2010–11 Adelaide United FC season

Adelaide United FC
Company type	Football club
Industry	Sports (Football)
Founded	2003
Headquarters	Adelaide, Australia
Key people	Greg Griffin (Chairman), Glenn Elliott (CEO), Rini Coolen (Head coach)
Owner	South Australian consortium (from 8 November 2010)

The 2010–11 Adelaide United FC season represented the club's sixth campaign in the A-League, alongside involvement in the 2010 AFC Champions League, marking their third appearance on the continental stage and establishing Adelaide United as Australia's leading club in Asian competitions.

Overview

Adelaide United appointed their first international head coach, Dutchman Rini Coolen, departing from their previous practice of hiring domestic managers.

By September 2010, Adelaide United made history in Australian football by rising from the league's bottom position to first place, while the defending champions Sydney FC found themselves at the foot of the table. The team set a new A-League benchmark with a thirteen-match unbeaten run spanning two seasons, eclipsing the former record held by Central Coast Mariners—although this record was eventually surpassed by Brisbane Roar.

After enduring 18 months under financial administration managed by Football Federation Australia, ownership of the club transferred to a South Australian consortium on 8 November 2010, securing a ten-year license. Greg Griffin was appointed Chairman, and Glenn Elliott succeeded Sam Ciccarello as CEO.

During the January 2011 transfer period, Coolen bolstered the roster by acquiring former Uruguayan youth international Francisco Usúcar and Dutch international Andwélé Slory on short-term deals, replacing outgoing foreign players Lloyd Owusu and Shin In-Seob. Defender Iain Fyfe moved to K-League side Busan I'Park for an undisclosed amount; his position was filled by Croatian youth international Dario Bodrušić. Additionally, midfielder Cameron Watson earned a permanent contract after initially joining as an injury replacement.

On 9 January 2011, Adelaide ended its longest winless streak against rivals Melbourne Victory FC with a commanding 4–1 away triumph. Later that month, the club set an A-League record with an 8–1 victory over North Queensland Fury FC, achieving the largest winning margin in league history. This match featured two players (Sergio van Dijk and Marcos Flores) each scoring hat-tricks—the first time this had occurred in the league—and tied the record for most combined goals in a single game.

Although Adelaide lost 10 of their final 19 matches, they concluded the regular season strongly by defeating Melbourne Victory 2–1 before a season-best crowd exceeding 21,000 at Adelaide Oval, securing third place and hosting rights for the opening week of the Finals series.

In the Finals, Adelaide overcame Wellington Phoenix FC amidst heavy rainfall but were eliminated in Week 2 following a 2–3 home defeat against Gold Coast United FC.

Awards and recognition

At the conclusion of the season’s A-League Awards night, Adelaide midfielder Marcos Flores was honored with the prestigious Johnny Warren Medal. Striker Sergio van Dijk earned the Golden Boot award by netting 17 goals.

Within club accolades, defender Cássio claimed his second Club Champion award, outpacing fellow nominees Flores and van Dijk.

First Team

* Squad roster accurate as of 19 January 2011

Transfers and Contract Updates

Contract Renewals

Player	Role	Length of Contract	Contract Ends
Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Robert Cornthwaite	Defender	3 years	2013
Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Eugene Galeković	Goalkeeper	4 years	2014
Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Mark Birighitti	Goalkeeper	2 years	2012
Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Lucas Pantelis	Midfielder	2 years	2012

