Last season was an exhilirating campaign for A-League fans, but the entire competition is set for a crazy ride in 2019/20.
The introduction of Western United, the debut of five new coaches and the arrival of the lethal Uruguayan Bruno Fornaroli at Perth Glory are just some of the significant stories leading into the 15th season of the A-League.
It’s too early to predict a table, but there’s plenty of intrigue behind the key headlines leading into next season.
Perth Glory
Battle-hardened with a new superstar
The grand final penalty shootout loss to Sydney FC was a heartbreaking way to end last season.
After 27 rounds and a semi-final of dominance under the guardianship of manager Tony Popovic, Glory fell in the most dramatic circumstances in front of a record 56,371 fans at Optus Stadium.
Despite the disappointment, it marked a move from eighth place in 2017/18 to eight points clear as premiers in the space of just 12 months.
Next season is shaping up to be even more solid for Perth. The marquee introduction of Bruno Fornaroli is set to send shivers down the spines of rival clubs. The Uruguayan has bagged 48 goals in just 70 matches in Australia’s top division.
Glory have also retained the vast majority of its premiership-winning squad, including the magical Diego Castro.
It all begins on July 13 with a glamour friendly against English giants Manchester United at Optus Stadium.
The club will be chasing four trophies in 2019/20 – the FFA Cup, a back-to-back Hyundai A-League premierships, the coveted championship as well as the long-awaited AFC Champions League.
If it all comes together, we could be set for one of the club’s most special seasons in its 24-year history.
Western United
The league’s newest dark horse
Armed with a war chest of big signings and one of the country’s best up-and-coming managers, Western United will be no pushovers next season.
The Melbourne club will be a tough nut to crack, with a talented centre-back trio of Ersan Gulum, Aaron Calver and Connor Chapman backed up by 2018/19 goalkeeper of the year Filip Kurto.
The rest of the squad oozes creativity. Ajax academy product Sebastian Pasquali and Wellington Phoenix breakout star Max Burgess provide energy in midfield, with Socceroo Josh Risdon at right back.
They’re led by Greek midfielder Panagiotis Kone. The marquee midfielder’s playing style is similar to that of Milos Ninkovic.
On the wings, Valentino Yuel and Connor Pain will provide pace, spearheaded by the experienced head of ex-Celtic striker Scott McDonald. Expect more big signings to come.
Expect the A-League new boys to possess a fighting spirit, ingrained by charismatic head coach Mark Rudan. Underestimate Western United at your peril.
Melbourne Victory
The Big V are going to feel different
No Kevin Muscat. No Keisuke Honda. No Carl Valeri. Rumours of Kosta Barbarouses moving on and John Aloisi at the helm. Things could look very different at Melbourne Victory in 2019/20.
But Victory have a track record of stability and strong succession management. The Navy Blue won’t slide down the A-League table – they’ve retained star striker Ola Toivonen and the majority of their high-quality squad after finishing third last season.
Sydney FC
Corica to shape fresh Sky Blues squad
Last season may have been a championship campaign for Sydney, but that hasn’t stopped Steve Corica from axing 12 names from his squad.
International stars Jop van der Linden, Siem de Jong and Reza Ghoochannejhad have moved on, midfielder Josh Brillante has been released, captain Alex Brosque has retired, while loanees Anthony Caceres and Danny De Silva depart. There’s major squad surgery ahead for the Sky Blues.
With a lot of room for signings, expected a reloaded, more talented Sydney FC to take the field in 2019/20.
(Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)
Brisbane Roar
Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler leads new era
What a footballer Robbie Fowler was, with goals and creativity to earn the nickname ‘God’.
But can he replicate it as a manager? He’ll have to recruit well – Jamie Young and Dylan Wenzel-Halls are the stars right now, but need more around them. As for style, it’s hard to predict how Brisbane will play next season.
