mauk. Adelaide’s newly appointed captain is an outstanding midfielder who can play box-to-box or on the right side of the park.

Mauk was presented with the A-League Young Footballer of the Year Award after the 2016/17 season and has been a star ever since. He has a relentless attack on the ball and the ability to break defensive lines with passing or pace.

One to watch

Louis D’Arrigo. A holding midfielder who will never shy away from a challenge, D’Arrigo won the Adelaide United Rising Star Award last season and has the potential to take his game to another level this year.

Even though he is only 19 years old, D’Arrigo has made over 20 A-League appearances and could be considered to represent the Socceroos if his excellent run of form carries into 2020/21. 

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INS: Joe Gauci (Melbourne City), Tomi Juric (CSKA Sofia), Javi Lopez (RCD Espanyol), Yaya Dukuly (Melbourne City), James Delianov (Western United), Domenico Costanzo (Croydon Kings), George Timotheou (Zulte Waregem)

OUTS: James Troisi, Riley McGree, Lachlan Brook, Nikola Mileusnic, Taras Gomulka, Michael Maria, Mirko Boland, Paul Izzo, George Blackwood, Kristian Opseth.

Full squad list

Head coach: Carl Veart

Goalkeepers: James Delianov, Dakota Ochsenham, Ethan Cox*, Joe Gauci*

Defenders: Jordan Elsey, Michael Jakobsen, Michael Marrone, Yared Abetew, Noah Smith*, Javi Lopez, George Timotheou

Midfielders: Stefan Mauk, Ryan Kitto, Ryan Strain, Joe Caletti, Louis D’Arrigo, Nathan Konstandopoulos 

Attackers: Tomi Juric, Al-Hassan Toure, Ben Halloran, Mohammed Toure*, Kusini Yengi, Pacifique Niyongabire, Yaya Dukuly*, Domenico Costanzo*

*denotes player on a scholarship contract

Feature image credit: Adelaide United