Music has seen some awesome duos: Empire of the Sun, Daft Punk, The White Stripes, Simon and Garfunkel (ask your Mum and Dad). And so has the Hyundai A-League.
Here’s our top 20 duos, from the “Killer Bs” to Archie and Danny and so much more.
Hyundai A-League Team of the Week: RD 6
20: Sydney FC: Dwight Yorke and Sasho Petrovski
What a combination! The star power and class of Yorke and Petrovski’s outright, pure finishing. Only had one season together but helped the Sky Blues to the inaugural Hyundai A-League title.
19: Victory: Mark Milligan and Carl Valeri
No team outmuscled or outrun Victory in the middle of the park with these two around. Together they set the platform for Victory’s Premiership/Championship double in 2014/15.
18: Wanderers: Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Michael Beauchamp
When building a new club and starting a new team it’s crucial to have a strong base and these two did just that for the Wanderers in their maiden campaign in season 2012/13. With those two at the back, the Wanderers had the meanest defence – conceding only 21 goals in 27 regular season games – as they won the Premiers’ Plate.
17: Mariners: Patrick Zwaanswijk and Alex Wilkinson
If trying to spell/pronounce Patrick’s surname wasn’t hard enough, you should have tried getting past these two in their time together in Gosford. If it wasn’t for THAT incredible late comeback by Roar in 2011, they would have won the championship that day at Suncorp.
16: Adelaide: Bruce Djite and Nathan Burns
They might have only been teenagers at the time but these two fresh-faced kids were a breath of fresh air in those heady days at the Reds. Burns’ speed and Djite’s power was a lethal combination which put them into Olyroo contention.
15: Glory: Andy Keogh and Diego Castro
Have been together for less than a year (Keogh only re-joined Glory midway through last season) but already have the hallmarks of a prolific combination. They’ve scored 29 goals between them in that short time while Castro also worked away with the Johnny Warren Medal last season as the competition’s best player.
14: Phoenix/Victory: Kosta Barbarouses and Gui Finkler
This partnership is so strong they decided to switch clubs together this season. Over the years they have formed an almost telepathic wavelength between each other, combining for a stack of goals and plenty of highlights for fans to drool over on both sides of the Tasman.
13: Victory: Adrian Leijer and Kevin Muscat
The old bull (Muscat) and young pup (Leijer) proved a formidable duo at the back for Victory for a few years, culminating in a title together in the 6-0 drubbing of Adelaide in 2007.
12: Sydney FC: Stephan Keller and Simon Colosimo
Vitezslav Lavicka pulled off a masterstroke in the heart of defence, pairing the unfashionable Keller (with his scruffy hair and socks half way down his shins) and the stylish, consummate professional Colosimo. Went about their business with a minimum of fuss and were unsung heroes of the Sky Blues’ 2010 championship.
11: Adelaide: Isaias and Sergio Cirio
There’s Spanish flair in abundance with these two, have been wowing crowds since they arrived in Adelaide. With Isaias pulling the strings in midfield and Cirio causing mayhem out wide, the Reds finally broke their title drought last season.
10: Wanderers: Iacopo La Rocca and Mateo Poljak
Tough, uncompromising, hard-working and intense. You got all that and more from these two who bossed the Wanderers midfield for a couple of seasons, including their famous AFC Champions League triumph.
9: Roar: Erik Paartalu and Matt McKay
These two formed the ultimate big and little man midfield partnership when paired together by Ange Postecoglou. Paartalu sat deep, broke up opposition attacks and won the ball, with McKay buzzing around everywhere with his energy and enterprise. Together they helped the club land back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012.
8: Mariners: Mile Jedinak and John Hutchinson
Before Mile was Captain Caltex Socceroo, he was getting his professional start on the Central Coast alongside ‘Hutch’. Guided by the wily Lawrie McKinna, the pair complemented each other perfectly in the middle of the park with their mix of fire, flair and finesse.
7: Sydney FC: Alex Brosque and Mark Bridge
Earned the moniker of the ‘Killer Bs’ for their exploits with the Sky Blues. Were integral members and scored some crucial goals – including Bridge’s in the 2010 GF – as Sydney won the title on penalties against Victory…in Melbourne!
6: Adelaide: Angelo Costanzo and Michael Valkanis
Two of the most hard-nosed defenders to ever play in the Hyundai A-League. These two – both skippers at the Reds at various times – never gave an inch and together were the backbone of some pretty good Adelaide United sides over the years.
5: Phoenix: Andrew Durante and Ben Sigmund
Likewise, look up fearsome, resolute and courageous defenders in the dictionary and there’s likely to be a pic of these two. “Dura and Siggy”, the Aussie and Kiwi twosome, were integral parts of Wellington’s success over a number of years.
4: Roar: Besart Berisha and Thomas Broich
One is a majestic German midfielder, the other a fiery Albanian goalscorer. Together, a nightmare for opposition defences and simply pure joy to watch were “Bes and Broich”.
3: Victory: Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp
The Hyundai A-League’s original deadly strike partnership. “Archie and Danny” combined for 132 goals for Victory and two championships under Ernie Merrick in 2006/07 and 2008/09.
2. City: Bruno Fornaroli and Aaron Mooy
What a combination these two were! Fornaroli netted a record-breaking 25 goals with Mooy notching a staggering 20 assists for the 2015/16 campaign.
1: THE WINNER!
Fury: Franz Straka and that beige jacket
We couldn’t help ourselves with this one. Straka’s coaching ability was just as flamboyant as his fashion sense during his time in North Queensland. What about that look!
