Besart Berisha is the greatest goal scorer in the A-League era, maybe even Australian football. The first player in the A-League to score 100 goals, the only player to win multiple Golden Boots.
Archie Thompson and Shane Smeltz have similar figures but spent almost twice as much time in the league as Berisha.
But the purpose of this article is to calculate when or if someone will usurp Berisha as the A-League’s best goal scorer.
Firstly, let’s look at the top ten goal scorers in A-League history:
Besart Berisha 102
Shane Smeltz 92
Archie Thompson 90
Alex Brosque 63
Mark Bridge 58
Jamie Maclaren 51
Sergio van Dijk 50
Bruce Djite 45
Matt Simon 44
Carlos Hernandez 43
While he is yet to score so far this season, the Kosovo international remains ten goals ahead of the inactive, second-placed Smeltz.
In fact, only three other players in the top ten are active. Matt Simon, who hasn’t scored in 33 matches, Mark Bridge, who hasn’t scored in 11 matches and just got back from a stint overseas, and Alex Brosque, who is still 39 goals behind.
Brosque is coming off his best A-League goal-scoring season (11 in 2016-17), but he recently turned 34 and will have to score 20 goals in the next two seasons to reach 100. In the meantime, Berisha will still, presumably, be banging in the goals, increasing his tally.
Jamie Maclaren looked to be on trajectory, scoring 51 goals in a little over three seasons. However, his move to the Bundesliga’s second division means he is still 51 goals behind Berisha and that margin will have increased if he returns to the A-League.
Bruno Fornaroli could easily become the second player to score 100 goals in the A-League. He is just behind Carlos Hernandez with 42 goals, all of which he scored in two seasons.
If he scores 20 goals in every season he plays then it won’t take long to reach 100, but he has a lot of ground to cover and won’t likely return from injury until December.
At 30 years of age, he could still be around for a few years, but will that be enough to become the competition’s greatest goal scorer? Probably not.
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What about up-and-coming players?
Adam Taggart is only 24 but already has 33 goals to his name. If he can return to the form that won him the Golden Boot in 2013-14, which eventually led to a move overseas and a spot at the World Cup (he scored 16 goals that season), he could potentially overtake Berisha.
Other than Taggart and Fornaroli, no other player is scoring enough goals or will spend enough time in the A-League to overtake Berisha.
Of course, they all still have to compete with the three-time championship winner.
So let’s look into a dystopian future, where the FFA have expanded the league and – for the sake of argument – it’s the same 20-team format as the Premier League, where there are strikers scoring 20 to 25 goals a season.
But by the time Berisha retires, he could have as many as 175 goals. Even with the example used, this would take approximately six seasons to match.
Someday, someone will usurp Berisha as the highest goalscoring player in the A-League – as Sydney FC proved last season, records are made to be broken.
But Besart Berisha will remain the greatest goal scorer in A-League history for decades to come.
Squizz
Guest
Besart Berisha is the greatest goal scorer in the A-League era, maybe even Australian football. I cannot agree with the last part of this. Damien Mori scored 229 NSL goals for Adelaide City and Glory and added 29 Socceroos goals in 45 matches. He then in his later years (over 35) scored 15 goals in 36 A-League matches for Mariners, Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory, He was also Golden Boot on 5 separate occasions When Bes has scored 244 goals we can start talking but he certainly is making a strong case.
Waz
Guest
I doubt it jb. Much as he's respected his style requires a compromise the current coaching staff are unable/unwilling to make. But his goal scoring record whilst at Roar (40 goals in 53 games) would make it a compelling proposition for most fans.
Josh Barton
Roar Pro
As a Sydney FC fan, I must grudgingly admit I would love to have him on board. He's the perfect fit for any system - he has great defensive work rate, has more than enough skill to beat a man, and has that poachers eye for goal. He's a defensive forward, poacher and target man all rolled into one.
j,binnie
Guest
Waz - Can't help but ask the question,will he come back,if he comes back, to Roar??? Cheers jb.
punter
Guest
Plus like his boss, he plays the perfect villain. There is no doubt every club fans would love to have Berisha in their side, the passion he provides goes way beyond the goals, which when you think of the GF, on the biggest stage, he produces.
