The 2023-24 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign is in the books and after the Central Coast Mariners’ treble-winning season, attention is set to turn to next season.
A 13th club has entered the competition in 2024-25; Auckland FC’s introduction into the league is one of the main storylines to watch in the off-season, as well as one club’s hunt for a new head coach and the prospect of young stars sealing moves abroad.
Ahead of the new campaign, aleagues.com.au pinpoints four big storylines to watch as the off-season progresses.
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Auckland FC’s arrival
Saturday night’s Grand Final concluded the Isuzu UTE A-League’s 12-team era as attention turns to the 2024-25 campaign, and the introduction of Auckland FC into the competition.
Led by former Sydney FC coach Steve Corica, Auckland’s arrival creates a New Zealand rivalry with Wellington Phoenix and ahead of the club’s debut season, the puzzle pieces are beginning to come together with the appointment of key staff prior to the announcement of first player signings.
Former All Whites manager Danny Hay has been revealed as the club’s assistant coach, Terry McFlynn is the club’s director of football and Doug Kors has joined the club as head of recruitment.
Two months ago, Corica confirmed that nine players had already signed for the club – seven of which were New Zealanders – but Auckland have yet to reveal any of their inaugural player recruits. The club has, however confirmed the first four signing swill be announced on Thursday, May 30 – and even dropped hints for all four players on their social media channels, which you can view here.
Auckland FC memberships are set to go live to the public on June 4. Get yours here.
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Marko Rudan’s Wanderers exit leaves Western Sydney’s top coaching job vacant
Western Sydney Wanderers are on the hunt for a new head coach after the departure of Marko Rudan, who spent more than two years at the club.
Rudan’s contract was terminated by mutual consent in early May, with the former Wanderers leader citing family reasons for his exit.
Western Sydney finished two points outside the top six in 2023-24; club chairman Paul Lederer told AAP that there would be no rush to replace Rudan ahead of the new season, and that the club hadn’t yet identified one ideal candidate to fill the void.
There are, however, three coaches experienced in winning silverware in the Isuzu UTE A-League who fit the mould as potential targets as either free agents or coming off-contract.
Former Melbourne City head coach Patrick Kisnorbo is back in Australia after one year at French club AS Troyes; Kisnorbo coached the A-League All Stars Men to a thumping 8-0 win at Marvel Stadium on May 24 and is on the market as a free agent- as is ex-Central Coast Mariners coach Nick Montgomery, who coached the Mariners to the 2022-23 Championship and was recently relieved of his duties as head coach of Scottish Premiership club Hibernian.
Then, there’s Tony Popovic, the Wanderers’ inaugural coach who led the team to the 2012-13 Premiership and three Grand Finals in 2013, 2014 and 2016. Popovic has spent three seasons at Melbourne Victory and took the club to the 2024 Grand Final, where his side lost to Central Coast Mariners. His contract at Victory ran until the end of the 2023-24 season; after the Grand Final, he was revealed his future would be resolved in the coming weeks.
Former Newcastle Jets head coach Arthur Papas is also off contract after a stint at Thai club Buriram United.
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How do Adelaide United replace Nestory Irankunda?
Nestory Irankunda is off to German giants Bayern Munich after his third season at Adelaide United, and the prodigious 18-year-old winger leaves a significant void in the Reds’ attack for head coach Carl Veart to try and fill in the off-season.
In truth, there’s no replacing Nestory Irankunda. It’s the second season running Adelaide have been dealt with a significant blow to their attacking stocks following the departure of captain Craig Goodwin after a Johnny Warren Medal-winning season in 2022-23.
Irankunda became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in Isuzu UTE A-League history this season, as well as the youngest player to 50 league appearances.
His 60-game stint at Adelaide over three seasons garnered 16 goals and ended with an equal share of the Boost Young Footballer of the Year award with Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Alex Paulsen.
Irankunda debuted in the Isuzu UTE A-League at 15 years of age, and went from an impact substitute to Adelaide star in the three years that followed – and head coach Veart will have hopes of replicating Irankunda’s development with 15-year-old Amlani Tatu who is already turning heads with the club’s NPLM SA side.
Tatu debuted for Adelaide in the first round of the NPL season in February, with the club website reporting he “left a lasting impression with some explosive moments” in his first game for the club.”
The 2008-born winger represented the Joeys against Switzerland in April, and scored Australia’s third goal in an impressive 4-1 win. Tatu has recently been in the Netherlands with Adelaide’s new strategic partner club PSV Eindhoven as one of four of Adelaide’s young talents who played in the club’s under 18 side against Excelsior.
Highly rated in South Australia, Adelaide fans will hope to see Amlani feature in the first team squad next season.
Irankunda’s Bayern move is a massive blow to the club and its attacking stocks – but a club with a reputation for giving young players a go is the perfect environment for a player like Tatu to flourish.
Which young guns could earn a move abroad?
Mariners star Josh Nisbet tops the list after winning the Johnny Warren Medal in 2023-24. The 24-year-old debuted for the Socceroos in March and having been a core part of the Mariners’ treble win, is expected to garner significant interest from abroad in the off-season.
After Saturday night’s Grand Final win over, Nisbet discussed his playing future and expressed the necessity to make “the right step” with his next move.
“I don’t know, to be honest. I’m just sort of weighing everything up and make sure I do the right move to progress my career,” Nisbet said.
“I don’t know where that will take me but I’m excited for wherever it may be.
“Definitely a league that suits me if I was to go overseas, and make sure I get playing time as well – there’s no real point if you’re just going to come back straight away.
“I feel like I’ve just got to make a mature and well-calculated step, who knows where that could be, but I just have to make sure I make the right step.”
Nisbet’s Mariners teammate Jacob Farrell is another who could be a target for overseas clubs after his second-consecutive Championship in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Farrell is 21 years old and has flourished at left-back for the Mariners; handed his league debut by Nick Montgomery in 2021, Farrell has taken his game to another level under Mark Jackson in the Mariners coach’s first season in charge.
Brisbane Roar striker Thomas Waddingham enjoyed a breakout debut season at Brisbaen Roar in the Isuzu UTE A-League. The 19-year-old scored seven goals in 23 appearances for Brisbane in 2023-24 and was linked to English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in mid-season, where Aussie Ange Postecoglou is currently head coach.
Meanwhile, there are reports from the United States that versatile Sydney FC defender Jake Girdwood-Reich has attracted interest from Major League Soccer outfit St. Louis City.
Wellington Phoenix star Ben Old was a revelation for the New Zealand club this season, and lit up Marvel Stadium with a star performance for the A-League All Stars Men against Newcastle United, after which he was asked by Network 10 what his aspriations for the future were.
“I’d love to go to Europe, I think that’s everyone’s dream,” he said.
“I’ve been wanting to go for a while but it hasn’t been the right time, but maybe it could be this July, if not early next season.”
Old’s Phoenix teammate Alex Paulsen shared the Boost Young Footballer of the Year award this season, as well as Goalkeeper of the Year award honours, too; Paulsen is signed on at the ‘Nix until the end of the 2026-27 season and if a club was interested in securing his services, it would come at a hefty price.
Then, there’s Newcastle Jets midfielder Clayton Taylor. There was reported interest in Taylor from clubs in England, Scotland and Norway in January but the Jets reacted by offering the 20-year-old a fresh deal set to run until the end of the 2024-25 season.
Macarthur FC forward Raphael Borges Rodrigues recently departed the club for Coventry City in the UK as the first young talent to secure an overseas move.
