‘Brilliant’ 22yo a unanimous pick in Isuzu UTE A-League Team of the Season so far

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We’ve officially hit the midway point of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season so to celebrate, the A-Leagues download panel have assembled their teams of the year so far.

Read on below to find out who A-Leagues icon Archie Thompson and Denmark great Thomas Sorensen have picked in their XIs…

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Thomas Sorensen’s Team of the Year (4-3-3)

Named the Isuzu UTE A-League Goalkeeper of the Year for season 2023-24, it’s little surprise that Alex Paulsen has carried his stellar form into life at Auckland FC.

Not only has the 22-year-old kept the most clean sheets (8) in the league this season but his league-high save percentage of 77.1% is a big reason why the Black Knights are currently top of the pile.

“When you look at the move initially and all the hoo-ha and the pressure that was on him to perform, in some ways it was (taking) a chance coming back after going to Bournemouth,” said Sorensen when speaking on A-Leagues Download.

“I think he’s been brilliant.”

Thomas Sorenson on Alex Paulsen

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In a four-man defence Sorensen has opted for Adelaide United flyer Dylan Pierias at right back and it’s easy to see why given. Formerly a winger whilst at the Wanderers, Pierias has been a constant attacking threat for Carl Veart’s Reds since shifting to more of a defensive role at his new club.

At the heart of the defence is Auckland FC’s Nando Pijnaker who partner’s Western United’s young centre half Dylan Leonard. At 17, Leonard has taken to the Isuzu UTE A-League like a duck to water and has played a crucial role in helping John Aloisi’s side make a flying start to the campaign.

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Continuing the Auckland FC theme is left back Francis De Vries, The 30-year old has started all 14 games for the Black Knights this season, helping his side maintain the stingiest defence in the league whilst also chipping in with a goal and three assists.

A three-man midfield consists of Western United’s Angus Thurgate, Adelaide United’s Stefan Mauk and Central Coast Mariners’ brilliant Brazilian Mikael Doka.

Defending Champions the Mariners may not have had the season many envisaged thus far but Doka has certainly carried his great form into this campaign, leading the league in chances created (41) alongside Macarthur’s Marin Jakolis.

As for Mauk, well the midfielder has been at the heart of everything good for Adelaide this season as they rival Auckland FC at the top of the league. Scoring five goals in 13 starts, Mauk has been a constant danger to opposition defences with his late runs into the box proving to be particularly fruitful.

Completing Sorensen’s 4-3-3 is the potent mix of three of the Isuzu UTE A-League’s deadliest attackers this season. On the left hand side is Macarthur Bulls’ livewire winger Jed Drew. Starting 12 of 13 games, Drew is having a stand-out season for the Bulls and has so far registered six goals and seven assists, leading to interest from clubs overseas.

Leading the line is Wellington Phoenix’s veteran forward Kosta Barbarouses who, despite being 34, shows no signs of slowing down. Having most recently netted his 100th Isuzu UTE A-League goal, Barbarouses has been an ever-present for the Nix as they bid to recapture the fine form that saw them reach last season’s Semi-Finals.

Last but not least is a man who has been one of the stand-out players in the Isuzu UTE A-League since arriving from England; Sydney FC’s Joe Lolley. The former Nottingham Forest man has bagged eight goals and four assists so far this season, including a brilliant hat-trick against Perth Glory in early January.

Archie Thompson’s Team of the Year (4-4-2)

Unsurprisingly, VIctory legend Thompson has opted for several of the same players as Thomas Sorensen when it comes to picking his team of the year.

Nominating Alex Paulsen as his goalkeeper and Dylan Pierias as his right back, fellow Auckland FC stars Nando Pijnaker and Hiroki Sakai also feature as part of a four-man defence.

Needing no introduction, Auckland FC captain Sakai has proven his class since arriving in the Isuzu UTE A-League, bringing with him a wealth of experience from a storied career both domestically in Europe and with the Japanese national team to help knit the new Black Knights side together.

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Meanwhile, In a career which has seen him play in Switzerland, Portugal and Denmark, central defender Pijnaker has been a revelation since joining the Black Knights and has established himself as one of the most formidable defenders in the competition whilst even scoring three goals himself.

Finally, playing alongisde Pijnaker in the heart of the defence is Adelaide United’s teen sensation, Panagiotis Kikianis. The 19-year-old has featured 13 times so far this season and has certainly shown why the Reds were right to hand him a five-year contract to remain at the club – the first time an Isuzu UTE A-League side has handed out such a deal.

On the right of a his four-man midfield is Western Sydney Wanderers gun Nicolas Milanovic. Coming off the back of an impressive campaign last year, the 23-year-old warmed into the 2024-25 season but has now found his form, netting six goals and making four assists in the 14 matches he’s played.

Following Sorenson’s lead, Thompson has also picked Western United’s Angus Thurgate to play in a two-man midfield. The former Newcastle Jet has been in outstanding form this season and ranks amongst the top midfielders in league when it comes to both chance creation and duels won – making him an obvious choice.

Alongside Thurgate will be Melbourne Victory midfielder Ryan Teague. Since returning to Australia from Portugal, Teague has blossomed at Victory and has gone on to establish himself as one of the competition’s most consistent midfielders, especially when it comes to dictating the flow of matches.

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Once again, Thompson and Sorensen are in agreement when it comes to two of the remaining three attacking players in the side with both choosing Joe Lolley and Kosta Barbarouses.

Completing the line-up is Macarthur Bulls captain Valere Germain. Most recently becoming the club’s all-time leading goalscorer after netting the winner in the Bulls’ 1-0 win over Melbourne City, Monaco-native Germain has proven himself to be a genuine star of the competition.

Making his name playing in an AS Monaco team that contained superstars like Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe and Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, Germain has bagged seven goals and one assist so far this season – adding to the 16 goals and 11 assists he got last year in both the Isuzu UTE A-League and the AFC Cup.