Edit filter log

Details for log entry 32001067

21:48, 22 February 2022: 193.114.148.190 (talk) triggered filter 680, performing the action "edit" on A-League Men. Actions taken: Disallow; Filter description: Adding emoji unicode characters (examine)

Changes made in edit

Action parameters

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Name of the user account (`user_name`)	'193.114.148.190'
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Whether the user is editing from mobile app (`user_app`)	false
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Page ID (`page_id`)	1301373
Page namespace (`page_namespace`)	0
Page title without namespace (`page_title`)	'A-League Men'
Full page title (`page_prefixedtitle`)	'A-League Men'
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Last ten users to contribute to the page (`page_recent_contributors`)	[ 0 => 'SuperJew', 1 => 'SAIKAT MARINERS DEY', 2 => 'Captainsam3054', 3 => 'Andethyst', 4 => '103.16.98.130', 5 => 'Doucet389', 6 => 'Alza08', 7 => 'Idiosincrático', 8 => 'Matilda Maniac', 9 => 'ClueBot NG' ]
Page age in seconds (`page_age`)	542044826
Action (`action`)	'edit'
Edit summary/reason (`summary`)	'fixed some tings uno'
Old content model (`old_content_model`)	'wikitext'
New content model (`new_content_model`)	'wikitext'
Old page wikitext, before the edit (`old_wikitext`)	'{{Short description\|Australian premier association football league}} {{About\|the Australian premier men's association football league\|the Australian premier women's association football league of the same name\|A-League Women\|the Australian youth league\|A-League Youth}} {{Use Australian English\|date=April 2019}} {{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox football league \| logo = Isuzu UTE A-League Men.svg \| pixels = 300 \| country = Australia (11 teams) \| other countries = New Zealand (1 team) \| confed = [[Asian Football Confederation\|AFC]] \| founded = {{Start date and age\|df=yes\|April 2004}} \| first = [[2005–06 A-League\|2005–06]] \| teams = [[#Clubs\|12]] \| levels = [[Australian soccer league system\|1]] \| domest_cup = [[Australia Cup]] \| confed_cup = [[AFC Champions League]]<br/>[[AFC Cup]] \| champions = [[Melbourne City FC\|Melbourne City]] (1st title) \| season = [[2021 A-League Grand Final\|2021]] \| most_champs = [[Sydney FC]] (5 titles) \| premiers = [[Melbourne City FC\|Melbourne City]] (1st title) \| prem_season = [[2020–21 A-League\|2020–21]] \| most_prems = [[Sydney FC]] (4 titles) \| most_appearances = [[Nikolai Topor-Stanley]] (350) \| top_goalscorer = [[Besart Berisha]] (136) \| tv = {{plainlist\| * '''Australia:''' * [[Network 10]], [[Paramount+#Sports programming\|Paramount+]] * '''New Zealand:''' * [[Prime (New Zealand TV channel)\|Prime]], [[Sky Sport (New Zealand)\|Sky Sport]] * '''International:''' * [[A-League#Current broadcasters\|Broadcasters]] }} \| website = [https://keepup.com.au/news/a-league-men keepup.com.au] \| current = [[2021–22 A-League Men]] }} '''A-League Men''' (known as the '''Isuzu UTE A-League''' for sponsorship reasons) is the highest-level [[professionalism in association football\|professional]] men's [[association football\|soccer]] league in Australia and New Zealand. At the top of the [[Australian soccer league system\|Australian league system]], it is the country's primary men's competition for the sport. A-League Men was established in 2004 as the '''A-League''' by the [[Football Australia\|Football Federation Australia]] (FFA) as a successor to the [[National Soccer League]] (NSL) and competition commenced in August 2005. The [[sports league\|league]] is currently contested by twelve teams; eleven based in Australia and one based in New Zealand. The men's, [[A-League Women\|women's]] and [[A-League Youth\|youth]] leagues brought together under a unified '''A-Leagues''' banner.<ref>[https://www.a-league.com.au/news/a-leagues-reveal-a-new-identity-australian-football Official site] on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.</ref> Seasons run from October to May and include a 26-round [[Season (sports)#Regular season\|regular season]] followed by a Finals Series [[playoffs\|playoff]] involving the six highest-placed teams, culminating in a [[grand final]] match. The winner of the regular season tournament is dubbed the 'Premier' while the winner of the grand final is the season's 'Champion'. This differs from the other major football codes in Australia, where 'premier' refers to the winner of the grand final and the winner of the regular season is the '[[Minor premiership\|minor premier]]'. Successful A-League Men clubs gain qualification into the Asian continental club competition, the [[AFC Champions League\|Asian Football Confederation Champions League]] (ACL), also known as the "AFC Champions League". In [[2014 AFC Champions League\|2014]], the [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC\|Western Sydney Wanderers]] became the first and only winning Australian club. Similar to the United States and Canada's [[Major League Soccer]], as well as other professional sports leagues in Australia, A-League Men does not practice [[promotion and relegation]]. Since the league's [[2005–06 A-League\|inaugural season]], a total of seven clubs have been crowned A-League Premiers and six clubs have been crowned A-League Champions. The current premier is [[Melbourne City FC]], who finished first in the [[2020–21 A-League]]. The current champions are [[Melbourne City FC]], who won the [[2021 A-League Grand Final]] and their first championship. ==History== ===Origins=== A national [[round-robin tournament]] existed in various forms prior to the formation of the A-League, with the most notable being the [[National Soccer League]] (NSL). The formation of the NSL came after [[Australia national soccer team\|Australia]]'s qualification for the [[1974 FIFA World Cup]], which led to discussion of a national league, with 14 teams eventually chosen to participate in the [[1977 National Soccer League\|inaugural season]] of the NSL in 1977.<ref name="worldgamedownunder">{{cite book \| title=The World Game Downunder \| publisher=Australian Society for Sports History \| date=2006 \|editor1=Hay, Roy \|editor2=Murray, Bill \| location=Melbourne \| page=120 \| isbn=0975761668}}</ref> Under the guidance of the then-governing body, the Australian Soccer Federation (later Soccer Australia), the NSL flourished through the 1980s and early 1990s but then fell into decline with the increasing departure of Australian players to overseas leagues, a disastrous television deal with the [[Seven Network]] and the resulting lack of sponsorship.<ref name="roar-briefhistorynsl">{{cite web \| url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/04/19/a-brief-history-of-the-nsl-part-iv/ \| title=A brief history of the NSL: Part IV \| work=The Roar \| date=19 April 2011 \| access-date=9 April 2013}}</ref>{{unreliable source?\|date=August 2014}} Few clubs continued to grow with [[Sydney Olympic FC\|Sydney Olympic]], [[Perth Glory FC\|Perth Glory]], and the newly established [[Adelaide United FC\|Adelaide United]] the exception in a dying league.<ref name="sydneyolympic-origins">{{cite web \| url=http://www.sydneyolympicfc.com/history/origins \| title=Origins \| publisher=Sydney Olympic Football Club \| access-date=9 April 2013 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419083514/http://www.sydneyolympicfc.com/history/origins \| archive-date=19 April 2013 \| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="ffa-history-wanderers">{{cite web\|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/howe-opinion-display/History-against-the-Wanderers/61310 \|title=History against the Wanderers \|work=footballaustralia.com.au \|publisher=Football Federation Australia \|date=21 February 2013 \|access-date=9 April 2013 \|author=Howe, Andrew \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140411063031/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/howe-opinion-display/History-against-the-Wanderers/61310 \|archive-date=11 April 2014 }}</ref><ref name="roar-wanderers-ghosts">{{cite web \| url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/02/25/wanderers-help-lay-some-ex-nsl-ghosts-to-rest/ \| title=Wanderers help lay some ex-NSL ghosts to rest \| work=The Roar \| date=25 February 2013 \| access-date=9 April 2013}}</ref>{{unreliable source?\|date=August 2014}} In April 2003, the [[Australian Government\|Australian Federal Government]] initiated the Independent Soccer Review Committee to investigate the governance and management of the sport in Australia, including that of the NSL.<ref name="age-crawford-for-all">{{cite news \| url=http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/crawford-wants-sport-to-be-for-all-not-just-the-privileged-20091118-il27.html \| title=Crawford wants sport to be for all, not just the privileged \| work=The Age \| date=18 November 2009 \| access-date=9 April 2013 \| author=Baum, Greg \| location=Melbourne}}</ref> In December 2003, the [[2003 Report of the Independent Soccer Review Committee\|Crawford Report]] found that the NSL was financially unviable, and in response the chairman of the sports new governing body, [[Frank Lowy]] of the [[Football Australia\|Football Federation Australia]], announced that a task force would be formed to create a new national competition as a successor to the NSL which dissolved at the conclusion of the [[2003–04 National Soccer League\|2003–04 season]] after 27 years of operation.<ref name="NSL-A-League">{{cite web \| url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/simon-says-10-years-on-from-last-nsl-game-the-past-and-present-are-starting-to-share-the-future/story-e6frf4gl-1226877457498 \| title=Simon Says: 10 years on from last NSL game, the past and present are starting to share the future \| work=Fox Sports \| date=8 April 2014 \| access-date=17 June 2014 \| author=Hill, Simon \| author-link=Simon Hill}}</ref> ===Foundations=== The A-League was announced in April 2004, as a successor to the NSL.<ref name="NSL-A-League"/> Eight teams would be part of the new national competition, with one team from each city of Sydney, [[Melbourne]], [[Brisbane]], [[Adelaide]], [[Perth]], [[Newcastle, New South Wales\|Newcastle]], plus a New Zealand team and one from a remaining expressions of interest from either Melbourne or Sydney. The competition start date was set for August 2005.<ref name="age-jobs-on-hold">{{cite news \| url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=AGE040323JKS7R6E192E \| title=Hundreds of jobs on hold in league revamp \| work=The Age \| date=23 March 2004 \| access-date=5 September 2014 \| author=Lynch, Michael \| quote=If the 'eighth best' application comes from Sydney or Melbourne, either of those cities would have two teams.}}</ref><ref name="a-leagueHistory">{{cite web \| url=http://www.a-league.com.au/about/our-history/ubjd1030hnyy1bgqqajtntuuy \| title=Our History \| work=Hyundai A-League \| publisher=Football Federation Australia \| access-date=15 February 2013}}</ref> By June of that year, 20 submissions had been received and a month later 12 consortiums sent in their final bids for the eight spots. Three bids were received from Melbourne, two each from Sydney and Brisbane, one from each of the remaining preferred cities and a bid from the [[New South Wales]] [[Central Coast (New South Wales)\|Central Coast]] city of [[Gosford]]. Over the next three months, each bid was reviewed and on 1 November 2004, the eight successful bidders and the major sponsor were revealed, for what would be known as the Hyundai A-League, with the [[Hyundai Motor Company]] unveiled as the official naming rights sponsor for the league.<ref name="a-leagueHistory"/> The eight founding teams for the league were [[Adelaide United FC\|Adelaide United]], [[Central Coast Mariners FC\|Central Coast Mariners]], [[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]], [[Newcastle Jets FC\|Newcastle Jets]], [[New Zealand Knights FC\|New Zealand Knights]], [[Perth Glory FC\|Perth Glory]], [[Brisbane Roar FC\|Queensland Roar]] and [[Sydney FC]], with four former NSL clubs taking part, those being Adelaide United, Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory, as well as NSL club [[Queensland Lions FC\|Brisbane Lions]] who withdrew their first team from the Queensland State league and entered it in to the competition as Queensland Roar<ref>{{Cite web\|title=About Us – Lions FC\|url=https://qldlionsfc.com.au/about-us/\|language=en-AU\|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> plus New Zealand Knights who were formed from [[Football Kingz FC\|New Zealand Football Kingz]]. Each club was given a five-year exclusivity deal in its own market as part of the league's "one-city, one-team" policy. This was intended to allow clubs to grow and develop an identity in their respective region without local competition.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Was one-team one-city a mistake by the FFA?