Adelaide United’s A-League Golden Boot winner Sergio van Dijk has labelled his award as a personal highlight in his career.
Van Dijk netted 16 times for the Reds in the regular season to take home the gong for top goal scorer and finished five goals clear of his nearest rival, Brisbane Roar’s Kosta Barbarouses.
His stunning season included a run of 10 goals in nine games, scoring a double on three occasions but the highlight came in the form of a second-half hat-trick in United’s record 8-1 demolition of North Queensland Fury.
Van Dijk’s team-mate and winner of the prestigious Johnny Warren Medal , Marcos Flores, also scored a hat-trick in the record-breaking win to become the first pair in A-League history to each score three in a single match.
But despite the accolade, van Dijk admitted he would have preferred to win the grand final with United.
”For me personally it’s a highlight in my career,” the Dutchman said.
“To receive the award was really great. I would have rather won the grand final to be honest because that’s the biggest prize you can win over here.”
Van Dijk signed for Adelaide from Brisbane Roar for the Reds 2010 AFC Champions League campaign before inking a permanent deal with United.
The Reds marksman is tipping his former side to take out the A-League crown with a win over Central Coast Mariners in the grand final on Sunday.
“If they just stay focussed and they play the way they have been playing the whole season then I don’t think they’ll have any problem, he said.”
“I’m happy for them. I wished them luck before the season and said I hope we can meet in the final but Adelaide win – that’s not the case but I hope it’s for them.”
After collecting the wooden spoon last campaign, van Dijk acknowledged this season was ‘decent’ for the Reds, as they rose to finish third on the ladder under the tutelage of Dutch coach Rini Coolen in his debut A-League season.
But the Dutch-born striker admitted he was disappointed United weren’t able to advance past the second week of the finals after being bundled out losing at 3-2 at home to Gold Coast United.
“I think there was more in it (the season) with the quality we have,” van Dijk said.
“That’s why I’m still disappointed we didn’t go further in the finals. But, coming from where Adelaide came last season, it’s decent.”
“But we’re not happy and next season we want to try and do better than this season as well.”
