Adelaide United Football Club Youth is the youth system of Adelaide United Football Club based in Adelaide, South Australia. The team plays in the National Premier Leagues, the second level of Australia's soccer pyramid in Australia.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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.
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. Then they lost 1–0 against Barcelona. 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. The Reds ended their 2015 Mediterranean International Cup, with a 4–0 loss against Malaga CF.
On 11 January 2016, Adelaide United claimed their premiership in Conference A, 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.
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.
Players
Current staff
Paul Vanis Head coach Javi López Assistant coach Deng Akoy Assistant coach William Plush Assistant coach Rian del Nido Goalkeeper coach Lee Addison Assistant goalkeeper coach Luke Harris Strength & Conditioning Coach Brodie Dickeson Strength & Conditioning Assistant Emily Thorn Head Physiotherapist Harry Saleeba Physiotherapist Campbell Arnold Video Analyst
Honours National A-League Youth Champions Runners-up (2): 2009, 2016 A-League Youth Premiers Runners-up (1): 2008–09
State National Premier Leagues South Australia Champions Winners (1): 2023 State League 1 South Australia Champions 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.
Mark Birighitti Jared Clark Nestory Irankunda Paul Izzo Awer Mabil Michael Marrone Riley McGree Pacifique Niyongabire Ruon Tongyik Al Hassan Toure Mohamed Toure Apostolos Stamatelopoulos Ryan Strain Kusini Yengi
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 careerAppearancesGoalsEthan AlagichMidfielder2021–Lachlan BarrDefender2022–24BernardoMidfielder2021–2024Giuseppe BovalinaDefender2023–24Lachlan BrookForward2017–20, 2022Louis D'ArrigoMidfielder2018–23Jordan ElseyDefender2013–21Ben GaruccioDefender2016–18Nestor IrankundaForward2022–24Paul IzzoGoalkeeper2011–15, 2017–20Luka JovanovicForward2022–Bruce KamauForward2014–16Panagiotis KikianisDefender2023–Ryan KittoDefender2013–15, 2016–Nathan KonstandopoulosMidfielder2014–16, 2017–21, 2022Awer MabilForward2012–15Panashe MadanhaDefender2022–Osama MalikMidfielder2008–09, 2011–16Michael MarroneDefender2008–10, 2014–21Riley McGreeMidfielder2016–17, 2019–20Nikola MileusnicForward2016–20Pacifique NiyongabireForward2018–21Mark OchiengForward2014–18Jordan O'DohertyMidfielder2016–18Alexandar PopovicDefender2022–24Ryan StrainDefender2017–21Al Hassan ToureForward2019–21Mohamed TouréForward2020–22Ben WarlandDefender2014–17, 2022–24Ryan WhiteMidfielder2024–Kusini YengiForward2020–22Jonny YullMidfielder2021– Bold denotes players still playing in Adelaide United
See also Adelaide United FC Adelaide United FC (A-League Women)
References
External links Official website