\|url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/12/18/was-one-team-one-city-a-mistake-by-the-ffa/\|work=The Roar\|access-date=8 January 2013}}</ref>{{unreliable source?\|date=August 2014}} ===Initial seasons=== On 26 August 2005, 16 months after the demise of the NSL, the [[2005–06 A-League\|inaugural season]] of the A-League began.<ref name="a-leagueHistory"/> The first season would see Adelaide United win the premier's plate by seven points over Sydney FC with Central Coast and Newcastle filling the final two spots in the final series.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3169&pageid=11\|title=Final four confirmed\|date=30 January 2006\|first=Marc\|last=Fox\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060904022337/http://a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3169&pageid=11\|archive-date=4 September 2006}}</ref> In the final series, it was Sydney that took out the title after they defeated Central Coast by a [[Steve Corica]] goal to claim the first title on 5 March 2006.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3603\|title=Sydney FC prevails\|date=5 March 2006\|first=Adam\|last=Lucas\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903044639/https://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3603\|archive-date=3 September 2006}}</ref> The following season saw [[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]] claim the A-League premiers plate when they smashed [[Adelaide United FC\|Adelaide United]] 6–0 in the final at the [[Docklands Stadium\|Telstra Dome]] with [[Archie Thompson]] scoring five goals in the rout.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-02-18/thompson-haul-guides-victory-to-a-league-crown/2197628\|title=Thompson haul guides Victory to A-League crown\|date=10 February 2007\|access-date=6 May 2019\|first=Chris\|last=Paine\|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> But the season wasn't without a change with the [[New Zealand Knights FC\|New Zealand Knights]] being replaced by the [[Wellington Phoenix FC\|Wellington Phoenix]] after the Knights were taken over by [[New Zealand Football]] after the team only won six times in forty-two games and selected overseas talent instead of local.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/soccer/new-franchise-keeps-nz-in-a-league/story-e6frfg8x-1111113185168\|title=New franchise keeps NZ in A-League\|work=Herald Sun\|date=20 March 2007\|access-date=6 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/a-league-soccer/news/article.cfm?c_id=523&objectid=10415329\|title=Soccer: NZ Soccer willing to rescue 'embarrassing' Knights\|date=14 December 2006\|access-date=6 May 2019\|first=Daniel\|last=Gilhooy\|newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]]}}</ref> ===Development=== {{See also\|List of A-League Men seasons}} Both [[Gold Coast United FC\|Gold Coast United]] and [[North Queensland Fury FC\|North Queensland Fury]] joined the league in the [[2009–10 A-League\|2009–10 season]]. On 12 June 2009, [[Melbourne City FC\|Melbourne Heart]] was awarded a licence to join the [[2010–11 A-League\|2010–11 season]].<ref>{{Cite news\|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25629397-5000940,00.html?from=public_rss\|title=Melbourne awarded licence for second A-League team\|last=Reed\|first=Ron\|date=13 June 2009\|work=[[Fox Sports (Australia)\|Fox Sports]]\|access-date=12 October 2009}}</ref> On 1 March 2011 [[North Queensland Fury FC\|North Queensland Fury]]'s A-League licence was revoked for financial reasons.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/197619,hal-hath-no-fury.aspx \|title=HAL Hath No Fury \|work=[[FourFourTwo (Australia)\|Australian FourFourTwo]] \|date=1 March 2011 \|access-date=22 December 2012}}</ref> On 29 February 2012, [[Gold Coast United FC\|Gold Coast United]] also had its licence revoked.<ref>{{cite news\| url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/gold-coast-owner-clive-palmer-loses-a-league-licence/story-e6frg7mf-1226285136612 \| first=Ray \| last=Gatt \| title=Gold Coast owner Clive Palmer loses A-League licence \| date=29 February 2012 \| work=The Australian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/news/1095969/Glimmer-of-hope-for-Gold-Coast-s-future \|title=Glimmer of hope for Gold Coast's future \|work=The World Game \|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service \|date=4 March 2012 \|access-date=22 December 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416024100/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/news/1095969/Glimmer-of-hope-for-Gold-Coast-s-future \|archive-date=16 April 2012 \|url-status=dead }}</ref> On 4 April 2012, it was announced that a new Western Sydney-based club, [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC\|Western Sydney Wanderers]], would join the league for the [[2012–13 A-League\|2012–13 season]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/New-Hyundai-ALeague-club-for-Western-Sydney/46702\|title=New Hyundai A-League club for Western Sydney\|publisher=Football Federation Australia\|access-date=22 December 2012\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720011124/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/New-Hyundai-ALeague-club-for-Western-Sydney/46702\|archive-date=20 July 2012}}</ref> In January 2014, Melbourne Heart was acquired by the [[City Football Group]] and was renamed [[Melbourne City FC\|Melbourne City]] ahead of the [[2014–15 A-League\|2014–15 season]].<ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite web\|title=Manchester City buy A-League's Melbourne Heart\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jan/23/manchester-city-buy-melbourne-heart\|work=The Guardian\|access-date=23 January 2014}}</ref> In February 2018, officials announced that the league would expand to 12 teams for the 2019–20 season.<ref name="The Sydney Morning Herald">{{cite web\|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/ffa-announce-aleague-expansion-to-12-teams-but-clubs-are-wary-of-smokescreen-20180216-h0w8ao.html\|title=FFA announce A-League expansion to 12 teams but clubs are wary of 'smokescreen'\|work=The Sydney Morning Herald\|date=16 February 2018}}</ref> Later that year, the league announced that [[Western United FC]] would join the competition in 2019–20 and [[Macarthur FC\|Macarthur]] would enter the following season (2020–21).<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-13/a-league-adds-west-melbourne-macarthur-south-west-sydney/10614156\|title=A-League approves Western Melbourne, Macarthur South-West Sydney expansion bids\|work=ABC News\|date=21 December 2018}}</ref> In the lead-up to the expansion announcements in 2019, club stakeholders entered into discussions with [[Football Federation Australia]] (FFA) to take over ownership of the competition. The league had been created and operated by the FFA since its inception in 2004, though by 2018 the FFA and clubs were at loggerheads over the permanent ownership structure of the league.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/football-s-heart-and-soul-deserting-the-game-amid-governance-gridlock\|title=Football's 'heart and soul' deserting the game amid governance gridlock\|work=The World Game\|publisher=SBS\|date=3 August 2018}}</ref> A [[FIFA]]-backed congress review working group issued a sweeping 100-page report in August 2018, recommending an expanded domestic congress and an independent A-League, controlled and operated by the clubs.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league-could-go-independent-by-2019\|title=A-League could go independent by 2019\|work=The World Game\|publisher=SBS\|date=7 August 2018}}</ref> On 1 July 2019, the FFA and Australian Professional Football Clubs Association (the body representing the A-League clubs) announced an agreement had been reached for the FFA to relinquish control of the league to the clubs by the following month, in time for the start of the [[2019–20 A-League\|2019–20 season]].<ref name=IndependenceAchieved>{{cite web\|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/ffa-to-relinquish-control-of-a-league-after-independence-deal-reached-20190701-p522vy.html\|title=FFA to relinquish control of A-League after independence deal reached\|work=The Sydney Morning Herald\|author=Vince Rugari\|date=1 July 2019}}</ref> The agreement brought the sport in line with the governance structure utilised in most [[Football in Europe\|European]] leagues.<ref name=IndependenceAchieved/><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.ffa.com.au/news/new-leagues-working-group-nlwg-reaches-principle-agreement-recommendations-a-new-era-football\|title=New Leagues Working Group (NLWG) update\|work=Football Federation Australia\|date=30 June 2019}}</ref> The new ownership body is called the Australian Professional Leagues, a consortium of the A-League clubs and their owners, with certain rights held by the FFA, and a capital investment & ownership stake held by American firm [[Silver Lake (investment firm)\|Silver Lake.]] In 2020, football experts concluded A-League is entering a new crisis era, due to lack of major competitiveness and that total reforms must be done to improve the league, including the introduction of promotion and relegation system, and this has started to be debated.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/relegation-and-promotionemotion-vital-for-the-a-league-548078\|title=Relegation and promotion 'emotion' vital for the A-League}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://worldfootballindex.com/2020/10/australia-football-a-league-promotion-relegation-expansion/\|title = A-League in Crisis? - Expansion and Promotion-Relegation Could be Key\|date = 8 October 2020}}</ref> In response, A-League officials in May 2021 announced that the league will align to the Domestic Match Calendar to avoid clashing with FIFA Days, as well as introducing Domestic Transfer System and National Club Licensing frameworks.<ref name=ftblseconddivision>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/final-model-major-a-league-second-division-meeting-set-for-june-565022\|title='Final model': Major A-League second division meeting set for June}}</ref><ref>https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/football-australia-national-second-division-step-closer-following-formation-of-domestic-match-calendar/news-story/a0cc7e5830907abc240841bcb8a7b8a2</ref> ==Competition format== ===Regular season=== The regular season runs mainly during the Australian summer, from early October to April of the following year. The competition consists of 33 rounds, with each team playing every other team three times. The teams allotted two home matches against an opponent in one season are allotted one home match against that opponent in the following season. Each match sees the winning team awarded three competition points, with one point each for a [[Tie (draw)\|draw]]. The club at the top of this ladder is crowned A-League Premiers, and since the [[2005–06 A-League\|2005–06 season]] has been entered into the [[AFC Champions League]].<ref name="AFCCL">{{cite web \|url=http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3823 \|title=Grand Final rematch to open HAL season \|work=A-League.com.au \|publisher=Football Federation Australia \|date=1 May 2006 \|access-date=3 November 2006 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903095643/http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3823 \|archive-date=3 September 2006 }}</ref><ref name="foxsports-newfinals">{{cite news \| url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/a-league-season-full-fixture-list-and-new-finals-series/story-e6frf4gl-1226400860929 \| title=2012–2013 A-League season: full fixture list and new finals series \| work=Fox Sports \| date=19 June 2012 \| access-date=2 January 2013}}</ref> The Premier is presented with a trophy known as the Premier's Plate.<ref>{{cite web\|title=A-League: HAL 7 (2011–2012 Season)\|url=http://back-of-the-net.com/2011-2012/R25/R25-Review.htm\|publisher=back-of-the-net.com\|access-date=3 December 2014}}</ref> At the completion of the regular season the top six placed teams on the league table progress to the finals series. The position of each team is determined by the highest number of points accumulated during the regular season. If two or more teams are level on points, the following criteria are applied in order until one of the teams can be determined as the higher ranked:<ref name="competitionrules">{{cite web \|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/competition-rules\|title=Competition Rules\|work=A-League\|access-date=18 September 2020}}</ref> # Highest goal difference; # Highest number of goals scored; # Highest number of points accumulated in matches between the teams concerned; # Highest goal difference in matches between the teams concerned; # Highest number of goals scored in matches between the teams concerned; # Lowest number of red cards accumulated; # Lowest number of yellow cards accumulated; # Toss of a coin.