Adelaide United keeper Eugene Galekovic has collected two gongs at the Reds’ awards night, taking home the Aurelio Vidmar Club Champion prize and the Player’s Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.
It caps off a remarkable year for United’s custodian where he also claimed back-to-back Hyundai A-League Goalkeeper of the Year awards as well as featuring for the Socceroos.
Galekovic repeated last year’s double after a stellar campaign personally, while United struggled and endured a tough season finishing bottom for the first time in its proud history.
Although the Reds finished with the wooden spoon, Galekovic still managed to keep six clean sheets. United conceded 33 goals in 27 games, the sixth best in the league. He registered 102 saves while being the only United player to play every minute of every game in the domestic season.
Galekovic also took home two local media awards for Player of the Season.
“It’s an honour. It’s a personal achievement and it’s good to be recognised, but in the end you like to play finals football and hopefully next year we can get there and win a few trophies as a team,” he said.
The switch from Melbourne Victory’s second keeper to Adelaide’s No.1 has proved to be the best career move, with Galekovic clearly stamping his authority as the country’s best domestic keeper and sees him pushing for a World Cup berth.
“The time in Melbourne was difficult. I wasn’t playing much and in a way I needed to get out of there and Adelaide United gave me a chance, and I’ve got to thank them, they’ve been great and hopefully I’ve repaid them … it’s a dream come true being at this club doing what I’m doing,” he said.
“That’s the pinnacle of football and as much as everyone wants to play overseas, World Cups are the best level you can play at, so if I get chosen it would be unbelievable and a dream come true.”
Exciting midfielder Fabian Barbiero also made it successive trophies, winning the Best Team Man for the second time.
Young speedster Matthew Leckie’s rise to football stardom saw him earn the Rising Star Award.
Leckie was playing Victorian Premier League football last year before getting the call from Adelaide United. Leckie scored on his second appearance for the Reds before making a huge impact throughout the remainder of the season.
He has started in United’s ACL campaign scoring in both of the Reds opening matches.
His scintillating runs and standout performances saw him receive a call up to the Socceroos in March and although he didn’t take part in the match against Indonesia, the young gun benefited greatly from his experience.
“The last six months have been the best thing that could ever have happened for my football career so hopefully I can just go on from here, keep pushing forward and good things will come,” he said.
Former AIS defender, Canberra born Dane Milovanovic, was named the club’s most valuable National Youth League player, while striker Racheal Quigley took home the Most Valuable Player Award for Adelaide United’s Women’s Team.
