The Isuzu UTE A-League Finals Series is about to get underway – and as it does, there’s an unprecedented number of active internationals ready to take the post-season by storm.
If not for Socceroos keeper Danny Vukovic’s recent international retirement, you would be able to assemble two starting XI’s made up entirely of active internationals from the A-League Men’s top six clubs.
It speaks to the sheer volume of international talent ready to show their wares in the 2022-23 Finals Series, which kicks off on Friday night.
Four of the six finals sides are in action in week one of the post-season, with first and second-placed finishers Melbourne City and Central Coast Mariners earning a week off and a spot in the Semi Finals.
First up it’s Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix at Coopers Stadium, before a tantalising Sydney Derby at CommBank Stadium on Saturday night.
Eight players from the Socceroos Qatar 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup squad will feature in the Finals Series. They’ll be joined by five members of Australia’s most recent squad that took on Ecuador in two recent friendlies, as well as six active New Zealand internationals and three of the competition’s top signings this season who flew the flag for their respective nations in March’s international window.
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Eight Socceroos from Qatar 2022
Jason Cummings
Finals club: Central Coast Mariners
Jason Cummings arrived Down Under at the start of 2022 with two clear intentions: to star for the Mariners in the A-League Men, and subsequently earn a place amongst the Socceroos’ squad in Qatar.
Those two boxes were ticked by the end of the calendar year.
Through the A-League Men season, Cummings has become part of the furniture amongst the Socceroos whilst excelling for his club side. He’s scored 26 goals in 46 games for the Gosford outfit, including 16 this season – just one goal shy of Daniel McBreen’s club record of 17 in a single A-League Men campaign.
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Craig Goodwin
Finals club: Adelaide United
A World Cup goalscorer for Australia, Craig Goodwin has coupled his memorable campaign in Qatar with an A-League Men season for the ages.
The Adelaide United captain is white-hot favourite for the Johnny Warren Medal; he’s scored 12 goals and notched 10 assists through 25 games for the Reds this season. Goodwin has carried an osteitis pubis injury through the 2022-23 season which was inflamed on Socceroos duty in March; the winger has persevered through the injury to will his side into the top four.
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Joel King
Finals club: Sydney FC
Joel King was one of a handful of players who featured under Graham Arnold for the Olyroos at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to earn a spot amongst the Socceroos squad for Qatar 2022.
The 22-year-old left-back is no stranger to the A-League Men Finals Series; after signing his first professional contract in 2019, he played 26 games in the following campaign as the Sky Blues won the Premiership/Championship double – with King scooping up the league’s Young Player of the Year award.
King spent another season at Sydney before securing a move to Danish Superliga side Odense Boldklub. He returned from Denmark on loan to the Sky Blues in February for the remainder of the 2022-23 campaign.
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Mathew Leckie
Finals club: Melbourne City
The orchestrator of one of the great Socceroos World Cup moments whilst in Qatar in late-2022, Mathew Leckie returned from the tournament as an Australian sporting icon.
The Melbourne City winger bagged the only goal in Australia’s 1-0 triumph over Denmark in November; it proved crucial in the end, as Tunisia defeated France in the concurrent Group D kick-off. Three points against Denmark sealed off the boot of the A-Leagues star sent Australia to the knockouts and a dream Round of 16 matchup against eventual Champions Argentina.
Leckie returned to clubland in December, and was consistently one of City’s best performers until a hamstring injury in February which kept him out for two months. He returned in April off the bench against Western United, and within two minutes of coming off the bench had supplied a sublime assist for Jamie Maclaren. It was a glaring reminder of Leckie’s quality, and pivotal role in the Premiers’ system.
Jamie Maclaren
Finals club: Melbourne City
Jamie Maclaren approaches the 2022-23 A-League Men Finals Series as the competition’s all-time leading goalscorer. The City marksman surpassed Besart Berisha’s 142-goal total in the penultimate round of the season with a hat-trick against Western to cement his legendary A-Leagues status.
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Maclaren scored eight goals in seven games for City to start the season before venturing to Qatar with the Socceroos. He was used as a substitute by Arnold on three occasions in the tournament, before returning to the A-League Men to pick up where he left off. Maclaren ended the regular season with 24 goals from 26 games to clinch his fifth league Golden Boot.
Andrew Redmayne
Finals club: Sydney FC
As we venture toward this weekend’s Elimination Finals, the prospect of penalty shootouts looms large.
Step forward, Grey Wiggle.
Sydney FC goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne helped book Australia’s place at the World Cup when he was famously substituted into the Socceroos’ qualifier against Peru, replacing Maty Ryan at the death specifically for his penalty-saving expertise.
He repaid head coach Arnold’s faith with the save that booked Australia’s ticket to Qatar.
Should Saturday’s Sydney Derby advance through regular time and 30 minutes of extra time without either team emerging victorious, you can only wonder how much of a mental edge Redmayne’s shootout exploits – which also include a match-winning performance in Sydney’s Grand Final triumph over Perth Glory in 2019 – will provide the Sky Blues against the Wanderers.