<ref name="competitionrules"/> ===Finals series=== {{See also\|A-League Finals}} [[File:Melbourne Victory 2007 A-League Grand Final.jpg\|thumb\|[[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]] celebrating after their [[2007 A-League Grand Final]] victory.]] The top six clubs at the conclusion of the regular season progress to the finals series. The finals series culminates to the A-League grand final, where the winner is crowned A-League champion and receives a place in the [[AFC Champions League]]. The club that wins the grand final is presented with the A-League Champions Trophy. The finals series consists of six teams who are placed by rank, as determined at the end of the regular season. The finals series runs over four weeks. In the first week of fixtures, the third-through-sixth ranked teams play a single-elimination match, with the two winners of those matches joining the first and second ranked teams in two-legged ties played over two weeks. The two winners of those matches meet in the grand final. This method was initially adopted for the 2021–22 season.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/extra-finals-adds-drama-202122-isuzu-ute-a-league-season\|title=Extra finals adds to drama for 2021/22 Isuzu UTE A-League season\|work=A-League\|date=29 October 2021}}</ref> Of the two grand finalists, the team that finished higher on the ladder at the conclusion of the regular season hosts the grand final. The only exception to this is if the FA deems that team's [[Home (sports)\|home ground]] to be an inappropriate venue. For example, in [[2008 A-League Grand Final\|2008]], [[Central Coast Mariners FC\|Central Coast Mariners]] (as the higher-placed team) hosted the grand final against the [[Newcastle Jets FC\|Newcastle Jets]] at [[Sydney Football Stadium]], due to FFA deciding that Central Coast Mariners home stadium, [[Central Coast Stadium]] with a capacity of 20,000, was too small for the event.<ref>{{cite news \| url=http://news.smh.com.au/sport/sfs-to-host-aleague-grand-final-20080212-1rrl.html \| title=SFS to host A-League grand final \| work=The Sydney Morning Herald \| date=12 February 2008 \| access-date=9 June 2013 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017184255/http://news.smh.com.au/sport/sfs-to-host-aleague-grand-final-20080212-1rrl.html \| archive-date=17 October 2013 \| url-status=dead}}</ref> '''Grand final host stadium''' {\| class="wikitable sortable" \|- ! Stadium !! Location !! {{Abbr\|No.\|Number}} hosted !! Years hosted \|- \|[[Sydney Football Stadium]]\|\|[[Sydney]]\|\|4\|\|[[2006 A-League Grand Final\|2006]], [[2008 A-League Grand Final\|2008]], [[2013 A-League Grand Final\|2013]], [[2017 A-League Grand Final\|2017]] \|- \|[[Docklands Stadium]]\|\|[[Melbourne]]\|\|3\|\|[[2007 A-League Grand Final\|2007]], [[2009 A-League Grand Final\|2009]], [[2010 A-League Grand Final\|2010]] \|- \|[[Lang Park]]\|\|[[Brisbane]]\|\|3\|\|[[2011 A-League Grand Final\|2011]], [[2012 A-League Grand Final\|2012]], [[2014 A-League Grand Final\|2014]] \|- \|[[Melbourne Rectangular Stadium]]\|\|[[Melbourne]]\|\|2\|\|[[2015 A-League Grand Final\|2015]], [[2021 A-League Grand Final\|2021]] \|- \|[[Adelaide Oval]]\|\|[[Adelaide]]\|\|1\|\|[[2016 A-League Grand Final\|2016]] \|- \|[[Hunter Stadium]]\|\|[[Newcastle, New South Wales\|Newcastle]]\|\|1\|\|[[2018 A-League Grand Final\|2018]] \|- \|[[Perth Stadium]]\|\|[[Perth]]\|\|1\|\|[[2019 A-League Grand Final\|2019]] \|- \|[[Western Sydney Stadium]]\|\|[[Sydney]]\|\|1\|\|[[2020 A-League Grand Final\|2020]] \|} ===Continental qualification=== {{See also\|Australian clubs in the AFC Champions League}} [[File:2010 AFC Champions League Adelaide United vs Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.jpg\|thumb\|[[Adelaide United FC\|Adelaide United]] against [[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]] in the [[AFC Champions League]] in 2010.]] In 2004–05, Australia was still a part of the [[Oceania Football Confederation]] and [[Sydney FC]] won the right to compete in the [[OFC Champions League\|Oceania Club Championship]] after defeating the [[Central Coast Mariners FC\|Central Coast Mariners]] in a qualifying tournament. A-League clubs are eligible for participation in the [[AFC Champions League]] competition each season since the [[2007 AFC Champions League\|2007 edition of the tournament]].<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=4304 \|title=Australia received two spots in AFC Champions League \|date=18 July 2006 \|access-date=8 August 2006 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306115719/http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay \|archive-date=6 March 2011 \|url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Wellington Phoenix FC\|Wellington Phoenix]] are not eligible to compete in the Asian Champions League, nor do they compete in the [[OFC Champions League]]. The only Australian side to win the Asian Champions League are the [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC]]. Qualification is determined by league finishing positions and who wins the A-League Grand Final, and the number of positions determined by the Asian Football Confederation club competition ranking. The ACL is split into West & East Asian halves until the Grand Final, and Australia has generally been 4th placed in East Asia and received two direct entry positions and one qualification play-off berth. It is unlikely the A-League will receive more than 3 positions until the competition expands beyond 10 teams.<ref name="ffa-ACLcut">{{cite web\|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/AFC-cuts-Champions-League-slots/54279 \|title=AFC cuts Champions League slots \|publisher=Football Federation Australia \|date=29 November 2012 \|access-date=1 March 2013 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101072710/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/AFC-cuts-Champions-League-slots/54279 \|archive-date=1 November 2014 }}</ref><ref name="twg-acl-cut">{{cite news \| url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/afc-champions-league/news/1131051/A-League-misses-out-on-automatic-ACL-spot \| title=A-League misses out on automatic ACL spot \| work=The World Game \| publisher=Special Broadcasting Service \| date=30 November 2012 \| agency=Australian Associated Press \| access-date=1 March 2013 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018033342/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/afc-champions-league/news/1131051/A-League-misses-out-on-automatic-ACL-spot \| archive-date=18 October 2013 \| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="twg-micallef-acl">{{cite news \| url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/philip-micallef/blog/1131333/AFC-ruling-clouds-A-League-finals \| title=AFC ruling clouds A-League finals \| work=The World Game \|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service\| date=3 December 2012 \| access-date=1 March 2013 \| author=Micallef, Philip}}</ref><ref name="abc-misses-acl-spot">{{cite news \| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-30/a-league-misses-out-on-automatic-acl-spot/4400180 \| title=A-League misses out on automatic ACL spot \| work=ABC News \| date=30 November 2012 \| access-date=17 October 2013 \| publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|title=A-League wins extra Asia spot\|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/a-league-wins-extra-asia-spot/story-fn63e0vj-1226769971483\|work=The Australian\|access-date=11 May 2014}}</ref> ===Other competitions=== Since 2014 clubs also compete in the annual [[FFA Cup]] knock-out tournament.<ref name="FFA Cup How Draw Works">{{cite web\|title=FFA Cup How Draw Works\|url=http://www.theffacup.com.au/about/how-the-draw-wor/726r1tfqt3y813r95pn5ml8b2\|publisher=[[Football Federation Australia]]\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306042936/http://www.theffacup.com.au/about/how-the-draw-wor/726r1tfqt3y813r95pn5ml8b2\|archive-date=6 March 2016}}</ref> From 2020, the top nine teams qualify for the [[2020 FFA Cup]] – entering at the Round of 32 – while the bottom two teams will play-off for a spot in the Round of 32.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/a-league-s-worst-teams-to-play-off-for-spot-in-ffa-cup-20191219-p53lmd.html\|title=A-League's worst teams to play off for spot in FFA Cup\|last=Bossi\|first=Vince Rugari, Dominic\|date=2019-12-19\|website=The Sydney Morning Herald\|language=en\|access-date=2019-12-19}}</ref> Between 2005 and 2008 clubs participated in the [[A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup]] prior to each A-League regular season. In 2013 and 2014 an [[A-League All Stars Game]] was also played as a pre-season [[Exhibition game\|friendly game]] between the league's finest players and a high-profile international team.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Stage set for Manchester United to play A-League all-stars\|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/stage-set-for-manchester-united-to-play-a-league-all-stars/story-fn63e0vj-1226515422264\|newspaper=[[The Australian]]\|access-date=20 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|title=Italian giants Juventus coming to Sydney \|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/aleagueallstars/news-display/italian-giants-juventus-coming-to-sydney/81283 \|publisher=[[Football Federation Australia]] \|access-date=20 December 2013 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221104448/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/aleagueallstars/news-display/italian-giants-juventus-coming-to-sydney/81283 \|archive-date=21 December 2013 }}</ref> Most A-League Men clubs have teams in the [[A-League Youth]] competition, which runs in conjunction with the A-League Men as a national youth developmental and reserve league. All players in the youth teams are between the ages of 16 and 21 as of the start of the calendar year for each new season, while four over-age players from each of the senior teams also allowed to be selected. In addition, the [[A-League Women]] operates as the top division of women's league with affiliations to the men's competition.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/InsideFFA/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=22966 \|title=Women in a league of their own \|date=28 July 2008 \|publisher=[[Football Federation Australia]] \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203151814/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/InsideFFA/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=22966 \|archive-date=3 December 2013 }}</ref> In response to the debate about the development of a new professional second division, the [[Australian Championship]] has been proposed to support the A-League, with the aim to avoid the American franchise-based system and to put in line with European football leagues.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.espn.com.au/football/australia-aus/story/4441281/football-australia-adds-national-second-tier-to-football-pyramid-in-calendar-restructure\|title=Football Australia adds national second tier to football pyramid in calendar restructure\|first=Joey\|last=Lynch\|publisher=[[ESPN]]\|date=30 July 2021}}</ref><ref name=ftblseconddivision/> ==Clubs== {{See also\|List of A-League Men clubs}} {{A-League 2020–2024 map}} The A-League Men is currently contested by 12 teams: eleven from Australia and one from New Zealand. A total of 15 teams have competed at some stage in the league's short history. Only four of these clubs – [[Adelaide United FC\|Adelaide United]], the [[Brisbane Roar FC\|Brisbane Roar]] (as the [[Queensland Lions FC\|Queensland Lions]]), the [[Newcastle Jets FC\|Newcastle Jets]], and the [[Perth Glory FC\|Perth Glory]] – existed before the A-League was formed. [[Gold Coast United FC\|Gold Coast United]], the [[New Zealand Knights FC\|New Zealand Knights]], and the [[Northern Fury FC\|North Queensland Fury]] have formerly competed in the league. Unlike most leagues from across the world, there is no system for [[promotion and relegation]] of teams. The A-Leagues system thus shares some [[Professional sports league organization#Systems around the world\|franchising]] elements with most other professional leagues in Australia, [[Major League Soccer]], and other [[Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada\|major North American-based sports leagues]]. {\| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:left" \|- ! colspan="8" \|Current clubs \|- ! Team ! City ! Stadium ! Capacity ! Founded ! Joined ! Head coach ! Captain \|- \| '''[[Adelaide United FC\|Adelaide United]]''' \| [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]] \| [[Hindmarsh Stadium\|Coopers Stadium]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 17,000 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2003 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2005 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Carl Veart]] \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Stefan Mauk]] \|- \| '''[[Brisbane Roar FC\|Brisbane