Let’s see how far Fowler’s clout can take his recruitment – the Roar were linked with Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge. Maybe for a revered Merseyside legend, it’s not as audacious a stretch as we think.
Western Sydney Wanderers
New dawn at Bankwest Stadium
It feels like the Western Sydney Wanderers are launching all over again, returning to their spiritual home of Parramatta ahead of their long awaited 2019/20 season.
The Red and Black have moved on both marquees – Oriol Riera and Alexander Baumjohann – and have been linked with a mind-blowing move for Bayern Munich legend Franck Ribery.
The Wanderers also released a large part of their squad immediately after the conclusion of the 2018/19 campaign.
There’s a strong chance the Wanderers will be the big improvers of next season. Can coach Markus Babbel pull it off?
Melbourne City
Proving to be a bit of an enigma
How do we even analyse City?
Currently they have no coach – although there are rumours of Marco Kurz taking the reins – and most of their stars from last season had their loan deals expire at the end of the season.
There’s no guessing what the Melbourne outfit will be next season. There’s a core worth building on – Jamie Maclaren, Scott Jamieson and Bart Schenkeveld on their day are some of the league’s best footballers.
With Western United debuting in town, City must act quick to keep up with the Melbourne clubs.
(Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)
Newcastle Jets
Is stability enough?
Of all the clubs, perhaps Newcastle are the most stable after Perth Glory.
The Jets endured a sluggish start to 2018/19 before a resurgence almost saw them sneak into sixth place at the end of the season.
Is the same squad enough for the Jets? There’s no reason why they can’t replicate their 2017/18 grand final season, although they severely missed the presence of Andrew Nabbout last campaign.
If the Jets can find success in one or two creators, they could be a real dark horse.
Central Coast Mariners
Trust in Stajcic
A resounding sense of belief in the coach is the mantra for the Mariners in 2019/20.
Alen Stajcic galvanised a hapless Mariners squad when he took the reins at the end of last season. This year, he gets the opportunity to shape the squad with a full pre-season under his belt.
There’s a lot of work to do for the ex-Matildas coach. It’s integral he sets a fearless culture in his side and recruits well – the Gosford-based side were flattened last campaign. Will they become the rigid, hard-to-break-down side they once were?
Wellington Phoenix
It’s Groundhog Day for the Nix
Young and unproven coach. Big recruitment job ahead. Key players departing for Melbourne. You could be forgiven for thinking it’s pre-season 2018, because not much has changed.
Instead of Mark Rudan, it’s Ufuk Talay at the helm and it’s hard to say how the ex-Sydney assistant will fare.
Recruitment will be telling. Thankfully, Newcastle United legend Steve Taylor and teenage sensation Sarpreet Singh are the big retentions.
The Nix at their gritty best are a headache for anyone in the league, although Talay will have to replace the massive hole left by the 2018/19 Johnny Warren Medallist and Golden Boot winner Roy Krishna. Long time to go before we can judge the New Zealanders.
Adelaide United
Filling the Isaias-sized hole
The Reds were mighty close to a grand final berth in 2018/19 and will be no pushovers next season.
With new coach Gertjan Verbeek in charge and the loss of legendary club captain Isaias, the Reds’ engine will fire in a different way next season. It’ll take a serious research campaign for Adelaide to select the right man to anchor the midfield.
Having coached VfL Bochum, you could see Verbeek invite Robbie Kruse back into the A-League. A disciplinarian, expect another philosophical playing style from the Reds next season.
Macarthur FC
Ready to pounce on the league’s best
They’re not expected to kick a ball until mid-2020, but with Matildas coach Ante Milicic already confirmed as manager, the South-West Sydney side aren’t going to be in hibernation.
Using their blank slate of a wage bill just like Western United did with Josh Risdon and Aaron Calver, get ready for the Bulls to poach the league’s best off-contract talent mid-season.
Milicic has an impressive Rolodex of players thanks to his previous assistant roles at the Socceroos, Wanderers and Melbourne City. He’ll be very, very busy on the phone to agents and players this season.