Marco Tilio
Finals club: Melbourne City
Marco Tilio is just 21 years of age – but he already owns a slice of A-League Men history.
The dynamic forward contributed to City’s third-consecutive Premiership this season – and in doing so he became the only player in league history to win four regular-season titles on the bounce, after lifting the Premiers Plate with Sydney FC in 2019-20.
Tilio ventures into the Finals Series as one of the competition’s in-form attackers. The brace he netted against Western Sydney in Round 26 was one of pure class: two goals scored off of weaving runs into the box which showcased his close control and composed finishing.
Danny Vukovic
Finals club: Central Coast Mariners
At the beginning of March, after venturing to Qatar with the Socceroos, Danny Vukovic called time on his international career. His focus now lies solely on domestic bringing success to the Central Coast – the club that gave him his professional start, and the club where he intends to see out the rest of his playing days.
The 37-year-old returned to Gosford ahead of the 2022-23 season, and captained the club to a second-placed finish, earning a week off to begin the Finals Series. A two-legged Semi Final awaits Vukovic and the Mariners, against the highest-placed finisher of the four teams facing off in Elimination Finals this weekend.
Five Socceroos from Ecuador friendlies
Brandon Borrello
Finals club: Western Sydney Wanderers
Fringe Socceroos should take note of Brandon Borrello’s rapid ascension back into the national team conversation this season. He returned home from a patchy spell in Europe to star for Western Sydney in the 2022-23 A-League Men campaign, and earned a recall to Arnold’s squad as a result.
He scored on return to the international scene against Ecuador in March, and will figure prominently in the A-League Men player of the season conversation thanks to his remarkable form as the Wanderers’ number nine.
From 2013-2017, Borrello scored 13 goals across four A-League Men seasons at Brisbane Roar. He’s scored 13 times in 26 games as a Wanderer this season alone, and is shaping as a key protagonist ahead of the Finals Series.
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Jordan Bos
Finals club: Melbourne City
According to reports, Jordan Bos is en route to a mega international move that could smash Australia’s all-time transfer record.
It’s one of the storylines to watch as the City full-back heads into the post-season as one of the young players to watch. Bos made his Socceroos debut against Ecuador in March; KEEPUP’s David Davutovic subsequently reported a number of European clubs are interested in the 20-year-old’s services.
“It’s worth noting, in terms of transfers, it’s a really, really positive and important period for the A-Leagues,” Davutovic said on this week’s episode of The Official Isuzu UTE A-League Podcast.
“I wrote that Jordan Bos looks set to break the A-Leagues outbound transfer record, and a deal could be done, a deal is imminent there with plenty of overseas interest in Bos. He also could break the all-time Australian record, which is still from 1995: Zeljko Kalac’s transfer to Leicester City from Sydney United.
“There’s been a a few rumours, in the last week that it could be a Belgian club, so expect a deal for Jordan Bos to be done in coming weeks, but he will almost certainly leave at the end of the season.
“I believe it’s a club completely unrelated to the City Football Group, so there’s been plenty of interest within the City Football Group and outside of it, so that gives you an idea of how much of an impact Jordan Bos has made, this season and the previous season, he (also) made his Socceroos debut.
“It’s a really significant period for Australian football because I think it’s been a combination of more younger players getting opportunities at A-League level. They’re clearly making an impact for the national teams, from the Olyroos, the Under 23s, through to the Socceroos, and we saw that in Qatar at the World Cup.”
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Joe Gauci
Finals club: Adelaide United
In the eyes of many, Joe Gauci is heir apparent to Maty Ryan as the Socceroos’ No.1.
The emerging Adelaide United goalkeeper earned his first cap in green and gold when Australia hosted Ecuador at Marvel Stadium in March. He conceded twice, but stood tall in a number of key moments, doing his burgeoning reputation no harm.
But as the Finals Series kicks off, there are questions being asked of Adelaide’s porous defence which Gauci, as the Reds’ gloveman, must help to answer. Carl Veart’s side has conceded eight goals in four games heading into the finals.
Nestory Irankunda
Finals club: Adelaide United
17-year-old Nestory Irankunda was an unused Socceroos substitute against Ecuador in March. If called into action by Arnold, he would have become the youngest Socceroo of all-time.
In the end it wasn’t to be. Perhaps, in the eyes of Arnold, it was to spare the teenage Adelaide United phenom any added pressure. But with rumours of German giants Bayern Munich circling for his signature, to go with comparisons to Lionel Messi from Reds teammate Javi Lopez, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to contain the hype surrounding the impactful forward who holds the record for most A-League Men goals prior to turning 18 (eight).
READ: ‘Only him and Messi’: Extraordinary tip-off agents are receiving about Irankunda
Aiden O’Neill
Finals club: Melbourne City
Throughout a stellar season in which Aiden O’Neill has added goals to his game, the City midfielder has enhanced his reputation as one of the most complete players in the A-League Men.
O’Neill debuted for Australia as Socceroo #629 in a win over Ecuador at CommBank Stadium in March; he’s scored four goals this season, relishing the opportunity to push further forward to contribute to City’s attacking play.