Onside
Guest
Despite Berishas record, goals alone don't define him. Never will. His work rate in attack or defense is first class. Plus he has that touch of mongrel determination. Berisha has matured over the seasons. I wish he was an Australian, having a run with the Socceroos , (and was still at Brisbane Roar)
Fadida
Guest
Good points
Fadida
Guest
I really rate him too, our best finisher
Fadida
Guest
Watching him in action he's definitely in decline, missing chances he have once taken every time and a couple of yards of pace down. He'll need 2 more seasons to get the 18 he needs, assuming he doesn't take a last big pay in the ME
punter
Guest
I think Taggert is a very good striker, hopefully a season injury free will see him back in the Socceroos setup. Really rate him.
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
I'm pretty sure they did that last season actually.
At work
Roar Rookie
Won't make 120.. What... Are you crazy... I'd put him at $1.40 odds to beat 120 goals over the rest of his A League career
At work
Roar Rookie
Pretty bloody good strike rate over 6 seasons. I expect he'll get another 15+ goals this season.
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
If Taggart he keeps banging in the goals i think he'll leave again, though i hope we can keep him for another year or 2. He has the ability to make it over there i have no doubt, he had a nightmare first time round but that was due mainly to things that where out of his control.
Nemesis
Guest
"Bes has lost his mojo alright " Pretty sure I read this same comment after R2 last season. Berisha was so hopeless he went on to win the Golden Boot. Has Berisha lost his mojo over the years? Here are the FACTS. Not my opinion but facts. Up to each person to form his/her own opinion based on the FACTS. https://photos.app.goo.gl/UAuOoZm1770mVFOC3 So, the average scoring for Berisha in ALeague competition is 0.65 goals per game. Goals per game comparisons Jamie MacLaren = 0.56 (4 seasons) Bruno Fornaroli = 0.75 (2 seasons: 1st season= 0.86; 2nd season = 0.63)
At work
Roar Rookie
I thought the intention a couple of years ago was to combine the A League and NSL records? I was a part time Wolves fan only and now a much bigger SydFC supporter, but there’s a lot of merit in combining the stats. That way Damien Mori would be way out in front for goals scored.
At work
Roar Rookie
I don’t think Mclaren is getting game time so agree he’ll be back and would be a decent shot at overtaking Bes. As would Taggat, since he’s left Aus and returned I wonder if he’ll play it safe and stay in Aus?? If so he’ll be a good chance of knocking over the record.
Square Nostrils
Guest
Because of his goal scoring prowess Berisha raises a few questions for me regarding the continuity of success at Australian clubs . Its fair to say at the Roar regardless of coach, Berisha popped them in, especially in crucial matches like finals and Grand Finals. He was worth a marquee spot, therefore more money , but was denied by the rules at the time. After the 2013-14 Double Berisha went to Victory as a marquee, its history that the double winning coach Mike Mulvey left after a few matches into the 14-15 season and a new makeshift coach Frans Thijssen took over with mixed success. It raises the question then, if Berisha could have been fitted in by a more flexible wage system,and stayed at the Roar, would he have left, would Mulvey had had more success and therefore a continuation of the rising crowds from the previous season in the 2014-15 season Furthermore if you err on the positive side of this question, what is the more flexible system you would implement for a Berisha type of player, so a club can hold on to him ie an import who becomes valuable to a club and has improved his stature within the league itself.
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
Not many, Smeltz won a golden boot for a fairly poor Wellington side. Taggart won a golden boot for a pretty average Jets side.
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
He does score quite a few from the spot these days as well which tends to bulk up your goal tally.