| 2024 A-Leagues All Star Men game | |
| Event: | 2023–24 A-League Men |
| Team1: | A-Leagues All Stars Men |
| Team1score: | 8 |
| Team2: | Newcastle United |
| Team2score: | 0 |
| Date: | 24 May 2024 |
| Stadium: | Marvel Stadium |
| City: | Melbourne, Australia |
| Man Of The Match1aname: | Most Valuable Player |
| Previous: | 2022 |
The 2024 A-Leagues All Stars Men game was the fourth edition of the A-Leagues All Stars Game, and the first since the 2022 Game. It was held at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on 24 May 2024 against English club Newcastle United as part of Global Football Week Melbourne.
In March 2024, the A-Leagues announced that the A-League All Stars Men would play Newcastle United at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on 24 May 2024 as part of Global Football Week Melbourne – shortly ahead of the 2024 A-League Men Grand Final.[1] In addition, an A-Leagues All Stars Women game would be held for the first time, against Arsenal, immediately after the men's game at the same venue.[2] Newcastle would also play Tottenham Hotspur at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in a friendly two days before the All Stars game.[3] The official kit partner was announced to be Kappa.
The A-League All Stars Men squad will initially consist of 23 to 26 players, as selected by the coaching staff, before being finalised to an 18 to 20 player squad.[4] Only a maximum of four players per club can be chosen.[4] Nestory Irankunda and Daniel Penha were announced to be the first two players to be selected in the squad as voted by fans.[5] [6] On 14 May 2024, Patrick Kisnorbo was named head coach of the A-League All Stars Men, with Robert Stanton and Mark Milligan as assistant coaches and Michael Theo as goalkeeping coach.[7]
A 13-player preliminary squad selected by Kisnorbo was announced on 15 May. Penha withdrew for personal reasons.[8] Following the season's semi-finals on 20 May, Kisnorbo added eight players from Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix to finalise a 21-player squad for the match.[9] Around the same day, Newcastle United's head coach Eddie Howe announced a 29-player squad for the matches against Tottenham Hotspur and the A-League Men All Stars.[10] Garang Kuol featured as the only Australian player for The Magpies from their 2023–24 season.[11]
Before the match, Howe renamed the starting line-up from their match against Tottenham to consist of under-21s players. Kieran Trippier was named on the bench as the only over-21 player in the match squad after a majority of first-team players were withdrawn.[12] Kuol made his unofficial starting debut for Newcastle in the match.[13] None of the players named for the English side had registered a Premier League start prior to the match.[14]
The men's game was heavily criticised for the schedule of the event which resorted Newcastle United to field a team of players from their youth academy after the club's first-team players were withdrawn for international duty. The average age of the match squad was 19.5 years old, excluding goalkeeper Mark Gillespie.[15] Eddie Howe noted that it was not possible for his side to field the first-team players due to travel, risk of injuries, and the recent conclusion of the 2023–24 Premier League.[16] Newcastle reportedly travelled 16,914 km (10,510 m) from Heathrow Airport to play in Melbourne, three days after their 2023–24 season finished. Kieran Trippier and Alan Shearer criticised the date of the friendlies which placed near to the 2024 Copa América and UEFA Euro in June 2024.[17] [18] For fans, the match was deemed to be disrespectful to the A-League and local supporters for fielding a weaker side than anticipated.[19] Newcastle were reported to have received a seven-figure sum from the matches.[14]
After concerns were raised about player welfare, The Football Association opened about a rule change that would prohibit overseas friendlies after a season was completed. English clubs are also obligated to give players a five-week rest following that period. The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) were reported to be aware of these concerns.[20] The match was the first win for the A-League Men in an A-Leagues All Stars Game after losing in the matches to Manchester United, Juventus and Barcelona. The crowd was confirmed to be 42,000 spectators in total after the women's match.[21] Despite the absence of first-team players, Howe said the match was a great experience for the younger players going against experienced opposition.[22] All Stars head coach Patrick Kisnorbo praised his sides' hunger and dominance during the match although understood Howe's decision prior. Kisnorbo also suggested for future matches to be between an Asian side rather than a European opposition to solve scheduling issues.[23]