The Hyundai A-League became an 11-team competition, with Melbourne Heart joining the fray.
Brisbane Roar revolutionised the way football was played domestically and completed a Premiership / Championship double, but not without some late, late Grand Final drama.
Here is the story of the season
STAR POWER
Thomas Broich (Brisbane Roar)
Francis Jeffers (Newcastle Jets)
Josip Skoko (Melbourne Heart)
Patrick Zwaanswijk (CCM)
Bruno Cazarine (Sydney FC)
GAME OF THE SEASON
Brisbane Roar 2 Central Coast 2 – you’d go a long way to find a more dramatic climax to a football season than the 2010/11 Grand Final when Roar scored twice in the last three minutes of extra-time and then converted all their penalties to break Mariners hearts.
MEMORABLE MOMENT
Thomas Broich’s arrival in the Hyundai A-League was the catalyst for Roar’s unprecedented success in the next four seasons. He is still regarded by many as the competition’s best ever player.
BIGGEST UPSET
North Queensland won just once away from home in their second and final season, with goals from David Williams and Ufuk Talay earning them a 2-1 victory over Gold Coast United in the Queensland Derby in week 19.
GOAL OF THE YEAR
In their round 27 clash at home to Gold Coast United, Broich picked out influential Brisbane midfielder Erik Paartalu with a left-wing cross which was volleyed unerringly home from the edge of the box.
GOLDEN BOOT WINNER
Sergio van Dijk (Adelaide United) – 16
PREMIERS
Until the 2016/17 season, Roar’s total of 65 points was a regular season record, with the runaway Premiers scoring more and conceding fewer goals than anyone else. It took them a little while to reach top spot (round 12) but from there they were unassailable, finishing eight points clear of the Mariners.
STORY OF THE FINALS
In the most dramatic Grand Final in Hyundai A-League history – dubbed “Orange Sunday” – extra-time goals from Adam Kwasnik and Oliver Bozanic had the Mariners 2-0 ahead with just three minutes remaining and surely about to claim their first Championship.
But Brisbane had other ideas, with first Henrique and then Paartalu scoring late goals before Roar held their nerve against a shattered Central Coast to prevail 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out.
