Adelaide United FC has appointed former Socceroos and Adelaide City player Joe Mullen as the Coach for the club’s National Youth League squad.
Adelaide United FC has appointed former Socceroos and Adelaide City player Joe Mullen as the Coach for the club-s National Youth League squad.
Mullen was given the nod over a strong list of candidates for the position, the current South Australian State and State Under 23 Coach delighted to have the responsibility of forming The Reds- new Youth League team.
“It-s very exciting to have the opportunity to work with some of the best young kids in the country and exciting for me as a coach to be able to have the opportunity to do so and also to work within a professional environment such as the Adelaide United Football Club,” Mullen said.
“I am sure I will be able to impart a lot of knowledge from my playing days as well as my coaching onto these young players to hopefully one day get them going out of the Youth League and into a Hyundai A-League contract.”
Adelaide United Football Director Michael Petrillo said on Mullen-s appointment, “There were a number of excellent candidates that we interviewed for the position. After some debate we decided that Joe ticked all of the boxes and we think we-ve chosen an extremely good coach who suits the role perfectly.”
Mullen will work closely with United-s Hyundai A-League Head Coach Aurelio Vidmar and Assistant Coach Phil Stubbins, developing and teaching young players what is expected at senior level an area of high importance to Mullen.
“What we want to do is any player who goes into the Hyundai A-League, there has got to be a seamless transition into the senior set up. The rules and culture of the club that they learn at the young level, they need to take into the seniors.”
Mullen, who is the uncle of Adelaide United and Qantas Young Socceroos member Matthew Mullen and the father of 2008/2009 Adelaide United signing Daniel Mullen, has over 11 years coaching experience from being in charge of Adelaide City in the old National Soccer League (a club he made 334 appearances for as a player) to a number of teams in the Victorian Premier League.
A winner of three NSL championships as a player, Mullen has also coached at youth level as the Youth and Junior Coach Instructor for Football Federation South Australia and having been in charge of the Victorian Under 16 State Team.
Adelaide United is expected to sign 10-12 new youth players to supplement the senior squad, players aged 17-21 eligible for a contract and Mullen believes South Australia-s up and coming talent is up with the rest of the country.
“Technically they are no worse, they have been prepared well by their local coaches and the institute programs here so I see no difference at all, it-s just a matter of getting that technical ability that they-ve got to be able to perform under pressure,” Mullen said.
Over the next 4-6 weeks Mullen and the club will begin to identify possible signings for Adelaide United-s inaugural Youth League squad.
Joe MULLEN
Coaching History
Current South Australia State and U/23 Coach
Youth and Junior Coach Instructor
2005-06 Croydon Kings SC
2003-04 Green Gully SC
2003 Victorian U/16 State Coach
1996-99 Adelaide City SC (Assistant Coach 1997-99)
Playing History
1983-96 Adelaide City SC (334 appearances, 75 goals)
1987-88 Socceroos (2 appearances)
Major Honours & Coaching Achievements
Hall of Fame ‘Award of Distinction- (2005)
3 NSL Championships
2 National League Cup Wins
2003-04 Victorian Premier League Premiers (Green Gully)
2002 Victorian Italia Cup Winners (Bulleen Zebras)