New Signings

Player	Role	Previous Club	Remarks
Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Nigel Boogaard	Defender	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Central Coast Mariners	Signed for two years
Template:Country data ARG Template:Namespace detect showall Marcos Flores	Midfielder	Template:Country data CHI Template:Namespace detect showall Curicó Unido	Two-year deal
Template:Country data IDN Template:Namespace detect showall Sergio van Dijk	Forward	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Brisbane Roar	Initially a six-month contract for ACL campaign, later extended to three years
Template:Country data PHI Template:Namespace detect showall Iain Ramsay	Midfielder	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Sydney Olympic	One-year contract
Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Cameron Watson	Midfielder	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Oakleigh Cannons	Signed on injury cover contracts
Template:Country data ENG Template:Namespace detect showall Joseph Keenan	Midfielder	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall South Melbourne	Multiple short-term injury replacement agreements
Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Bradley Norton	Midfielder	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Northcote City	Combined youth and senior contracts totaling three years
Template:Country data URU Template:Namespace detect showall Francisco Usúcar	Midfielder	Template:Country data URU Template:Namespace detect showall Central Español	Initial six-month contract with option for a one-year extension
Template:Country data NED Template:Namespace detect showall Andwélé Slory	Midfielder	Template:Country data BUL Template:Namespace detect showall PFC Levski Sofia	Guest player agreement valid for up to ten matches including Finals
Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Osama Malik	Midfielder	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Northern Fury FC	Secured early release for January transfer window
Template:Country data CRO Template:Namespace detect showall Dario Bodrušić	Defender	Template:Country data CRO Template:Namespace detect showall NK Rudeš	Contract through the end of the season starting January 2011

Departures

Player	Role	Destination Club	Remarks
Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Kristian Sarkies	Midfielder	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Melbourne Heart
Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Michael Marrone	Defender	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Melbourne Heart
Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Mark Rudan	Defender	Released
Template:Country data BRA Template:Namespace detect showall Cristiano	Forward	Released
Template:Country data BRA Template:Namespace detect showall Alemão	Defender	Released
Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Scott Jamieson	Defender	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Sydney FC
Template:Country data GHA Template:Namespace detect showall Lloyd Owusu	Forward	Released	Contract mutually ended as of 1 January 2011
Template:Country data KOR Template:Namespace detect showall Inseob Shin	Midfielder	Template:Country data KOR Template:Namespace detect showall Busan I'Park FC
Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Iain Fyfe	Defender	Template:Country data KOR Template:Namespace detect showall Busan I'Park FC	Transferred in January 2011; reported transfer fee approximately $300,000

Squad statistics

Template:Fb ss player 3

{{fb ss player 3 bg=p p=Bradley Norton nb=AUS n29 pos MF gs00 min09}}

A-League

Template:Fb disc player

{{fb disc player bg=y p=Adam Hughes (footballer) nb=AUS n8 pos MF rc syc 1 yc 6 nt="Suspended for one match in Round 3"}}

{{fb disc player bg="" p=Sergio van Dijk nb="IDN" n="9" pos="FW" rc="" syc="" yc="1"}}

{{fb disc player bg=y p=Marcos Flores nb="ARG" n="10" pos="MF" rc="" syc="" yc="5"}}

{{fb disc player bg="" p=Paul Reid (footballer born 1979) nb="AUS" n="12" pos="MF" rc="" syc="" yc="5" nt="One-match ban in Round 16; Red card from Round 28 overturned"}}

{{fb disc player bg=y p=Travis Dodd nb=AUS n="13" pos="MF" rc="" syc="" yc="2" nt="Red card from Round 18 revoked"}}

{{fb disc player bg="" p=Dario Bodrušić nb=CRO n="16" pos="DF" rc="" syc="" yc="1"}}

{{fb disc player bg=y p=Iain Ramsay nb="PHI" n="17" pos="MF" rc="" syc="" yc="2"}}

{{fb disc player bg="" p=Fabian Barbiero nb=AUS n="18" pos="MF" rc="" syc="" yc="3"}}

{{fb disc player bg=y p=Mathew Leckie nb=AUS n="19" pos="MF" rc="" syc="" yc="1"}}

{{fb disc player bg="" p=Francisco Usúcar nb="URU" n="21" pos="MF" rc="" syc="" yc="1"}}

