One of the most appealing aspects of the A-League Men has always been its multicultural make-up, something that was seriously impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, after two seasons where domestic youth filled the gaps created by the smaller number of foreign imports setting up digs in Australia, the league has rebounded with force.
Players from all corners of the globe have signed on with clubs now armed with the power to add a second designated player to their books.
It is unlikely that all clubs will be financially able to find the somewhere near $600,000 required to reimburse a now permitted second designated player to be positioned outside the salary cap, yet some might.
The fact that clubs could now potentially have two marquees and two designated players, subsequently using their entire salary cap on the remainder of the squad, is an enormous transition for the league, with better foreign talent the likely outcome.
At the time of writing just three clubs – Adelaide United, Melbourne Victory and Newcastle Jets – are still to fill their fifth visa spot for 2022-23, with the remaining teams seemingly locked and loaded from an import perspective and frantically attempting to have their new men up to speed physically and psychologically for the first round of the season in a fortnight’s time.
While new foreign signings have been announced steadily since June, there was something rather quirky and symbolic about the most recent batch, with the variety of nations represented saying a great deal about the truly global nature of modern football.
In the most recent 13 signings, 11 countries were represented.
In recent days, 24-year-old Brazilian Marco Tulio became a Mariner, Macarthur FC picked up Barbadian defender Mario Williams, Tunisian midfielder Salim Khelifi linked with Perth Glory, and a famous name has recently returned, with Kosovo international Valon Berisha’s arrival at Melbourne City.
Georgians Beka Dartsmelia and Bachana Arabuli join Newcastle and Macarthur respectively, Mali international Tongo Doumbia slots into the Western United midfield and Melbourne City look to have a potential star on their hands in the form of Finnish central defender Thomas Lam.
In mid-August, the Mariners picked up Nigerian defender John Kelechi, Sydney FC confirmed a massive signing in the form of Englishman Joe Lolley and the recent multicultural spree began with Wellington securing the signature of Brazilian Yann Sasse.
Sydney FC head coach Steve Corica (L) and new signing Joe Lolley (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Alongside the earlier signings of Slovakian Robert Mak (Sydney FC), Bosnian Sulejman Krpic (Western Sydney), Bulgarian Bozhidar Kraev (Wellington), Irish midfielder Aaron McEneff (Perth), Portuguese Nani (Melbourne Victory) and Israeli Ben Azubel (Perth), the recent deals add to a fresh and exciting international feel heading into the new season.
Back in the depths of winter, Ghanian Paul Ayongo joined the Mariners, Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Yeni Ngbakoto and Frenchman Romain Amalfitano agreed to terms with the Wanderers, and Melbourne City snared a new Dutchman in Richard van der Venne.
When those contracts are added to the list of recent signings, the multicultural landscape of the A-League looks as broad and diverse as has ever been the case.
In total, 33 countries will be represented (listed below), something of which the competition should be proud, especially considering its financial restrictions and overall pulling power when compared to bigger leagues around the world. It is a snapshot of diversity and inclusion that enlarges when the heritages of many domestic players are also taken into account.
In perhaps the most positive news of all, the new crop of foreigners do not arrive as a rag-tag bunch of beat up and weathered pros looking for a quick earn before the sun sets on their careers. Of the 29 signings, just eight – Doumbia, Mak, Nani, Krpic, Amalfitano, Brisbane’s Charlie Austin, Western Sydney’s new Brazilian Marcelo and Mark Beevers in Perth – are over 30.
Of the remaining 21, 15 are 28 or under and with an average age across the new class of 28.6, there should be a distinct absence of the traditional and cynical Dad’s Army jokes this time around.
Of course, how they perform will be the test. Yet if the age and demographic of the latest group of A-League foreigners does not get fans excited about the pending kick-off, I’m not sure what will.
The 33 nations
Afghanistan
Australia
Barbados
Bosnia
Brazil
Bulgaria
Curaçao
DR Congo
England
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Ivory Coast
Japan
Kososvo
Mali
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
North Macedonia
Poland
Portugal
Scotland
Serbia
Slovakia
Spain
Switzerland
Tunisia
SydFC all day
Guest
Sorry to break it to you but City ain't going to win anything this year they got beat by a reserve grade Mariners side in a trial they were near full strength and got beaten by a bunch of 17 year old Mariners players lol
Punter
Roar Rookie
Good article Stu, love the comments below. Football is the world game as seen by the many different nationalises playing in the A-League & when you travel anywhere in the world & can strike up a conversation about football.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
So yesterday, my old boy was telling me about an article (Daily Telegraph is my guess) where Ninkovic has come out and basically accused Corica of being a bald faced liar. What's the go with these two, is it just a cat fight, or has one part genuinely treated the other like dirt? Got the drum?