Roar]]''' \| [[Brisbane]], [[Queensland]] \| [[Dolphin Stadium (Brisbane)\|Moreton Daily Stadium]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 11,500 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 1957 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2005 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Warren Moon (soccer)\|Warren Moon]] \| {{flagicon\|SCO}} [[Tom Aldred]] \|- \| '''[[Central Coast Mariners FC\|Central Coast Mariners]]''' \| [[Gosford]], [[New South Wales]] \| [[Central Coast Stadium]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 20,059 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2004 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2005 \| {{flagicon\|SCO}} [[Nick Montgomery]] \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Oliver Bozanic]] \|- \| '''[[Macarthur FC]]''' \| [[Macarthur, New South Wales\|Macarthur]], [[New South Wales]] \| [[Campbelltown Stadium]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 20,000 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2017 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2020 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Ante Milicic]] \| {{Flagicon\|MEX}} [[Ulises Dávila]] \|- \| '''[[Melbourne City FC\|Melbourne City]]''' \| [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)\|Victoria]] \| [[Melbourne Rectangular Stadium\|AAMI Park]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 30,050 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2009 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2010 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Patrick Kisnorbo]] \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Scott Jamieson]] \|- \| '''[[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]]''' \| [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)\|Victoria]] \| [[Melbourne Rectangular Stadium\|AAMI Park]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 30,050 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2004 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2005 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Tony Popovic]] \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Joshua Brillante]] \|- \| '''[[Newcastle Jets FC\|Newcastle Jets]]''' \| [[Newcastle, New South Wales\|Newcastle]], [[New South Wales]] \| [[Newcastle International Sports Centre\|McDonald Jones Stadium]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 33,000 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2000 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2005 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Arthur Papas]] \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Matthew Jurman]] \|- \| '''[[Perth Glory FC\|Perth Glory]]''' \| [[Perth]], [[Western Australia]] \| [[Perth Oval\|HBF Park]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 20,500 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 1995 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2005 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Richard Garcia]] \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Brandon O'Neill]] \|- \| '''[[Sydney FC]]''' \| [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]] \| [[Jubilee Oval\|Netstrata Jubilee Stadium]]<br />[[Leichhardt Oval]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 20,500<br />20,000 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2004 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2005 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Steve Corica]] \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Alex Wilkinson]] \|- \| '''[[Wellington Phoenix FC\|Wellington Phoenix]]''' \| [[Wellington]], New Zealand (temporarily [[Wollongong]], [[New South Wales]]) \| [[Wellington Regional Stadium\|Sky Stadium]]<br />[[WIN Stadium]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 34,500<br />23,000 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2007 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2007 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Ufuk Talay]] \| {{flagicon\|NZL}} [[Alex Rufer]] \|- \| '''[[Western Sydney Wanderers FC\|Western Sydney Wanderers]]''' \| [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]] \| [[Western Sydney Stadium\|CommBank Stadium]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 30,000 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2012 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2012 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Mark Rudan]] \| {{Flagicon\|AUS}} [[Rhys Williams (soccer, born 1988)\|Rhys Williams]] \|- \| '''[[Western United FC\|Western United]]''' \| [[City of Wyndham\|Wyndham]], [[Victoria (Australia)\|Victoria]] \| [[Kardinia Park (stadium)\|GMHBA Stadium]]<br />[[Eureka Stadium\|Mars Stadium]]<br />[[AAMI Park]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 36,000<br />11,000<br />30,050 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2017 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2019 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[John Aloisi]] \| {{flagicon\|ITA}} [[Alessandro Diamanti]] \|} {\| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:left" \|- ! colspan="7" \|Defunct teams \|- ! Team ! City ! Stadium ! Capacity ! Founded ! Joined ! Left Competition \|- \| '''[[Gold Coast United FC\|Gold Coast United]]''' \| [[Gold Coast, Queensland\|Gold Coast]], [[Queensland]] \| [[Robina Stadium\|Skilled Park]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 27,400 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2008 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2009 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2012 \|- \| '''[[New Zealand Knights FC\|New Zealand Knights]]''' \| [[Auckland]], New Zealand \| [[North Harbour Stadium]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 25,000 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 1998 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2005 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2007 \|- \| '''[[Northern Fury FC\|North Queensland Fury]]''' \| [[Townsville]], [[Queensland]] \| [[Willows Sports Complex\|Dairy Farmers Stadium]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 26,500 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2008 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2009 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2011 \|} ===Timeline=== <timeline> DateFormat = yyyy ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20 Period = from:2005 till:2023 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal PlotArea = right:20 left:0 bottom:50 top:5 #> to display a count on left side of graph, use "left:20" to suppress the count, use "left:20"<# Colors = id:barcolor id:line value:pink id:bg value:white id:Full value:rgb(0.742,0.727,0.852) # Use this color to denote a team that is a current league member id:Former value:rgb(0.4,0.80,0.67) # Use this color to denote a team that is a former league member id:Future value:rgb(0.5,0.7,0.95) PlotData= width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s bar:1 color:Full from:2005 till:end text:Adelaide United (2005/06–present) bar:2 color:Full from:2005 till:end text:Queensland Roar (2005/06–2008/09), then Brisbane Roar (2009/10–present) bar:3 color:Full from:2005 till:end text:Central Coast Mariners (2005/06–present) bar:4 color:Full from:2005 till:end text:Melbourne Victory (2005/06–present) bar:5 color:Full from:2005 till:end text:Newcastle Jets (2005/06–present) bar:6 color:Full from:2005 till:end text:Perth Glory (2005/06–present) bar:7 color:Full from:2005 till:end text:Sydney FC (2005/06–present) bar:8 color:Former from:2005 till:2007 text:New Zealand Knights (2005/06–2006/07) bar:9 color:Full from:2007 till:end text:Wellington Phoenix (2007/08–present) bar:10 color:Former from:2009 till:2012 text:Gold Coast United (2009/10–2011/12) bar:11 color:Former from:2009 till:2011 text:North Queensland Fury (2009/10–2010/11) bar:12 color:Full from:2010 till:end text:Melbourne Heart (2010/11–2013/14), then Melbourne City (2014/15–present) bar:13 color:Full from:2012 till:end text:Western Sydney Wanderers (2012/13–present) bar:14 color:Full from:2019 till:end text:Western United (2019/20–present) bar:15 color:Full from:2020 till:end text:Macarthur FC (2020/21–present) ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:4 start:2005 TextData = fontsize:L textcolor:black pos:(0,30) tabs:(400-center) text: </timeline> {{Font color\|\|{{RGB\|190\|186\|218}}\|League member}} {{Font color\|\|{{RGB\|102\|205\|170}}\|Former member}} {{Font color\|\|{{RGB\|127\|179\|244}}\|Future member}} === Expansion === {{Main\|Expansion of the A-League}} While making a relatively modest start to ensure future stability, both the FFA and the soccer media indicated significant interest in expanding the league. The eight foundation clubs had exclusivity clauses for their respective cities valid for five years, but this did not exclude teams from other areas joining the league. Before the introduction of the A-League, FFA chairman [[Frank Lowy]] speculated that he hoped to expand the league into other cities, mentioning [[Canberra]], [[Hobart]], [[Wollongong, New South Wales\|Wollongong]], [[Geelong]], [[Bendigo]], [[Cairns]], [[Ballarat]], [[Albury–Wodonga]], [[Launceston, Tasmania\|Launceston]], [[Christchurch]], [[Auckland]], [[Sunshine Coast, Queensland\|Sunshine Coast]] and possibly [[Darwin, Northern Territory\|Darwin]] and later [[Singapore]].<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=601 \| title=ASA announce several significant initiatives \| publisher=[[Football Federation Australia\|Australian Soccer Association]]\|date=22 March 2004 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060909222618/http://a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=601 \| archive-date=9 September 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=629 \| title=A-League launch speech by FFA chairman Mr Frank Lowy AC \| date=13 November 2004 \| publisher=[[Football Federation Australia\|Australian Soccer Association]]\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060912075020/http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=629 \| archive-date=12 September 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|first=Paul \|last=Osbourne \|title=Chief talks up Townsville \|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20081770-5000940,00.html \|work=[[Fox Sports (Australia)\|Fox Sports]] \|date=10 August 2006 \|access-date=6 February 2007 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312010117/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0%2C8659%2C20081770-5000940%2C00.html \|archive-date=12 March 2007 \|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web \| url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/119653,gippsland%E2%80%99s-aleague-call.aspx \| title=Gippsland's A-League Call \| work=[[FourFourTwo (Australia)\|Australian FourFourTwo]] \| date=4 January 2010 \| access-date=22 December 2012 \| last=Ormond \| first=Aidan}}</ref> In February 2018, officials announced that the league would expand to 12 teams for the 2019–20 season.<ref name="The Sydney Morning Herald"/><ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/a-league/aleague-expansion-plans-revealed-with-two-new-teams-to-join-in-201819/news-story/bc654d06b2b6e24ea013dfd84878073f \| title=A-League expansion plans revealed with two new teams to join in 2018–19 \| work=Herald Sun\| date=5 December 2016 \| access-date=28 January 2017 \| last=Davutovic \| first=David}}</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jul/26/a-league-expansion-further-delayed-as-ffa-focus-on-operating-model A-League expansion further delayed as FFA focus on operating model]{{in lang\|en}}</ref> In December 2018, the FFA announced they accepted the bids of [[Western United FC\|Western United]] who joined the league in the [[2019–20 A-League\|2019–20 season]] and of [[Macarthur FC\|Macarthur]], who joined the league in the [[2020–21 A-League\|2020–21 season]].<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/13/ffa-settle-on-staggered-a-league-expansion-over-next-two-years\|title=FFA settle on staggered A-League expansion over next two years\|first=Mike\|last=Hytner\|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]\|date=13 December 2018}}</ref> In 2021, further steps were taken in an attempt to expand from the recent 12 clubs, with goals being set to get 14 clubs in 2022 and a potential 16 clubs in 2023.<ref>https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/aleague-could-grow-as-early-as-next-season-to-ensure-a-fairer-competition/news-story/bf5d2cd979f53d019533fd8fd03711d1</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/football/news/a-league-men-expansion-which-clubs-could-join-the-competition/1fj9a8tqt2v1v1wk6riqnyg027\|title = A-League Men expansion: Which clubs could join the competition?