At work
Roar Rookie
I don't think Sydney should negotiate with any of their clubs, or Brillante. Caceras is average, DDS doesn't actually produce anything to equal his early hype and dribbles around without actually doing much, and unfortunately Brillante has become more of a liability. But if we move him on, it can allow Corica the opportunity to try some different formations, instead of playing to number 6's.
Newie
Guest
Nice overview. Thanks.
Googy
Guest
Verbeek was coach of FC Twente not FC Zwolle
Chen Yang
Roar Pro
agreed..no one except jedi
Chen Yang
Roar Pro
Adelaide dont need to recruit...nathan konstandopulous can step up
That A-League Fan
Roar Guru
As an Adelaide supporter, so far things look pretty bleak for the Reds. Losing Kurz is of course going to be difficult but Isaias and Galloway are departing and they've been sensational. Thomassen, Ilso, Statemopoulous and Diawara are leaving. Lia and Blackwood are off contract as well. And of course we have an eccentric new coach who received 700 death threats and only won 2 games out of 21 with his last club at PEC Zwolle. So now our midfield is significantly weakened, we have no strikers (except Blackwood who's been playing as a CAM) and only five defenders in our squad including Ryan Kitto who is actually a wingr.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
2 seasons without finals. You don't understand what I've gone through Josh.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Plenty to look forward to. Could be a big season. This might be the one which jumpstarts the A-League and lifts Australian soccer out of its present doldrums.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
It seems an extraordinary amount of change is happening. That could be a great opportunity. If A-League independence doesn’t happen, let’s hope the FFA at least ups the clubs’ share of the broadcast money and relaxes the salary cap. A few good marquees and an overall lift in quality would be good to see.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
All of the usual names there. I wouldn't touch Torres or Crouch. Jedinak is the only one who is realistic, either because of salary or ambition
Jack George
Roar Guru
Just to clear it up, De Silva and Caceres have not been released, as Sydney FC are negotiating with their parent clubs (Roma and Manchester City) to keep them. Sydney also said that they were in talks with Brillante, but that is unlikely and probably just said that to make him look good.
Nick Symonds
Guest
GOAL.COM: Nine possible A-League marquee targets Franck Ribery Daniele De Rossi Yaya Toure Fernando Torres Peter Crouch Shinji Okazaki Mile Jedinak Arjen Robben Obafemi Martins - https://www.goal.com/en-au/lists/nine-possible-a-league-marquee-targets/e63vd7zvo2mk11hrrmb5q8ju6#s5tu458c1sky1t4jgu0j072kx
josh
Guest
Sorry rest of the League, WSW fans have been through enough. Next season has to be ours.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
9th, 10th and 11th :D
Waz
Roar Rookie
Even so they’ve all got less money for next season, especially Jets who’s owner is rapidly running out of cash.
Nick Symonds
Guest
What order do you think the three Melbourne sides will be placed in at the end of the season?
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Adelaide, CCM and Jets have been running off the smell of an oily rag since the A-League's inception. They'll be fine.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Certainly a way too early look st next season but critics of negative articles should love this one (109+ comments?) as there’s something positive in here for everyone. Adelaide, CCM and Jets will be operating off shoestring budgets so will have their work cut out next season. Fowler and Grant will have to prove not only that they can coach Roar, but that they can turnaround some dismal stuff from last year. Nix probably have the hardest task - new everything and probably in their last ever season. Victory need a solid coach as their league firm has been stagnant these past two years and below their expectations, it won’t be JA at the helm but who it is is crucial Glory with a squad so old some of them remember the First Fleets arrival will have to defy the odds if they’re to go back to back; funnily enough the GF choke will at least be motivation for them. SFC, like Western, are unknown but the pressure is off Corica with that win. WSW should improve as should City with a proper coach. Recruitment is key, apart from Glory there’s just so many changes taking place.