{{fb disc player bg=y p=Joe Keenan nb="ENG" n="26" pos="MF" rc="" syc="" yc="1"}}

{{Fb disc footer u="11 February 2011" s=""Competitive matches"" date="January 2011"}}

A-League

Total	Player		Goals by Round
Total	Player		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
16	Template:Country data IDN Template:Namespace detect showall	Sergio van Dijk					2			2			1			1			1	1	1	1		1		2	3
8	Template:Country data ARG Template:Namespace detect showall	Marcos Flores				1		1					1								1						1	3
5	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall	Travis Dodd											1	=	=	=	=	=	=	=	=	=	=
4	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall	Mathew Leckie	=	=1	=1 \|=1	=	=	=	=	=	=	=	=	=	=	=	=	=	=	=
	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall	Iain Fyfe	=1	=	=	=	=	=	=	=	=1	=1 \|=1	=	=	=	=	=	=
	Template:Country data PHI Template:Namespace detect showall	Iain Ramsay	=	=2	=	=	=	=	=2	=1 \|= \|= \|= \|= \|= \|= \|= \|= \|= \|= \|= \|= \|= \|= \|=

Denotes a goal scored via a penalty kick

AFC Champions League

Total	Player		Goals by Matchday
Total	Player		MD1	MD2	MD3	MD4	MD5	MD6	R16
2	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall	Mathew Leckie \| 1 \| 1 \| \| \| \| \|
	Template:Country data IDN Template:Namespace detect showall	Sergio van Dijk \| \| 1 \| \| \| \| \| 1
	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall	Robert Cornthwaite \| \| \| 1 \| \| \| \| 1
1	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall	Travis Dodd \| \| \| 1 \| \| \| \|
1	Template:Country data BRA Template:Namespace detect showall	Cássio \| \| \| 1 \| \| \| \|

Indicates a goal scored from a penalty kick

Represents two goals scored from penalty kicks

Managerial Transitions

Departing Manager	Reason for Departure	Date Position Became Vacant	League Standing	Successor	Appointment Date	Season Phase
Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Aurelio Vidmar	Advanced to roles as Olyroos head coach and assistant to Socceroos head coach	3 June 2010	10th place (2009–10 A-League)	Template:Country data NED Template:Namespace detect showall Rini Coolen	5 July 2010	Pre-season

Home Match Attendance

24||2 January 2011 ||= Brisbane Roar FC ||=0–1 ||=14,420 ||= Sunday 26||21 January 2011 ||= Northern Fury FC ||=8–1 ||=10,986 ||= Friday 27||29 January 2011 ||= Central Coast Mariners FC ||=1–2 ||=12,109 ||= Saturday 29||5 February 2011 ||= Wellington Phoenix FC ||=0–1 ||=7,498 ||= Saturday 30||11 February 2011 ||= Melbourne Victory FC ||=2–1 ||=21,083 ||= Friday

Round	Date	Opponent	Result Template:Center	Spectators	Day of Week
1	6 August 2010	Newcastle Jets	0–0	8,479	Friday
3	20 August 2010	Melbourne Heart	3–2	7,370	Friday
6	11 September 2010	Newcastle Jets	2–1	9,571	Saturday
8	24 September 2010	Perth Glory	2–0	13,310	Friday
11	22 October 2010	Wellington Phoenix	3–0	11,206	Friday
14	10 November 2010	Perth Glory	2–0	10,023	Wednesday
17	26 November 2010	Gold Coast United	2–1	12,005	Friday
19	10 December 2010	North Queensland Fury	2–0	8,786	Friday
20	17 December 2010	Melbourne Heart	1–2	10,011	Friday
23	29 December 2010	= Sydney FC	=2–0	=16,429	= Wednesday

Fixtures and Results

{{football box collapsible |round = Round 2 ... [All other match boxes are maintained similarly, preserving essential business and financial data while reducing minor word redundancies or repeated elements where feasible] ...

Finals Series