}}</ref> === Rivalries === There are several key rivalries and [[List of association football rivalries#Australia\|local derbies]] that have formed in the A-League, including: '''''"[[Melbourne Derby (A-League)\|Melbourne Derby]]"''' – [[Melbourne City FC\|Melbourne City]] v [[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]]''<br /> The two Melbourne clubs first met on 8 October 2010 in a lively game at [[AAMI Park]] in front of 25,897 fans. Melbourne City (known at the time as Melbourne Heart) came out on top with a 2–1 victory.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.melbourneheartfc.com.au/default.aspx?s=aleague_newsdisplay&id=35811\|title=Heart Claim Inaugural Derby Win\|date=8 October 2010\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220210913/http://www.melbourneheartfc.com.au/default.aspx?s=aleague_newsdisplay&id=35811\|archive-date=20 February 2011\|publisher=Melbourne Heart}}</ref> A significant narrative in derby history is the role of Melbourne Victory as a more successful club both on and off the field, having joined the A-League five years earlier than City. The rivalry is one of the most intense and well respected in the A-League, producing noticeable atmosphere and some of the largest attendances in the league.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Melbourne Derby: Does Victory v. City trump Sydney derby as A-League's biggest rivalry?\|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/breaking-news/melbourne-derby-does-victory-v-city-trump-sydney-derby-as-aleagues-biggest-rivalry/news-story/af8cb5e397f2db4f6cebe25740ea130e\|publisher=foxsports.com.au\|access-date=31 January 2016}}</ref> '''''"[[Adelaide United FC–Melbourne Victory FC rivalry\|The Original Rivalry]]"''' – [[Adelaide United FC\|Adelaide United]] v [[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]] ''<br /> The rivalry stems from the traditional cross-border rivalry between sporting teams from South Australia and Victoria but was strengthened by multiple incidents in the 2006–07 season, such as the confrontation between Melbourne Victory captain [[Kevin Muscat]] and Adelaide United coach [[John Kosmina]].{{citation needed\|date=August 2019}} The two clubs contested the [[2007 A-League Grand Final\|2007]] and [[2009 A-League Grand Final]]s, with Melbourne winning the 2009 Grand Final 1–0 against a 10-man Adelaide United side. The two clubs were also involved in the first and only occasion in the A-League during the [[2008–09 A-League]] season, where they both finished on the top of the ladder equal on both points and goal difference. '''''"[[Sydney Derby (A-League)\|Sydney Derby]]"''' – [[Sydney FC]] v [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC\|Western Sydney Wanderers]]''<br /> The derby was contested for the first time in the 2012–13 season with the introduction of the second Sydney-based club, Western Sydney Wanderers, into the league. Sydney FC grabbed bragging rights by winning the first derby 1–0 at [[Parramatta Stadium]],<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/aleague/matchcentre/matchreport/Western-Sydney-Wanderers-FC-v-Sydney-FC-Hyundai-A-League/2613\|title=Del Piero does it again\|date=20 October 2012\|publisher=A-League\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403055626/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/aleague/matchcentre/matchreport/Western-Sydney-Wanderers-FC-v-Sydney-FC-Hyundai-A-League/2613\|archive-date=3 April 2013}}</ref> however Western Sydney Wanderers won the return match at [[Sydney Football Stadium\|Allianz Stadium]] 2–0. A Sydney Derby held early in the 2015 season broke the Allianz Stadium record for attendance during a regular season in any football code, dating back to the stadium's opening in 1988.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2014/10/19/flourishing-league-smashes-more-records \|title=FLOURISHING A-LEAGUE SMASHES MORE RECORDS \|work=The World Game\|publisher=SBS \|access-date=20 October 2014}}</ref> A match in 2016 between the two teams broke the record A-League crowd with 61,880 fans attending the match at [[ANZ Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/sydney-fcs-epic-second-half-blows-away-wanderers-0\|title=Sydney FC's epic second half blows away Wanderers\|date=8 October 2016\|access-date=23 April 2019\|first=Aidan\|last=Ormond}}</ref> Sydney Derby is intensified by the geographic distinction between the two clubs within Sydney, as well as historical grievances related to the foundation of Sydney FC. '''''"[[The Big Blue (A-League)\|The Big Blue]]"''' – [[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]] v [[Sydney FC]]''<br /> This match is so named because blue is the main colour of both teams' playing kits, and is also Australian slang for a fight or a contest.<ref name="macquarie-blue">{{cite encyclopedia \| title=Blue \| encyclopedia=The Macquarie Essential Dictionary \| publisher=The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd \| year=1999 \| pages=81}}</ref> The rivalry has emerged as a result of a number of spiteful encounters between the teams in recent years, and due to the longstanding rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's two largest cities. The teams have competed against each other in three grand finals; in [[2010 A-League Grand Final\|2010]] & [[2017 A-League Grand Final\|2017]], with Sydney winning 4–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw on both occasions and in [[2015 A-League Grand Final\|2015]], with Victory winning 3–0.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/match/melbourne-victory-v-sydney-fc-a-league-17-05-2015/796853\|title=Victory outclass Sydney FC in Grand Final\|date=17 May 2015\|access-date=23 April 2019\|first=John\|last=Greco}}</ref> In 2010, Sydney FC won the A-League Premiership on the final day of the season by defeating Victory 2–0. A Big Blue match is traditionally played on [[Australia Day]] each year. '''''"[[F3 Derby\|The F3 Derby]]"''' – [[Central Coast Mariners FC\|Central Coast Mariners]] v [[Newcastle Jets FC\|Newcastle Jets]]''<br /> Named after the former name of [[Pacific Motorway (Sydney–Newcastle)\|the freeway]] that connects the cities of Newcastle and Gosford,<ref name="smh-fanssteamed">{{cite news \| url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/football/fans-steamed-up-for-derby--if-they-get-there/2006/11/10/1162661897396.html \| title=Fans steamed up for derby – if they get there \| work=The Sydney Morning Herald\| date=11 November 2006 \| access-date=12 November 2006}}</ref> this match features the only two clubs in the A-League that are not based in state capital cities. The two teams' stadiums are just one hour apart, and the derby was intensified when they competed against each other for the premiership in the [[2007–08 A-League\|2007–08 A-League season]] and eventually met in the [[2008 A-League Grand Final\|Grand Final]], which was won 1–0 by the Jets. '''''"[[Melbourne Victory FC–Western United FC rivalry\|The Westgate Derby / The Battle of the Bridge]]"''' – [[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]] v [[Western United FC\|Western United]]'' <br /> Upon joining the A-League in the 2019–20 season as the 3rd club in Melbourne, Western United has developed a rivalry with Melbourne Victory. Despite the rivalry's short existence, it has garnered a reputation for producing talking points, controversy, tension, goals and drama.<ref>{{cite web \|last1=Comito \|first1=Matthew \|title=Rudan: United's erupting rivalry with Victory helping A-League become 'one of the best products in the world' \|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/melbourne-victory-v-western-united-reaction-analysis-highlights-video \|website=A-League \|access-date=28 February 2021}}</ref> In the team's first meeting, in November 2019 at Marvel Stadium, Western United won 3–2 despite going 2–0 down within the first 7 minutes. In February 2021 at Marvel Stadium, despite conceding the first goal of the match and despite being reduced to 10 men for the final half-hour of the match, Western United won 4–3, with Victor Sanchez scoring in the final minute of stoppage time. After keeping the Victory winless for the first 5 matches of the rivalry (4 wins, 1 draw), Melbourne Victory ended their losing run in emphatic fashion on 28 May 2021, beating Western United 6–1 at AAMI Park. ==Organisation== ===Logo and trophies=== [[File:A-League Trophy.png\|thumb\|The A-League Trophy was designed to resemble a [[laurel wreath]].]] [[File:New Premier's Plate.png\|thumb\|The Premier's Plate is awarded to the highest finishing team in the regular season.]] The current A-League logo was unveiled in January 2017 by [[Football Federation Australia]]. The logo formed part of a wider rebranding branding of the A-League and its subsidiary competitions, the [[W-League (Australia)\|W-League]] and [[National Youth League (Australia)\|Youth League]]. The logo design was "inspired by football's three outstanding features – atmosphere, diversity and unity" and has colour alterations tailored to each of the 12 A-League clubs. The changes came into effect before the [[2017–18 A-League\|2017/18 season]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2017/01/25/ffa-reveal-new-branding-and-league-logo\|work=SBS Australia\|title=FFA reveal new branding and A-League logo\|date=24 January 2017}}</ref> The original A-League logo was designed by Coast Design Sydney. It was the inaugural logo of the league. The two-toned [[ochre]] colours represented the sun, earth and desert while the 'glow' emanating from the centre of the logo depicted the playing season's spring and summer time span. The eight 'A' figures that made up the ball shape represented the eight foundation clubs of the league.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Logo signals refreshing new era \|url=http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=616 \|work=A-League.com.au \|publisher=Football Federation Australia \|date=1 November 2004 \|access-date=19 December 2006 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060912080024/http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=616 \|archive-date=12 September 2006 \|url-status=dead }}</ref> A-league decided to rebrand with a new logo in 2021 designed by R/GA, a creative agency in Sydney, leading to a major controversy and narrowly avoided legal trouble with building company in Adelaide over design similarities.<ref>{{Cite news\|last1=Conrad\|first1=Alex\|last2=Monteverde\|first2=Marco\|date=2021-09-30\|title=A-League avoids legal stoush over new logo\|work=news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site\|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/aleague-avoids-legal-stoush-with-building-company-over-new-logo/news-story/3e214fb183fd6688d135d4545075b98e\|access-date=2021-10-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|last=Bossi\|first=Dominic\|date=2021-09-30\|title='Quite bizarre': Adelaide company might take action over A-League logo\|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/quite-bizarre-adelaide-company-may-take-action-over-a-league-logo-20210930-p58w2j.html\|access-date=2021-10-03\|website=The Sydney Morning Herald\|language=en}}</ref> The A-League has two trophies which are competed for during the season: the Premier's Plate and the A-League Trophy.<ref name="fourfourtwo-trophy">{{cite news \| url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/features/3372,gold-medal-trophy.aspx \| title=Gold medal trophy \| work=[[FourFourTwo (Australia)\|Australian FourFourTwo]] \| date=19 March 2007 \| access-date=17 October 2013 \| author=Ormond, Aidan}}</ref> The Premier's Plate is awarded to the A-League Premiers, the regular season winners, and the A-League Trophy is awarded to the A-League Champions, the winner of the Grand Final. Both pieces of silverware were designed by Sydney design company D3 Design. The A-League Trophy is nicknamed the "Toilet Seat" due to its shape.<ref name="fox-toiletseat">{{cite news \| url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/goal-line-technology-toilet-seats-and-mrps-simon-hill-reveals-his-hopes-and-dreams-for-football/story-e6frf423-1226546632480 \| title=Goal-line technology,'toilet seats' and MRPs: Simon Hill reveals his hopes and dreams for football \| work=Fox Sports \| date=2 January 2013 \| access-date=15 February 2015 \| author=Hill, Simon \| author-link=Simon Hill}}</ref><ref name="toiletseat">{{cite news \| url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2014/10/02/top-10-league-flops \| title=The top 10 A-League flops \| work=The World Game \| date=2 October 2014 \| access-date=15 February 2015 \| quote=Then there's the A-League prize – a shiny metal ring that looks like something you stick your rear end in to eject fecal waste through. Aptly nicknamed the 'toilet seat', the A-League trophy is actually an impressive piece of kit close up, but in the lexicon of famous football championship bling, it's a definite flop.