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Call-ups in March window
Valon Berisha (Kosovo)
Finals club: Melbourne City
The Berisha name is famous amongst A-League Men circles, and City midfielder Valon Berisha has only helped to enhance his surname’s reputation since arriving at the club ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Berisha is refreshingly charismatic; it’s reflected in his brilliant pre and post-game interviews in which he never holds his honest opinions back. He’s also a brilliant footballer, a midfield technician who has slotted into City’s slick system with ease this season.
In March, Berisha travelled abroad to contribute to Kosovo’s UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, coming off the bench in a draw with Israel before starting against Andorra three days later.
Amor Layouni (Tunisia)
Finals club: Western Sydney Wanderers
With Brandon Borrello’s transition from a winger to spearheading the Wanderers attack, there was a glaring hole on the right side of Marko Rudan’s attack which needed filling in the mid-season transfer window.
Rudan found the answer in Tunisian international Amor Layouni. The 30-year-old provides class and creativity aplenty as he cuts off the right wing onto his favoured left foot. He’s scored four goals and assisted three more in seven appearances in red and black.
In March, he helped Tunisia seal a spot in the 2023 African Cup of Nations, playing a role off the bench in a 3-0 win over Libya before starting four days later against the same opponent in a 1-0 victory.
Robert Mak (Slovakia)
Finals club: Sydney FC
Robert Mak received a call-up to Slovakia’s squad for his nation’s 2024 UEFA Euro qualifiers in March off the back of a dip in form for Sydney FC. He’d scored just one goal in 12 goals prior to heading abroad – but bagged a magnificent goal in a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina to reignite his individual form.
He returned to Australia a man on fire, scoring four goals in four games to help Sydney go four games unbeaten and secure fifth spot and a place in the finals.
Mak missed the last round of the regular season with a hamstring injury, but has been recalled to Sydney FC’s squad ahead of Saturday’s derby Elimination Final.
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New Zealand internationals
Joining the six Phoenix All Whites below as a New Zealand international is Ben Old, who is sidelined through injury as the Finals Series begins.
Kosta Barbarouses
Finals club: Wellington Phoenix
Kosta Barbarouses returned to New Zealand at the start of the 2022-23 campaign after a three-season stint at Sydney FC, to help the club where his professional career began to push for a spot in the Finals Series.
Barbarouses has played 23 games this season but has started just 14, scoring two goals. In March he returned to the All Whites fray as a 52-game international veteran; he hadn’t played for the national team in more than five years, but added caps 53 and 54 to his name in a pair of games against China.
Callan Elliot
Finals club: Wellington Phoenix
One of the most promising emerging full-backs in the A-League Men, Callan Elliot became the 634th player to represent the New Zealand men’s international team on debut against China in March. He played in both friendly fixtures for the All Whites.
Expected to start at right-back for Wellington against Adelaide on Friday night, Elliot will face the unenviable task of going head-to-head with Adelaide captain Craig Goodwin at Coopers Stadium.
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Clayton Lewis
Finals club: Wellington Phoenix
Clayton Lewis’ time is almost up in yellow and black, with his planned off-season departure confirmed in March. That news came before the hard-nosed midfielder’s return to the All Whites squad for the pair of China friendlies; Lewis suffered a fractured kneecap in January, but made a rapid return to action for both club and country.
Tim Payne
Finals club: Wellington Phoenix
Tim Payne’s international career has spanned more than a decade. The 29-year-old added caps 31 and 32 to his name across the All Whites’ two games against China in March.
Payne is one of the most experienced players amongst the Phoenix squad, and will likely line up alongside Englishman Scott Wootton at the heart of defence for Friday night’s Elimination Final against the Reds.
Alex Rufer
Finals club: Wellington Phoenix
Alex Rufer’s journey back to the international scene has been riddled with injury setbacks – but in March, after bagging his very first A-League Men goal in his 107th Phoenix appearance, the club’s captain made his long-awaited return to All Whites action, starting against China in the first of two March friendlies.
The Phoenix skipper capped off a memorable month by re-signing with the club until the end of the 2025-26 season. The midfielder has been a Phoenix for more than a decade, and will be key to his club’s fortunes in the Finals Series.
Oli Sail
Finals club: Wellington Phoenix
Phoenix goalkeeper Oli Sail is on the move at the end of the season; his A-League Men journey will continue at Perth Glory. But for now, he’s Wellington’s vice-captain, and adamant that the confirmation of his impending exit will have no impact on his dedication to Wellington’s post-season campaign.
In early March, Sail laid down a defiant finals statement that should ring loud in the ears of Pheonix fans as Friday night’s Elimination Final beckons: “The manager (Ufuk Talay) is pretty coy to the media about what we’re trying to achieve all the time,” Sail told Sky Sports, “he tends to keep it a little bit under wraps, because we have a young squad and we have to manage expectation on the players’ shoulders.
“But in house, we have very high expectations of what we can do this year, and I’m not going to let where I’m playing next year get in the way of that.”
