Isuzu UTE A-League stars dominate Subway Australia Under-23s head coach Tony Vidmar’s 23-player squad for a pair of international friendlies against South Korea next month.
Of the Australian team set to go head-to-head with South Korea on June 5 and 9 ahead of September’s 2025 AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers, 19 are based in the A-Leagues.
In-form Brisbane Roar star Sam Klein has been called up after scoring three goals in his final four league games of the season, while the likes of Macarthur Bulls’ Player of the Year Kealey Adamson, Western United midfielder Rhys Bozinovski, Melbourne City goalkeeper Patrick Beach and Western Sydney Wanderers’ Oscar Priestman have also been selected following excellent performances.
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Western United have the most players called up with four, ahead of Adelaide United and Western Sydney Wanderers (three apiece).
The 19 Isuzu UTE A-League-based players selected by Australia’s U23s are from nine clubs:
Adelaide United: Ethan Alagich, Ethan Cox, Yaya Dukuly
Brisbane Roar: Samuel Klein
Central Coast Mariners: Nathan Paull
Macarthur Bulls: Kealey Adamson, Alexander Robinson
Melbourne City: Patrick Beach, Alessandro Lopane
Melbourne Victory: Joshua Rawlins, Jordi Valadon
Perth Glory: Kaelan Majekodunmi
Western Sydney Wanderers: Anthony Pantazopoulos, Oscar Priestman, Aidan Simmons
Western United: Rhys Bozinovski, Matthew Grimaldi, Kane Vidmar, Abel Walatee
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“We’ve been able to secure two games against a very strong nation, this will not only be a great development opportunity for these players but a chance to show us their individual qualities,” Vidmar said.
“We had some strong results in the March window, which will be important to build on as we look to integrate new players into the environment.
“This will be our final activity before our Qualifiers in September so it’s important we plan, prepare and play well ahead of what will be an important first step for this group on the road the U23 Asian Cup.”
Match Schedule
Korea Republic U23 v Subway Australian U23
Thursday, 5 June 2025
Yongin Mireu Stadium, Korea Republic
Kick-off: 7.00pm local / 8.00pm AEST
Korea Republic U23 v Subway Australian U23
Monday, 9 June 2025
Venue TBC
Kick-off: TB
Australia U23 squad
| Name | Position | Current Club | Junior Club / Member Federation |
| Kealey ADAMSON | Defender | Macarthur FC, Australia | Lindfield FC / Football NSW |
| Ethan ALAGICH | Midfielder | Adelaide United, Australia | Valley View SC / Football SA |
| Patrick BEACH | Goalkeeper | Melbourne City, Australia | Glenmore Park FC / Football NSW |
| Giuseppe BOVALINA | Defender | Vancouver Whitecaps, Canada | Croydon FC / Football SA |
| Rhys BOZINOVSKI | Midfielder | Western United, Australia | Spring Hills Stallions FC / Football VIC |
| Ethan COX | Goalkeeper | Adelaide United, Australia | Salisbury United FC / Football SA |
| Yaya DUKULY | Forward | Adelaide United, Australia | Para Hills Knights SC / Football SA |
| Matthew GRIMALDI | Forward | Western United, Australia | Watsonia Heights FC / Football VIC |
| Samuel KLEIN | Midfielder | Brisbane Roar, Australia | Gympie Diggers FC / Football QLD |
| Garang KUOL | Forward | Newcastle United, England | Goulburn Valley Suns FC / Football VIC |
| Alessandro LOPANE | Midfielder | Melbourne City, Australia | APIA Leichhardt FC / Football NSW |
| Kaelan MAJEKODUNMI | Defender | Perth Glory, Australia | Carramar Cougars Junior FC / Football West |
| Anthony PANTAZOPOULOS | Defender | Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia | Brunswick City SC / Football VIC |
| Nathan PAULL | Defender | Central Coast Mariners, Australia | Heathcote Waratah FC / Football NSW |
| Ariath PIOL | Forward | Real Salt Lake, United States | Campbelltown City SC / Football SA |
| Oscar PRIESTMAN | Midfielder | Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia | Seaforth FC / Football NSW |
| Joshua RAWLINS | Defender | Melbourne Victory, Australia | Dianella Junior SC / Football West |
| Alexander ROBINSON | Goalkeeper | Macarthur FC, Australia | Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC / Football NSW |
| Aidan SIMMONS | Defender | Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia | St George FC / Football NSW |
| Mohamed TOURE | Forward | Randers FC, Denmark | Croydon FC / Football SA |
| Jordi VALADON | Midfielder | Melbourne Victory, Australia | Glen Eira FC / Football VIC |
| Kane VIDMAR | Defender | Western United, Australia | West Torrens Birkalla SC / Football SA |
| Abel WALATEE | Forward | Western United, Australia | North Sunshine Eagles FC / Football VIC |