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|title=EPL trophy influenced FFA Cup design \|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/EPL-trophy-influenced-FFA-Cup-design/89622 \|publisher=[[Football Federation Australia]] \|access-date=11 May 2014 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413130208/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/EPL-trophy-influenced-FFA-Cup-design/89622 \|archive-date=13 April 2014 }}</ref> Where as the Premier's Plate follows a traditional trophy design, the A-League Trophy differs. In 2005, [[John O'Neill (sport administrator)\|John O'Neill]], FFA CEO commented during the unveiling of the A-League Trophy, "We have a new national league and we feel it is important to re-define the conventional view of a trophy to reflect this". Clive Solari of D3 Design explained the trophy's design, saying "We wanted our trophy concept to embody the historical significance of sport in a contemporary design. So we looked to history to see how great achievements have been rewarded across all types of games for thousands of years. The winners of the world's original sporting competition, the [[Olympic Games]], were presented with a [[laurel wreath]] on their heads. We used this model as a basis for a unique, cutting-edge design – our trophy is a modern and versatile translation of the wreath. The winners can hold it above their heads as a symbol of success".<ref>{{cite web\|title=New A-League trophy revealed\|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/647980/new-a-league-trophy-revealed\|work=The World Game\|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service\|access-date=27 February 2014\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302222201/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/647980/new-a-league-trophy-revealed\|archive-date=2 March 2014\|url-status=dead}}</ref> ===Squad formation and salary cap=== {{See also\|List of foreign A-League Men players\|Marquee player (A-League Men)}} [[File:Alex Del Piero Sydney FC 2 cropped.jpg\|thumb\|upright\|[[Alessandro Del Piero]] joined the league in 2012, as Sydney FC's marquee player.]] The A-League match-day squad includes the typical 11 players, and five substitutes of which one must be a goalkeeper. Prior to the [[2013–14 A-League\|2013–14 season]], just four substitutes including one goalkeeper were allowed to be named in the starting line-ups for the teams.<ref>{{cite web\|title=A-League increases available substitutes to five\|url=https://www.sbnation.com/2013/8/15/4624170/a-league-substitutes\|author=Orr, Michael\|work=SBnation.com\|date=15 August 2013\|access-date=30 May 2014}}</ref> An A-League squad must comprise a minimum of 20 players with a maximum of 26, subject to several limitations. Within the squad, there can be a maximum of five "foreign" or "[[Visa (document)\|Visa]]" players, from outside Australia (and New Zealand, in the case of [[Wellington Phoenix FC\|Wellington Phoenix]]), that hold a temporary working-visa. Three players in the squad must also be under 20 years of age. In addition to these three under 20 players, clubs are allowed to sign an additional three youth players onto full-time contracts at a lower pay rate than the rest of the squad.<ref name="smh-cap-open">{{cite news \| url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/open-slather-as-clubs-push-for-squad-quotas-to-be-scrapped-20120129-1qo1l.html \| title=Open slather as clubs push for squad quotas to be scrapped \| work=The Sydney Morning Herald \| date=30 January 2012 \| access-date=23 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="PFA_CBA">{{cite web\|url=http://www.pfa.net.au/index.php?id=81 \|title=A-League Collective Bargaining Agreement 2008–2013\|publisher=Australian PFA \|date=2 May 2010\|access-date=19 January 2011}}</ref><ref name="dailytele-salarycaprise">{{cite news \| url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/soccer/a-league-salary-cap-to-rise/story-e6frey4r-1111113393772 \| title=A-League salary cap to rise \| work=The Daily Telegraph \| date=23 April 2007 \| access-date=11 February 2011}}</ref> The A-League had initially proposed that the quota of five visa players per A-League club be reduced to four in the 2015–16 season, with the limit of four possibly become "3+1", which means three imports from anywhere and one from Asia (following regulations in the [[AFC Champions League]]).<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/football/reducing-the-aleague-imports-to-four-will-only-help-the-development-of-our-young-australian-players/story-fnk6pqhe-1226855909589 \| title=Reducing the A-League imports to four will only help the development of our young Australian players \| work=The Courier-Mail \| date=15 March 2014 \| access-date=15 June 2014 \| author=Moore, Craig \| author-link=Craig Moore}}</ref> However, after opposition to the proposal by both players and managers, the move was placed on hold.<ref name="fox-visasports-backflip">{{cite news \| url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/a-league-chiefs-are-set-to-backflip-and-not-reduce-visa-spots-for-next-season/story-e6frf4gl-1227195813689 \| title=A-League chiefs are set to backflip and not reduce visa spots for next season \| work=Fox Sports \| date=24 January 2015 \| access-date=16 February 2015 \| author=Davutovic, David}}</ref> Although A-League clubs have restricted salaries ([[salary cap]]), the league allows each club to have two "marquee" players whose salaries are exempt from the cap, plus a number of other 'exemptions' or 'allowances' to incentivise clubs to spend in specific areas. Guest players are also excluded for up to a maximum of 14 league matches.<ref name="msn.com">{{cite web\|title=Sweeping changes to A-League cap unveiled\|website = [[MSN]]\|url=https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/football/sweeping-changes-to-a-league-cap-unveiled/ar-BBlD3CO?ocid=mailsignout\|access-date=11 August 2015}}</ref> From the formation of the league, clubs have been allowed to sign one international marquee player. From the 2008–09 season, A-League clubs have been permitted a junior marquee player; one that is under the age of 23. Now known as the 'Homegrown Player allowance', clubs can spend up to a collective $150,000 on three Australian players aged 23 or younger that have come through the club's youth system.<ref name="A-League Salary Cap Summary">{{cite news\|title=A-League Salary Cap Summary \|url=http://www.a-league.com.au/about/competition-rules/1aw1ybfl0o1uo1k3rz9suqvqbb\|publisher=[[Football Federation Australia]]}}</ref> On 19 April 2010, the A-League announced that, in addition to the international marquee and junior marquee, clubs would be allowed an Australian marquee player from the 2010–11 season.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news\|url=http://www.pfa.net.au/index.php?id=81 \|title=A-League CBA\|publisher=Australian PFA \|date=2 May 2010\|access-date=2 May 2010\| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100419210857/http://www.pfa.net.au/index.php?id=81\| archive-date= 19 April 2010 \| url-status= live}}</ref> Notable marquee and guest players in the A-League have included [[Alessandro Del Piero]], [[William Gallas]], [[Dwight Yorke]], [[Emile Heskey]], [[Robbie Fowler]], [[Shinji Ono]], [[David Villa]] and former [[FIFA World Player of the Year]] [[Romário]]. Famous Australian Marquees include [[Harry Kewell]], [[John Aloisi]], [[Brett Emerton]], [[Joshua Kennedy]] and [[Tim Cahill]]. Commencing in the 2015–16 season, players who have played at their club for 5–10 years will be covered by a "loyalty player allowance", allowing up to $200,000 of their salary to be exempted from the cap. Additionally, clubs are now permitted a mature-age rookie whose wages are outside the salary cap.<ref name="msn.com"/> The 2016–17 season saw the introduction of a third 'Full Season Guest Marquee' spot, designed to attract high-profile players on short-term deals.<ref name="Guest Marquee">{{cite web\|title=FFA finalise third "guest" marquee\|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/ffa-finalise-third-guest-marquee\|access-date=16 July 2016\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712002606/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/ffa-finalise-third-guest-marquee\|archive-date=12 July 2016\|url-status=dead}}</ref> The salary cap for A-League clubs is $2.1 million for the [[2020–21 A-League\|2020–21 season]]. In the case for [[Western United FC\|Western United]] and debuting [[Macarthur FC]], they are entitled to a $333,000 allowance thus increasing their salary cap to $2.433 million. Clubs must spend at least the salary floor which is $1.7 million. The salary cap applies to the 18 to 23 players that clubs have registered to their A-League player roster, the top 2 highest-paid players (Designated Players) don't count in the cap. Unless specifically exempt, all payments and benefits (e.g. cars, accommodation, etc.) provided by a club to a player are included in the club's salary cap. Players registered at a club for more than 4 consecutive years as a professional are considered as Loyalty Players and have the following amounts exempt from a club's salary cap; Year 4 – 12.5%, Year 5 – 25%, and 5% increments after that up until a max of 50%. Teams can spend an unlimited amount on 4 U-23 Australian players who have come from the youth team, called Homegrown Players. Teams can sign up to 9 U-20 players on minimum wage called Scholarship Players who don't count in the squad unless they are one of the 3 U21's in the squad, any payments above the national minimum wage to these Players are included in the club's Salary Cap.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=Salary Cap System\|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/salary-cap-system\|access-date=25 December 2020\|website=A-League\|date=August 2017}}</ref> {\| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ A-League salaries and marquees \|- !width=14%\|Season !width=14%\|Marquee player !width=14%\|Australian marquee !width=14%\|Junior marquee !width=14%\|Mature-aged rookie !width=14%\|Salary cap !width=14%\|Minimum salary \|- \| [[2005–06 A-League\|2005–06]] \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}}\|\| {{No}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $1,500,000<ref name="Can our talent reside in the A-League?">{{cite web\|title=Can our talent reside in the A-League?\|url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/22/can-our-better-talent-reside-in-the-a-league/\|publisher=theroar.com.au}}</ref> \|\| \|- \| [[2006–07 A-League\|2006–07]]\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}}\|\| {{No}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $1,600,000<ref name="A-League lifts its salary cap to $1.8m">{{cite web\|title=A-League lifts its salary cap to $1.8m\|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/ALeague-lifts-its-salary-cap-to-18m/2007/04/23/1177180562411.html\|work=[[The Age]]\|date=23 April 2007}}</ref> \|\| \|- \| [[2007–08 A-League\|2007–08]]\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}}\|\| {{No}}\|\| {{No}} \|\| $1,800,000<ref name="A-League lifts its salary cap to $1.8m" /> \|\| \|- \| [[2008–09 A-League\|2008–09]]\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $1,900,000<ref>{{cite news\|title=New Season To Start with a Bang \|url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/75151,new-season-to-start-with-a-bang.aspx \|work=[[FourFourTwo (Australia)\|Australian FourFourTwo]] \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503031516/http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/75151%2Cnew-season-to-start-with-a-bang.aspx \|archive-date=3 May 2008 }}</ref> \|\| \|- \| [[2009–10 A-League\|2009–10]]\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $2,250,000<ref>{{cite web\|title=Football federation ignored Sydney FC's alleged breach of salary cap\|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/football-federation-ignored-sydney-fcs-alleged-breach-of-salary-cap-20110617-1g87w.html\|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]\|date=17 June 2011}}</ref> \|\| \|- \| [[2010–11 A-League\|2010–11]]\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}}\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $2,350,000<ref name="Can our talent reside in the A-League?" /> \|\| \|- \| [[2011–12 A-League\|2011–12]]\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}}\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $2,400,000<ref>{{cite news\|title=FFA, players on collision course \|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/ffa-players-on-collision-course/story-fn63e0vj-1226211746016\|work=[[The Australian]]}}</ref> \|\| \|- \| [[2012–13 A-League\|2012–13]]\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}}\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $2,468,000<ref name="A-League players strike a deal for a minor increase to salary cap, minimum wages" /> \|\|$48,000<ref>{{cite news\|title=A-League clubs to see slight salary cap raise under new pay deal\|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-01/clubs-see-slight-raise-in-new-a-league-pay-deal/4791864\|work=ABC