Adelaide United Football Club, is an Australian professional association football club based in Hindmarsh, Adelaide. The club was founded in September 2003 as they competed in the final season of the National Soccer League (NSL) as they replaced Adelaide City in the league until 2004, when they announced their team to compete in the A-League Men which was the replacement for the NSL.
History Adelaide United were formed for the final season of the National Soccer League in the 2003–04 season finishing third place and the Preliminary Final. The first season of the A-League Men in 2005–06 saw the club win the Premiership before losing to Central Coast Mariners in the Preliminary Final. Ultimately finishing second in the league and runners-up in the Grand Final both losing to Melbourne Victory for the 2006–07 season, Adelaide United won the second edition of the A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup, defeating the Central Coast Mariners 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw and qualified for the AFC Champions League for the first time being knocked out in the group stage. Adelaide missed out on A-League Finals for the first time in their history in the 2007–08 finishing 6th, but winning back-to-back Pre-Season Challenge Cup titles by winning the Final 2–1 against the Perth Glory (the last time until seven years the club won a trophy), and becoming the first Australian club to reach the AFC Champions League Final ultimately losing 5–0 on aggregate. In 2008–09, Adelaide United was again defeated in the A-League premiership and championship to Melbourne Victory, and finishing last for the first time in 2009–10. Sergio van Dijk scored 17 goals in the 2010–11 season; the most ever in a season for Adelaide United and winning the Golden Boot as the club made third place and semi-final finish. Two further seasons of no podium finishes and elimination final knockouts in the A-League occurred for the next two seasons.
In 2014, Adelaide United won the inaugural FFA Cup (now Australia Cup) in the 2014–15 season, defeating the Perth Glory 1–0 via Sergio Cirio, winning their first club trophy in seven years. The 2015–16 season saw Adelaide United win the Double for the first time, doing so by a slow start of eight winless games and a long undefeated run (with a one game exception) towards the Premiership and winning the Grand Final 3–1 against the Western Sydney Wanderers. The Double defense season in 2016–17 had Adelaide only finish 9th and missing Finals for the first time in four years. Since 2017, Adelaide United qualified for three consecutive FFA Cups, losing in 2017 against Sydney FC 2–1 after extra time, but winning back-to-back titles after in 2018 (2–1 against Sydney FC) and 2019 (4–0 against Melbourne City and currently their last club honour). A COVID-19 affected A-League campaign in the 2019–20 season saw Adelaide miss out on finals. Since 2020, Adelaide United have finished their last three Finals series campaigns in the semi-finals.
Key Key to league competitions: A-League Men – The first division of Australian soccer since 2005–06. National Soccer League (NSL) – The former first division of Australian soccer until 2003–04.
Key to colours and symbols: 1st / WFirst place / Winners2nd / RUSecond place / Runners-up3rd Third place ♦ Top scorer in division
Key to league record: Season = The year and article of the season Pos = Final position Pld = Matches played W = Matches won D = Matches drawn L = Matches lost GF = Goals scored GA = Goals against Pts = Points
Key to cup record: En-dash (–) = Adelaide United did not participate or competition was not held QPO = Qualifying play-off PR = Preliminary round Group = Group stage RO32 = Round of 32 RO16 = Round of 16 QF = Quarter-finals SF = Semi-finals PF = Preliminary final RU = Runners-up W = Winners
Seasons + Results of league and cup competitions by seasonSeasonDivisionPldWDLGFGAPtsPosFinalsNational CupCompetitionResultPlayer(s)GoalsLeagueOther / AsiaTop goalscorer(s)2003–04National Soccer League241176282540PF 122004–05No competition due to the collapse of the National Soccer League2005–06A-League211344332543PFGroup 72006–07A-League211038322733RUWChampions LeagueGroup 82007–08A-League21687312926DNQWChampions LeagueRU Bruce Djite92008–09A-League211155311038RUGroupClub World CupQF Cristiano122009–10A-League277812243329DNQ Champions LeagueRO16 Travis Dodd Mathew Leckie Lucas Pantelis52010–11A-League3015510513650SF Sergio van Dijk17 ♦2011–12A-League2751012264425DNQ Champions LeagueQF Sergio van Dijk102012–13A-League2712510383741EF Dario Vidošić102013–14A-League271089453638EF Fábio Ferreira Jerónimo Neumann92014–15A-League271449453546SFW Sergio Cirio132015–16A-League271476452849WQFChampions LeagueQPO Bruce Djite Pablo Sánchez112016–17A-League275814254623DNQRO32Champions LeagueGroup Baba Diawara Dylan McGowan52017–18A-League2711610363839EFRU Johan Absalonsen82018–19A-League271287373244SFW Craig Goodwin142019–20A-League2611312444936DNQW Riley McGree132020–21A-League261169394139SF Tomi Juric92021–22A-League Men261277383143SFQF Craig Goodwin122022–23A-League Men261196534642SFQF Craig Goodwin152023–24A-League Men2795135253 328thDNQRO16 Hiroshi Ibusuki152024–25A-League Men2610885355 386thEFSF Archie Goodwin13 ♦2025–26A-League Men2612774636 432ndSFRO32 Luka Jovanovic11 ♦2026–27A-League MenTo be determinedRO32Champions League EliteChampions League TwoPRGroupTo be determined
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