The Roar's A-League Men tips and predictions: Round 26 - the jostle for finals positions is on in earnest
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
The A-League has lost perhaps its greatest striker after Besart Berisha secured a lucrative move to Japan.
Nearly two months after hinting at a move abroad, the competition’s most prolific scorer has joined J-League leaders Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
It means the 32-year-old won’t see out the remaining season of his deal with Melbourne Victory.
But it also represents a deserved late-career payday for the Kosovo international, who’s dominated the A-League since arriving at Brisbane Roar in 2011.
He moved to Victory in 2014 to win a further two titles under coach Kevin Muscat, including this season’s shock triumph, and leaves with 116 A-League goals and two golden boots over seven seasons.
“I have very mixed emotions right now because I had an amazing time at Victory and in Australia,” Berisha said.
“It’s a little bit sad but in the end it’s the right decision for me to move on at this time.
“I have to thank the fans for always supporting me, not just in the good times but also in the difficult moments. I will always be grateful.”
Berisha’s form has been questioned intermittently during the past two seasons but the polarising marksman nearly always silenced his critics with a rampant display and scored in every one of his five grand finals except 2018.
Berisha’s future has been the source of speculation since May’s season-deciding win over Newcastle, when he strongly intimated a move might be on the cards.
“We are disappointed to be losing a player of Besart’s quality. You could always count on him to step up and deliver in the big games,” Muscat said.
“However, we understand and respect his desire to tackle a new challenge and certainly wish him all the best.”
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
Despite the short nature of his tenure as a professional manager, Arne Slot has established himself as arguably the most impressive manager outside of…
Everton won the Merseyside derby 2-0, with Toffees supporters taunting Liverpool after the game at their home ground Goodison Park.
Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have blasted a hole in Liverpool's Premier League title challenge as Everton powered their way to a priceless derby…
The real concern comes down to football's growing trend of big corporations taking up slices of the world game at the expense of smaller teams.
Round 25 was a weekend of football that had plenty of action. There were five games due to the Central Coast Mariners vs Adelaide…