Welcome to A-Leagues Life, where KEEPUP brings you all the latest news and goings on at your club. This is how the week is shaping up across the A-Leagues and beyond.
Report: Irankunda linked with AC Milan, Inter and Liverpool
A report from Italy claims three more of European football’s biggest clubs are reportedly interested in the services of Adelaide United’s teenage star Nestory Irankunda.
According to calciomercato.it, Irankunda is on the radar of reigning Serie A champions AC Milan, UEFA Champions League finalists Internazionale and Premier League giants Liverpool.
Silvio Berlusconi owned Monza are also said to be interested, along with clubs from Belgium.
The report states Milan – who were bundled out of the Champions League in the Semi Finals last week to their arch-rivals – are “in love” with the idea of signing Irankunda and wanted to sign him in January.
The report also states Milan don’t have the possibility of “blocking” a non-EU spot on their team for a year. Under current Serie A regulations, clubs can only sign two non-EU players a season.
Stefano Pioli’s side are set to target reinforcements on the right flank in the off-season, despite Irankunda not being able to join a European side until 2024.
Under FIFA regulations, the teenage phenom won’t be able to move to Europe until his 18th birthday (February 9 2024), meaning he looks set to remain with the Reds for another Isuzue UTE A-League season.
However, German giants Bayern Munich are reportedly leading the race with the “most convincing offer of the four currently on the table”.
Irankunda played his final match of the Isuzu UTE A-League season on the weekend in Adelaide United’s 2-0 (4-1 on aggregate) Semi Final second leg defeat to Central Coast Mariners at Industree Group Stadium.
The 17-year-old scored five goals and tallied two assists in 22 appearances for the Reds this season.
Aussie goalkeeper union in Japan
Australian football legend Melissa Barbieri was in Japan to support fellow goalkeeper Mitch Langerak over the weekend, as the latter took the field for J.League side Nagoya Grampus against Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Barbieri posted a photo of her at Toyota Stadium on her Instagram, kitted out in a customised Nagoya kit with Langerak on the back.
Langerak’s Nagoya went on to come away with the three points, as a double from Kasper Junker helped his side overturn an early deficit to secure a 2-1 victory.
Beevers and Hintzen take home top Glory gong
Mark Beevers and Cyera Hintzen were named the winners of Perth Glory’s Most Glorious Player award over the weekend, after outstanding respective seasons.
Beevers became one of Perth’s most integral players at the heart of defence this season, starting 24 games for their Isuzu UTE A-League side and scoring two goals.
Meanwhile, Hintzen was rewarded for another excellent campaign for Glory’s Liberty A-League side, where she won the Golden Boot for a second successive campaign with six goals and added seven assists.
READ: Every A-Leagues club’s end of season award winners
The duo also won the Players’ Player of the Year awards to go with winning Perth’s highest end of season honour.
Young gun Keegan Jelacic took home the DT38 U-23 Player of the Year, while Ryan Williams and Hana Lowry won the Mens’s and Women’s Members Player of the Year respectively.
Full List of Perth Glory’s 2023 Awards
Men’s Most Glorious Player – Mark Beevers
Women’s Most Glorious Player – Cyera Hintzen
Men’s Players’ Player of the Year – Mark Beevers
Women’s Players’ Player of the Year – Cyera Hintzen
Members’ Men’s Player of the Year – Ryan Williams
Members’ Women’s Player of the Year – Hana Lowry
DT38 U-23 Player of the Year – Keegan Jelacic
Men’s Golden Boot – Adam Taggart/David Williams
Women’s Golden Boot – Cyera Hintzen
Men’s Goal of the Year – Adam Taggart v Adelaide United (Round 25)
Women’s Goal of the Year – Hannah Blake v Melbourne City (Round 19)
Mariners react to locking in first Grand Final spot in a decade
Oh, what a night it was in Gosford.
Central Coast Mariners will play in the Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final for the first time in a decade after they saw off Adelaide United in the Semi Finals.
Over 20,000 people packed into Industree Group Stadium to watch the contest on Saturday night, which was the largest crowd to watch the Mariners at home in the history of the club.
Marco Tulio and Sammy Silvera were central to the win, scoring the goals in the 2-0 win to secure their place in the decider where they will face Melbourne City on June 3.
MAGIC MARINERS! Historic night sees Central Coast reach first Grand Final in 10 years
GRAND FINAL STAKES RISE: Monty calls out rival just minutes after full-time: ‘We’ll see him in two weeks’
“What a beautiful atmosphere yesterday, a beautiful environment to be playing a football game. Thanks to all the fans. We’re in the final, one more to go my guys,” Tulio said on Instagram.
While Silvera, who returned home to Gosford after two years away from the club, also expressed his appreciation to the Mariners faithful.
As did Christian Theoharous, who is now on the precipice of winning back-to-back Championships and his third overall in the space of five years.
Theoharous joined the Mariners from Western United in January after only a handful of appearances in a season and a half at the 2022 Champions.
The winger has found a new lease of life since arriving in Gosford, putting in a string of impressive performances for the Grand Finalists.
FIVE THINGS YOU MISSED: From Mariners v Adelaide SF: ‘Oh my god… They look like Barca!’
LOCKED IN: Details of 2023 Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final
OUTRAGEOUS: Fans stunned by ‘filthy’ Tulio skill
Roar extend head coach for another season
Garrath McPherson has signed a one year extension as head coach of Brisbane Roar’s Liberty A-League side.
McPherson will take charge for a third consecutive season, after previously serving as an assistant for three campaigns – including the Premiership winning side in 2017/18.
“I’m always excited, I love football, I love coaching the A-League. And it’s more so exciting coming into this season now that a lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into the last two to re-build the roster and move forward,” McPherson said.
Brisbane finished 9th on the standings last season, after finishing 6th in McPherson’s first season at the helm a year prior.