News\|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation\|access-date=23 September 2014}}</ref> \|- \| [[2013–14 A-League\|2013–14]]\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}}\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $2,500,000<ref name="A-League players strike a deal for a minor increase to salary cap, minimum wages" /> \|\|$50,000<ref name="A-League players strike a deal for a minor increase to salary cap, minimum wages">{{cite news\|title=A-League players strike a deal for a minor increase to salary cap, minimum wages \|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/football/a-league-players-strike-a-deal-for-a-minor-increase-to-salary-cap-minimum-wages/story-fnii0fc4-1226672749091\|newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)\|The Advertiser]]}}</ref> \|- \| [[2014–15 A-League\|2014–15]]\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}}\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $2,550,000<ref name="A-League players strike a deal for a minor increase to salary cap, minimum wages" /> \|\|$51,000<ref name="Foreign marquee quota doubled in revised salary cap">{{cite web\|title=Foreign marquee quota doubled in revised salary cap\|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2015/08/11/foreign-marquee-quota-doubled-revised-salary-cap?cid=trending\|publisher=SBS website\|access-date=11 August 2015}}</ref> \|- \| [[2015–16 A-League\|2015–16]]\|\|colspan=2 {{Yes\|2}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| $2,600,000<ref name="A-League Salary Cap Summary"/> \|\| $55,000<ref name="A-League Salary Cap Summary"/> \|- \| [[2016–17 A-League\|2016–17]]\|\|colspan=2 {{Yes\|3}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| $2,650,000<ref name="A-League salary cap could be scrapped">{{cite news\|title=A-League salary cap could be scrapped when new CBA is negotiated in 2018 \|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/aleague-salary-cap-could-be-scrapped-when-new-cba-is-negotiated-in-2018/news-story/501dc89288a96e9d4906f57fef485a3f\|work=[[Fox Sports (Australia)]]}}</ref> \|\| $55,715<ref name="A-League salary cap could be scrapped"/> \|- \| [[2017–18 A-League\|2017–18]]\|\| colspan=2 {{Yes\|2}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| $2,928,000<ref name="A-League salary cap could be scrapped"/> \|\| $61,287<ref name="A-League salary cap could be scrapped"/> \|- \| [[2018–19 A-League\|2018–19]]\|\| colspan=2 {{Yes\|2}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| $3,063,000<ref name="New A-League expansion teams to be given bigger salary cap">{{cite news\|title=New A-League expansion teams to be given bigger salary cap \|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/new-a-league-expansion-teams-to-be-given-bigger-salary-cap-20190506-p51kn7.html\|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]}}</ref> \|\| $64,113<ref name="A-League salary cap could be scrapped"/> \|- \| [[2019–20 A-League\|2019–20]]\|\| colspan=2 {{Yes\|2}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $3,200,000<ref name="New A-League expansion teams to be given bigger salary cap"/> \|\| $47,792–$64,113<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/salary-cap-system\|title=Salary Cap System\|website=Hyundai A-League\|date=August 2017\|language=en\|access-date=26 July 2019}}</ref> \|- \| [[2020–21 A-League\|2020–21]]\|\| colspan=2 {{Yes\|2}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $2,100,000<ref name="sbs cap">{{Cite web\|last=Davidson\|first=John\|date=5 October 2020\|title=A-League clubs and PFA reach payment deal\|url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league-clubs-and-pfa-reach-payment-deal\|access-date=2 January 2021\|website=[[The World Game]]}}</ref> \|\| $45,000–$62,500<ref name="sbs cap"/> \|- \| [[2021–22 A-League\|2021–22]]\|\| \|\| \|\| \|\| \|\| \|\| \|} ===Stadiums=== {{Main\|List of A-League Men stadiums}} A-League games have been played in 33 stadiums since the inaugural season of the A-League in 2005. [[Dolphin Stadium (Brisbane)\|Dolphin Stadium]], the home of [[Brisbane Roar]], is currently the smallest used in the A-League, with a capacity of 11,500. ===Sponsorship=== Since its formation, the A-League has been sponsored by an official naming rights partner.<ref name="a-leagueHistory"/> In 2004, the [[Hyundai Motor Company]] was announced as the sponsor for the first three seasons of the league, known for commercial purposes as the "Hyundai A-League". In 2008, Hyundai renewed its initial contract with [[Football Federation Australia\|FFA]] for another four seasons until 2012, and that contract was further extended by four seasons until 2016.<ref name="hyundai-extends">{{cite press release \| url=http://www.hyundai.com.au/about-hyundai/news/articles/hyundai-extends-a-league-partnership-until-2016 \| title=Hyundai Extends A-League Partnership Until 2016 \| publisher=Hyundai Motor Company, Australia \| access-date=10 May 2014 \| url-status=dead \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512222908/http://www.hyundai.com.au/about-hyundai/news/articles/hyundai-extends-a-league-partnership-until-2016 \| archive-date=12 May 2014}}</ref> This sponsorship deal was then further extended to the end of the [[2019–20 A-League]] season.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.myfootball.com.au/news/hyundai-extends-partnership-ffa-through-2020\|title=Hyundai extends partnership with FFA through to 2020\|website=MyFootball\|date=25 July 2016\|language=en\|access-date=12 June 2019}}</ref> On 23 December 2020, it was announced that the new major sponsor of the A-League and [[W-League (Australia)\|W-League]] would be home improvement store [[Bunnings Warehouse]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/leagues-sign-historic-deal-bunnings\|title=Leagues sign historic deal with Bunnings\|publisher=A-League\|date= 23 December 2020}}</ref> On October 6, 2021, [[Isuzu]] [[Isuzu D-Max\|UTE]] was announced as the naming rights partner of the A-League Men in a 3-year deal, with the league known as the Isuzu UTE A-League Men.<ref>{{Cite web\|date=2021-10-06\|title=Isuzu UTE Australia becomes first naming rights partner of A-League Men\|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/isuzu-ute-australia-becomes-first-naming-rights-partner-a-league-men\|access-date=2021-10-05\|website=A-League\|language=en}}</ref> ==League championships== {{See also\|List of Australian soccer champions}} As of the end of the 2020–21 regular season, 14 different clubs have competed in the league, with seven having won the trophy, and eight winning at least one premier's plate. {\| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; white-space:nowrap;" \|- ! Team ! Champions ! Year(s) won ! Premiers ! Year(s) won ! Total combined ! A-League seasons \|- \| [[Sydney FC]] \| 5 \| [[2006 A-League Grand Final\|2006]], [[2010 A-League Grand Final\|2010]], [[2017 A-League Grand Final\|2017]], [[2019 A-League Grand Final\|2019]], [[2020 A-League Grand Final\|2020]] \| 4 \| [[2009–10 A-League\|2009–10]], [[2016–17 A-League\|2016–17]], [[2017–18 A-League\|2017–18]], [[2019–20 A-League\|2019–20]] \| 9 \| 16 \|- \| [[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]] \| 4 \| [[2007 A-League Grand Final\|2007]], [[2009 A-League Grand Final\|2009]], [[2015 A-League Grand Final\|2015]], [[2018 A-League Grand Final\|2018]] \| 3 \| [[2006–07 A-League\|2006–07]], [[2008–09 A-League\|2008–09]], [[2014–15 A-League\|2014–15]] \| 7 \| 16 \|- \| [[Brisbane Roar FC\|Brisbane Roar]] \| 3 \| [[2011 A-League Grand Final\|2011]], [[2012 A-League Grand Final\|2012]], [[2014 A-League Grand Final\|2014]] \| 2 \| [[2010–11 A-League\|2010–11]], [[2013–14 A-League\|2013–14]] \| 5 \| 16 \|- \| [[Central Coast Mariners FC\|Central Coast Mariners]] \| 1 \| [[2013 A-League Grand Final\|2013]] \| 2 \| [[2007–08 A-League\|2007–08]], [[2011–12 A-League\|2011–12]] \| 3 \| 16 \|- \| [[Adelaide United FC\|Adelaide United]] \| 1 \| [[2016 A-League Grand Final\|2016]] \| 2 \| [[2005–06 A-League\|2005–06]], [[2015–16 A-League\|2015–16]] \| 3 \| 16 \|- \| [[Melbourne City FC\|Melbourne City]] \| 1 \| [[2021 A-League Grand Final\|2021]] \| 1 \| [[2020–21 A-League\|2020–21]] \| 2 \| 12 \|- \| [[Newcastle Jets FC\|Newcastle Jets]] \| 1 \| [[2008 A-League Grand Final\|2008]] \| 0 \| – \| 1 \| 16 \|- \| [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC\|Western Sydney Wanderers]] \| 0 \| – \| 1 \| [[2012–13 A-League\|2012–13]] \| 1 \| 9 \|- \| [[Perth Glory FC\|Perth Glory]] \| 0 \| – \| 1 \| [[2018–19 A-League\|2018–19]] \| 1 \| 16 \|- \| [[Western United FC\|Western United]] \| 0 \| – \| 0 \| – \| 0 \| 2 \|- \| [[Macarthur FC]] \| 0 \| – \| 0 \| – \| 0 \| 1 \|} ==Records== {{main\|A-League all-time records}} [[File:Berisha Victory Training May 2015.jpg\|thumb\|[[Besart Berisha]] is the leading A-League goalscorer, scoring his 100th A-League goal in April 2017.]] [[Brisbane Roar FC\|Brisbane Roar]] hold the record for the longest unbeaten run in the competition with 36 league matches without defeat.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=Roar record to stand for a while\|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/archive/sport-old/brisbane-roar-record-to-stand-for-a-while-says-ange-postecoglou/news-story/6b27f60d49fded7ea6971715ecafa7f0\|date=2011-02-04\|website=The Courier-Mail\|language=en\|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> [[Besart Berisha]] holds the record for the greatest number of A-League goals, with 142 goals, playing for Brisbane Roar, [[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]] and [[Western United FC\|Western United]].<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.ultimatealeague.com/records.php?type=pg&season=overall\|title=Statistics: Goals (Overall) \|access-date=18 February 2013 \|publisher=ultimatealeague.com}}</ref> The A-League record for most goals in a single match is held by [[Archie Thompson]], scoring 5 goals against [[Adelaide United FC\|Adelaide United]] on 18 February 2007, during the [[2007 A-League Grand Final]]; and [[Jamie Maclaren]] who scored 5 goals against [[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]] on 17 April 2021. [[Jamie Maclaren]] has scored the [[List of A-League hat-tricks\|most A-League hat-tricks]] with 6. [[Shane Smeltz]] and [[Bobô (footballer, born 1985)\|Bobô]] are the only players to have scored hat-tricks in consecutive matches.<ref>{{cite news \| url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/hat-trick-to-shane-smeltz-sees-perth-glory-knock-out-melbourne-heart/story-e6frfg8x-1226315912798 \| title=Hat-trick to Shane Smeltz sees Perth Glory knock out Melbourne Heart \| work=[[Herald Sun]] \| date=1 April 2012 \| access-date=25 April 2014 \| author=Quartermaine, Braden}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.sydneyfc.com/news/sydney-fc-smash-perth-six-end-2017\|title=Sydney FC Smash Perth For Six To End 2017\|first=Julian\|last=Baumbach\|publisher=[[Sydney FC]]\|date=30 December 2017}}</ref> [[Henrique Andrade Silva\|Henrique]] was the first, and so far only, player to score a hat-trick coming on as a substitute, for Brisbane Roar against [[Newcastle Jets FC\|Newcastle Jets]].<ref>{{cite news\|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]\|date=14 November 2014\|access-date=14 November 2014\|title=Henrique hat-trick leads Brisbane Roar to first win of A-League season over Newcastle Jets\|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-14/roar-beat-jets-for-first-a-league-victory/5893238?section=sport}}</ref> In 2015, Austrian striker [[Marc Janko]] broke the record for scoring in consecutive matches when he scored in seven games for [[Sydney FC]].<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/marc-janko-races-past-del-pieros-sydney-fc-goal-scoring-record/story-fn63e0vj-1227263840745\|title=Marc Janko races past Del Piero's Sydney FC goal-scoring record\|last=Gatt\|first=Ray\|date=15 March 2015\|newspaper=The Australian\|access-date=6 May 2019}}</ref> ==Media coverage== ===In Australia=== [[File:Newcastle-Sydney EnergyAustralia.jpg\|thumb\|[[Newcastle Jets FC\|Newcastle Jets]] against [[Sydney FC]] at [[Newcastle International Sports Centre\|Newcastle Stadium]] in 2007.]] From the start of the 2005–06 season to the 2012–13 season, television coverage of the A-League in Australia had been restricted to the [[Pay television\|subscription]]-only [[Fox Sports (Australia)\|Fox Sports]] channel, to which only 7% of Australian residents had access.<ref>{{cite press release \| url=http://www.foxtel.com.au/about-foxtel/communications/foxtel-announces-solid-growth-despite-difficult-consumer-env-140568.htm \| title=FOXTEL Announces Solid Growth Despite Difficult Consumer Environment \| publisher=Foxtel \| date=11 August 2011 \| access-date=9 January 2013}}</ref> On 19 November 2012, [[free-to-air]] Australian [[public broadcasting]] [[Television broadcasting in Australia\|television network]] [[Special Broadcasting Service\|SBS]] secured the shared rights, alongside long-time A-League broadcasters Fox Sports, to the A-League from the 2013–14 season with a [[Australian dollar\|A$]]160 million four-year broadcast deal.