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Asia has the most overpriced player markets in the world, China would be no 1. oil states in the Middle East. if you removed foreign player restrictions then the wages would equalise, but would also mean places like China would 90% foreign players.
chris
Guest
Our indigenous people would make great footballers. They have that x factor that can't be coached. Hopefully we are moving in the right direction with recruiting them. The quicker they are led away from AFL the better. They have a systemic abuse of indigenous players and the racism they are forced to endure is way beyond any other sport in this country. This latest revelation is too disgusting for words.
Grem
Roar Rookie
When is football going to really get some serious football programs for indigenous youth? When are we going to have our Travis Dodds, Jada Wymans and other professional players go into rural areas? If we could get our indigenous players to flock to our game a World Cup winning team may happen. We then also have to make sure our idiot element that supports our game is stamped on.
chris
Guest
Another day, another shocking revelation about AFL and racism. This latest allegation is just so bad surely it defies belief. I'm surprised any indigenous player would go anywhere near an AFL club. The way they get treated is disgusting.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I dont think there is any middle in this particular story. The truth is there was 1 mens and 1 womens game available free. That increased to 2 mens and all womens. Its a massive win for the A-league at little cost. When you say who reported in an alternative where was there an actual news report as opposed to a comment on here?
Grem
Roar Rookie
We need the crowds back and we need the viewers. Sugar hits will do that and we only have Nani. We’re in our 2nd year of a 5 year contract with Channel 10 and Paramount. We need to be doing what we can, now, to ensure we are worth contracting again. With 2 marquees and 2 designated players I would think Melbourne City and Sydney FC could and would be positioning themselves to be one of the big clubs of Asia. They should be looking outside the A League competition.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I think if anything is to happen it might just occur after all the grand final celebrations. You wouldn’t want to hurt such a celebration with a bad story!
Stevo
Roar Rookie
From what I'm hearing the allegations against Hawthorn are absolutely shocking. Let's see how this is reported and dealt with.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
An interesting observation is how few genuinely high profile, expensive players have been recruited by clubs. We've talked about the APL having a budget to attract big name players but so fay I see maybe one name that fits that bill - Nani. We can also observe that Melb City, the club that many people reckon is the richest club and can afford to bring in big profile players continues to do very little big name business. That's a deliberate policy so far. City's spending will only ever be commensurate with the size of the Australian football market. Having said all that, I think the season will be genuinely interesting with the recruiting that occurred. And hopefully very competitive.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Do you think this story will be on Channel 7’s news tonight? What a joke our media is. Imagine if this was a football story! At least the ABC is reporting on it. I wonder if it makes it to their sport show – The Offsiders – I’m sure Kelli will dedicate the show towards it!
Grem
Roar Rookie
The one group we don’t have enough players from is our indigenous Australians. I realise that Adam Goodes is now on a panel to help get more indigenous youth in the game, but we really need to do more. Now is the time to really push for it to happen. Everyone should read the story about Hawthorn in today’s ABC news report and when you add this to Collingwood, Eddie Betts, Adam Goodes etc, it’s now time to act. Family separations and pregnancy termination: Hawthorn racism review reveals shock allegations against former coaches
Jordan Sports Fan
Roar Rookie
When news broke about the changes to the TV deal, every other outlet presented this news in a somewhat negative light. Whereas KeepUp's take on it was how excellent it was that all women's games are now free and how there are now two men's game on FTA. Quite a stark contrast to other how it was reported elsewhere. I guess the reality of it was somewhere in the middle, it is both a good and a bad thing. KeepUp is set up to only present positive stories of the AL, whereas this site will tell some positive (such as what we've seen this week) and some negative. Same as the comments; I can be very critical of AL but also glowing of it. This site gives a more accurate reflection of the AL than KU does but we can agree to disagree.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Have they actually got Tullio signed on loan looks similiar credentials to Penha in terms of exp in Serie B if not better.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
So who exactly is doing the diving in the A-league men? Like some specific names just to check your credentials in this area from the A-league. If thats what concerns you in football then watch the womens A-league or w-league. I assume the AFLW doesn't have diving like the mens AFL. When exactly do they dive in the NFL, i dont really see the situation where you can dive.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Keepup is propaganda? I dont see any opinions on there let alone propaganda. A lot of the articles just contain quotes from players and a few facts. This is definetly a propaganda site, and your one of the biggest producers of it.
Jordan Sports Fan
Roar Rookie
That is a pretty good idea...
Jordan Sports Fan
Roar Rookie
Mike’s and your articles make for an interesting consideration/case study for KeepUp. I enjoy what is written in both of your articles, but I think both of you would realise that the comments is really where the action happens. KeepUp does not have comment functionality. That social aspect is completely missing on that site. Moreover, certainly for me, part of the AL’s charm is acknowledging firstly what it is, but also what it can be. Not sugar coating things, just being honest. Mike and yourself do this. KeepUp is propagandha. As it stands, KeepUp will never be of the same value as The Roar is. That’s why we are on here discussing AL, not there. If they were serious, they would roll out comment functionality, poach Mike and yourself and just allow any journalist to say their piece as long as they acted in good faith and had the league’s best interest at heart (such as both of you do).