Adelaide United FC Youth explained

Clubname:Adelaide United Youth
Fullname:Adelaide United Football Club Youth
Nickname:Young Reds, Baby Reds
Ground:ServiceFM Stadium
Capacity:8,000 (1,000 seated)
Chrtitle:Coordinator
Chairman:Eleni Vosnakis[1]
Mgrtitle:Youth coach
Manager:Airton Andrioli
Website:http://adelaideunited.com.au/
Pattern La1:_adelaideunited2324h
Pattern B1:_adelaideunited2324h
Pattern Ra1:_adelaideunited2324h
Leftarm1:dd001f
Body1:dd001f
Rightarm1:dd001f
Shorts1:121c33
Socks1:dd001f
Pattern La2:_adelaideunited2324a
Pattern B2:_adelaideunited2324a
Pattern Ra2:_adelaideunited2324a
Leftarm2:e1e0df
Body2:e1e0df
Rightarm2:e1e0df
Shorts2:e1e0df
Socks2:e1e0df

Adelaide United Football Club Youth is the youth system of Adelaide United Football Club based in Adelaide, South Australia. The team players in the National Premier Leagues, the second level of Australia's soccer pyramid in Australia. The club also competes in the under-21s A-League Youth competition.

History

Early Years (2009–2014)

The team was founded in 2008, as an Adelaide United representative team for the inaugural season of the National Youth League competition. Former Adelaide City player, Joe Mullen was appointed as head coach for Adelaide's inaugural youth squad.[2] They finished 2nd to the qualification of the 2009 Grand Final against Sydney FC. The final result was a 2–0 loss at Hindmarsh Stadium with Adelaide finishing runners-up into both the premiership and championship.[3]

Adelaide's top-scorer for their first two seasons was Francesco Monterosso with the first season scoring 13 goals and with the second season scoring 17 goals.[4] This was the only back-to-back Golden Boot winner in the National Youth League.

Within the change of the NYL table format in the second National Youth League season, Adelaide United were still able to qualify for the NYL finals finishing 3rd. Adelaide United lost 1–0 to Perth Glory in the semi-final.[5]

In the 2010–11 season, in the race for the premiership, they finished 3rd again, followed by Central Coast Mariners Youth in 2nd with Gold Coast United Youth being the premiers for the season.

National Premier Leagues entry (2014–present)

In October 2014, it was confirmed that the team would compete in the National Premier Leagues South Australia and National Premier Leagues South Australia Reserves (U20) competitions for the PS4 2015 FFSA season entering in the State League 1, the second division of South Australian football.[6] [7]

They gained automatic promotion in their first season to the National Premier Leagues after finishing top of the table as well as the Reserves (U20s).

In October 2015, it was announced that AUFC Youth team were to compete in the 2015 Mediterranean International Cup in Barcelona, Spain. Their first match in Group A was against Los Angeles with the result as a 4–0 victory.[8] Then they lost 1–0 against Barcelona.[9] This was the first game for an Adelaide United side to face Barcelona. The final game was against Palamos CF in a 3–0 victory for Adelaide.

With the final game victory, Adelaide moved on to the Round of 16 against CF Lloret. Both teams could not be split, as the full-time score was 0–0. The game was decided in a penalty shoot-out, which Adelaide United won 5–4.[10] The Reds ended their 2015 Mediterranean International Cup, with a 4–0 loss against Malaga CF.[11]

On 11 January 2016, Adelaide United claimed their premiership in Conference A,[12] with Sydney FC Youth crowned Premiers for Conference B. The Grand Final was played at Central Coast Stadium with Sydney winning the grand final against Adelaide for the second season in a row between these two sides. The final result was 5–2 to Sydney FC Youth with them being 2016 National Youth League Champions.[13]

After their successful premiership in the State League 1, they moved on to the National Premier Leagues South Australia and finished 10th which was one spot away from relegating back to the State League. In 2017, they finished the same position as 2016, finishing 10th, and still avoiding relegation. As the two unsuccessful seasons were finished, Adelaide United Youth qualified for the NPL SA Finals Series for the first time and was defeated by North Eastern MetroStars by a 1–0 scoreline in the qualifying-finals.[14]

Players

[15]

Current staff

[16]

Head coach
Elvis Markov Assistant coach
Joe Verringer Goalkeeper coach
Jonathan NorodomPhysiotherapist
William Mockridge Team manager

Honours

National

Runners-up (2): 2009, 2016

Runners-up (1): 2008–09

State

Winners (1): 2023

Winners (1): 2015

Former youth team players to receive international recognition

The following list of youth team have been capped in a full international. Players still currently playing for the club are in bold. Other still active players are in italics.

Former players

This is a list of former Adelaide United Youth players, who have played at least 20 competitive matches for the first team.

NameNationalityPositionAdelaide United careerAppearancesGoals
Ethan AlagichMidfielder2021–
Lachlan BarrDefender2022–24
BernardoMidfielder2021–2024
Giuseppe BovalinaDefender2023–24
Lachlan BrookForward2017–20, 2022
Louis D'ArrigoMidfielder2018–23
Jordan ElseyDefender2013–21
Ben GaruccioDefender2016–18
Nestor IrankundaForward2022–24
Paul IzzoGoalkeeper2011–15, 2017–20
Luka JovanovicForward2022–
Bruce KamauForward2014–16
Ryan KittoDefender2013–15, 2016–
Nathan KonstandopoulosMidfielder2014–16, 2017–21, 2022
Awer MabilForward2012–15
Panashe MadanhaDefender2022–
Osama MalikMidfielder2008–09, 2011–16
Michael MarroneDefender2008–10, 2014–21
Riley McGreeMidfielder2016–17, 2019–20
Nikola MileusnicForward2016–20
Pacifique NiyongabireForward2018–21
Mark OchiengForward2014–18
Jordan O'DohertyMidfielder2016–18
Alexandar PopovicDefender2022–24
Ryan StrainDefender2017–21
Al Hassan ToureForward2019–21
Mohamed ToureForward2020–22
Ben WarlandDefender2014–17, 2022–24
Kusini YengiForward2020–22
Jonny YullMidfielder2021–

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023 MEDIA GUIDE. 18 February 2023.
  2. Web site: Mullen appointed to coach inaugural Youth squad. 2 May 2008. Y-League.
  3. Web site: Sydney Youth take title. 22 February 2009. Y-League.
  4. Web site: National Youth League Player Stats – after Round 27. 10 March 2010. Y-League.
  5. Web site: Perth into Grand Final. 15 March 2010. Y-League.
  6. Web site: Reds reserve team gets green light. a-league.com.au. 29 October 2014.
  7. Web site: Reds confirm NPL participation. 9 December 2014. Y-League.
  8. Web site: Young Reds win first game in MIC Tournament. 2 April 2015. Adelaide United.
  9. Web site: Young Reds push Barcelona in International Cup. 2 April 2015. Y-League.
  10. Web site: Young Reds progress to MIC quarters. 2 April 2015. Adelaide United.
  11. Web site: Young Reds exits MIC after Malaga defeat. 2 April 2015. Adelaide United.
  12. Web site: Young Reds claim NYL Conference A Premiership. 11 January 2016. Y-League.
  13. Web site: Sky Blues crowned Foxtel NYL Champions. 23 January 2017. Y-League.
  14. Web site: MetroStars 1–0 Adelaide United Youth. 18 August 2018. Soccerway.
  15. Web site: 28 February 2024. Fresh Group Of Young Reds Embarks On NPL Journey. 28 February 2024. Adelaide United.
  16. Web site: Management and Staff. Adelaide United.