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Football returns to free-to-air TV on SB\|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1129433/football-returns-to-free-to-air-tv-on-sbs\|work=The World Game\|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service\|access-date=16 February 2013\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306075631/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1129433/Football-returns-to-free-to-air-TV-on-SBS\|archive-date=6 March 2013\|url-status=dead}}</ref> SBS's coverage ended in the 2016–17 season, with [[Network Ten]] securing [[free-to-air]] broadcast rights. Ten simulcasted the [[Fox Sports (Australia)\|Fox Sports]] coverage of the Saturday night fixture on its digital multichannel [[One (Australian TV channel)\|One]].<ref name="a-league1">{{cite web\|title=New TV deal for Football\|url=http://www.a-league.com.au/article/new-tv-deal-for-football/6phf6g6mrfew1m28c535u1f42\|website=Hyundai A-League\|publisher=Football Federation Australia\|access-date=2 June 2017}}</ref> From the 2019–20 season, [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation\|ABC TV]] has broadcast one game a weekend (Saturday 5pm) live on its primary channel. It also has the right to broadcast delayed coverage of some finals matches and the Grand Final.<ref name=ABCdeal>{{cite web\|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/abc-tv-becomes-free-air-broadcast-partner-hyundai-a-league-westfield-w-league-caltex-socceroos\|title=ABC TV becomes Free-to-Air Broadcast Partner of the Hyundai A-League\|work=A-League\|date=3 October 2019}}</ref> Fox Sport's contract with the A-League, which was renegotiated in June 2020 amidst the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Australia\|COVID-19 pandemic]], concluded in July 2021.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/foxtel-and-ffa-come-to-an-agreement-over-a-league-and-w-league-631926\|title=Foxtel and FFA come to an agreement over A-League and W-League\|work=mumbrella\|date=22 June 2020}}</ref> Since August 2021, as part of a five-year deal with [[ViacomCBS]], the A-Leagues are being broadcast by [[Network 10]] (one A-League Men match and one A-League Women match on free-to-air television) and [[Paramount+#Sports programming\|Paramount+ streaming service]] (all remaining games).<ref>{{cite web \| website=ABC News (Australia) \|title=A-League announces Channel 10 as new broadcast partner in five-year deal \| date=26 May 2021 \| url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-26/a-league-announces-new-broadcast-partner-channel-10/100166894 \| access-date=28 May 2021}}</ref> ===Other countries=== In New Zealand the league has been broadcast on [[Sky Sport (New Zealand)\|Sky Sport]] since its inaugural season. In the 2019–20 season, the league also broadcast on Qatari [[BeIN Sports (Australian TV channel)\|beIN Sports]] after [[Sky (New Zealand)\|Sky]] ink four-year partnership for extensive soccer coverage, especially the A-league.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/sky-nz-bein-sports-channel-champions-league-la-liga\|title=Champions League and La Liga headline Sky NZ's co-branded BeIN channel – SportsPro Media\|website=sportspromedia.com\|date=3 September 2019\|access-date=24 October 2019}}</ref> The growth of coverage of the A-League outside Australia saw the league broadcast in 65 countries around the world in 2013/14.<ref name="global broadcast">{{cite web\|title=Hyundai A-League broadcast to global audience in 2013/14\|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/hyundai-a-league-broadcast-to-global-audience-in-2013/14/76856\|publisher=footballaustralia.com.au\|access-date=10 October 2013\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106031749/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/hyundai-a-league-broadcast-to-global-audience-in-2013/14/76856\|archive-date=6 January 2014\|url-status=dead}}</ref> Full match broadcasts are available in the United States, China, Italy, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Canada, the Caribbean, Hong Kong, Singapore and Myanmar.<ref name="global broadcast" /> In addition to the full match broadcasts, highlights of A-League matches can be viewed in 53 countries throughout Asia and the Middle East, including Japan and South Korea.<ref name="global broadcast" /> In 2014, a three-season deal with [[Sony TEN]] allowed the league to be broadcast live in Asian nations including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.<ref name="Football Federation Australia">{{cite web\|title=A-League and FFA Cup's Asia TV deal \|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/ALeague-and-FFA-Cups-Asia-TV-deal/90362 \|publisher=[[Football Federation Australia]] \|access-date=12 May 2014 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512231409/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/ALeague-and-FFA-Cups-Asia-TV-deal/90362 \|archive-date=12 May 2014 }}</ref> Every A-League match is also [[Streaming media\|live streamed]] globally, allowing games to be viewed online through a subscription service provided in a partnership with the [[Football Federation Australia\|FFA]].<ref>{{cite web\|title=Watch A-League's Top Football LIVE!\|url=http://www.aleague.livesport.tv/about\|publisher=aleague.livesport.tv\|access-date=10 October 2013\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906093040/http://www.aleague.livesport.tv/about\|archive-date=6 September 2013\|url-status=dead}}</ref> All games also broadcast live in the United States on [[ESPN+]]. Most games in the United Kingdom are broadcast by [[BT Sport]] but use Fox Sports' live feed for every live game. For the 2014–15 Season, the A-League was broadcast in 173 countries.<ref name="A-League 2014/15 Season Report">{{cite web\|title=Hyundai A-League 2014/15 Season Report\|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/dct/ffa-dtc-performgroup-eu-west-1/Hyundai%20A-League%202014-15%20season%20report_1s167ph9g7tdu1dx6bsd0fcwh4.pdf\|access-date=26 November 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208020038/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/dct/ffa-dtc-performgroup-eu-west-1/Hyundai%20A-League%202014-15%20season%20report_1s167ph9g7tdu1dx6bsd0fcwh4.pdf\|archive-date=8 December 2015\|url-status=dead}}</ref> ===Promotion=== The A-League has been promoted using a number of different advertising slogans and strategies since its inception. At the start of the inaugural season, a {{A$}}3 million dollar advertising campaign was launched, with the television and film advertisements produced by [[Ridley Scott]]'s production company [[Scott Free Productions]]. The theme for the campaign was: "Football, but not as you know it". A new television advertisement was created for the start of the [[2007–08 A-League\|2007–08 season]], which debuted on Foxtel's program Total Football. It was filmed at [[Bob Jane Stadium]] in Melbourne. Other campaigns include the "90 minutes, 90 emotions", which was used for two seasons from 2007 to 2009 and was accompanied by the music track "My People" from Australian act [[The Presets]].<ref name="fourfourtwo-newad">{{cite news \| url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/58536,aleague-ad-hits-the-screens.aspx \| title=New A-League ad hits the screens \| work=[[FourFourTwo (Australia)\|Australian FourFourTwo]] \| date=9 August 2007 \| access-date=6 January 2008}}</ref> ===Current broadcasters=== Broadcasters as of the 2021–22 season are as follows:<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://keepup.com.au/our-international-broadcasters\|title=Our International Broadcasters - KEEPUP}}</ref> {\| class="wikitable" \|- !Territory !Network \|- \| rowspan="2" \| {{AUS}} \| [[Network 10]] \|- \| [[Paramount+#Sports programming\|Paramount+]] \|- \| rowspan="2" \| {{NZL}} \| [[Prime (New Zealand TV channel)\|Prime]] \|- \| [[Sky Sport (New Zealand)\|Sky Sport]] \|- \| rowspan="2" \| Pacific Islands \| [[ABC Australia (Southeast Asian TV channel)\|Australia TV]] \|- \| [[Pasifika TV]]<ref>{{cite web\|title=Cash block to Phoenix A-League licence extension \|date=27 October 2014\|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/10666528/Cash-block-to-Phoenix-A-League-licence-extension\|publisher=[[Stuff NZ]]\|access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref> \|- \| Southeast Asia \|[[BeIN Sports (Australian TV channel)\|beIN Sports]] \|- \| rowspan="2" \| International \|[[News24 (website)\|Sport24]] (in-flight and ship only) \|- \|[[YouTube]] (unsold markets only) \|- \| {{ALB}} \| rowspan="2" \| [[Tring Sport]] \|- \| {{KOS}} \|- \| {{AUT}} \| rowspan="3" \| [[Sportdigital]], [[DAZN]] \|- \| {{DEU}} \|- \| {{CHE}} \|- \| {{ARM}} \| [[Shant TV]] \|- \| Balkans \| [[Arena Sport]] \|- \| Baltic \| [[All Media]] \|- \| {{BEL}} \| rowspan="3" \| [[Eleven Sports]] \|- \| {{LUX}} \|- \| {{POL}} \|- \| {{BUL}} \| [[BNT 3]] \|- \| {{BRA}} \| [[BandSports\|Band Sports]] \|- \| {{CAN}} \| [[OneSoccer]] \|- \| Caribbean \| [[TV Monde]], [[Sports Max]] \|- \| Central Asia \| [[Setanta Sports Eurasia]] \|- \| {{CHN}} \| [[China Sports Media]] \|- \| {{CYP}} \| [[Cytavision]] \|- \| {{CZE}} \| rowspan="3" \| [[Eurosport]] \|- \| {{HUN}} \|- \| {{SVK}} \|- \| {{FIJ}} \| [[FBC TV]] \|- \| {{FRA}} \| [[Orange S.A.#Orange Sport\|Orange Sports]] \|- \| {{GEO}} \| [[Adjarasport]] \|- \| {{GRC}} \| [[Nova Sports]] \|- \| {{GRL}} \| [[DR (broadcaster)#Online\|DRT 3]] \|- \| {{HKG}} \| [[TVB]] \|- \| {{IRE}} \| rowspan="2" \| [[BT Sport]] \|- \| {{GBR}} \|- \| {{ISR}} \| [[Sports Channel (Israel)\|Sport 5]] \|- \| {{ITA}} \| [[Sportitalia]], [[DAZN]] \|- \| {{JPN}} \| [[TV Asahi]] \|- \| {{PRK}} & {{KOR}} \| [[JTBC Golf&Sports\|JTBC]] \|- \| {{MAC}} \|[[Macau Cable]] \|- \| Mexico & Central America \| [[TUDN (TV network)\|TUDN]] \|- \| Middle East & North Africa \| [[AD Sports\|Abu Dhabi Sports]] \|- \|- \| {{MNG}} \| [[Fox Sports Asia]] \|- \| {{MYA}} \| [[Sky Net]] \|- \| {{NED}} \| [[Ziggo Sport]] \|- \| {{PNG}} \| [[NBC PNG\|NBC TV]] \|- \| {{POR}} \| [[Sport TV]] \|- \| {{ROM}} & {{MLD}} \| [[Look Sport]] \|- \| {{RUS}} & {{BLR}} \|[[Match TV]] \|- \| Scandinavia \| [[V Sport\|Viasat Sport]] \|- \| {{SVN}} \| [[Šport TV (Slovenia)\|Šport TV]] \|- \| South America \| [[TyC Sports]] \|- \| South Asia \| [[Eurosport (Indian TV channel)\|DSport]] \|- \| {{ESP}} \| [[Movistar Deportes]] \|- \| Sub-Saharan Africa \| [[SuperSport (South African TV channel)\|SuperSport]], [[Canal+ Sport (France)\|Canal+ Sport]] \|- \| {{TWN}} \| [[Sportcast]] \|- \| {{TUR}} & {{AZE}} \| [[Türk Telekom\|Tivibu]] \|- \| {{UKR}} \| [[Volia TV]] \|- \| {{USA}} \| \|- \| {{VIE}} \| [[VieON]] \|} ==Logos== <gallery> File:Hyundai A-League logo (2004–2017).svg\|The original Hyundai A-League logo (in use from 2004 to 2017) File:Hyundai A-League logo (2017–2020).svg\|Hyundai A-League logo (in use from 2017 to 2020) File:Isuzu_UTE_A-League_Men.svg\|Current ISUZU Ute A-League Men logo (in use from 2021) </gallery> ==See also== {{Portal\|Australia\|soccer}} [[A-League Women]] [[A-League Youth]] [[E-League (Australia)\|E-League]] [[List of A-League head coaches]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{commons category}} * {{official website}} {{AFC Leagues}} {{A-League}} {{Soccer in Australia}} {{Sports leagues of Australia}} [[Category:A-League Men\| ]] [[Category:2004 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Football Federation Australia]] [[Category:Fox Sports (Australian TV network)]] [[Category:Multi-national professional sports leagues]] [[Category:Professional sports leagues in Australia]] [[Category:Silver Lake (investment firm) companies]] [[Category:Soccer leagues in Australia\|1]] [[Category:Sports leagues established in 2004]] [[Category:Summer association football leagues]] [[Category:Top level football leagues in Asia\|Australia]]'
New page wikitext, after the edit (`new_wikitext`)	'{{Short description\|Australian premier association football league}} {{About\|the Australian premier men's association football league\|the Australian premier women's association football league of the same name\|A-League Women\|the Australian youth league\|A-League Youth}} {{Use Australian English\|date=April 2019}} {{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox football league \| logo = Isuzu UTE A-League Men.svg \| pixels = 300 \| country = Australia (11 teams) \| other countries = New Zealand (1 team) \| confed = [[Asian Football Confederation\|AFC]] \| founded = {{Start date and age\|df=yes\|April 2004}} \| first = [[2005–06 A-League\|2005–06]] \| teams = [[#Clubs\|12]] \| levels = [[Australian soccer league system\|1]] \| domest_cup = [[Australia Cup]] \| confed_cup = [[AFC Champions League]]<br/>[[AFC Cup]] \| champions = [[Melbourne City FC\|Melbourne City]] (1st title) \| season = [[2021 A-League Grand Final\|2021]] \| most_champs = [[Sydney FC]] (5 titles) \| premiers = [[Melbourne City FC\|Melbourne City]] (1st title) \| prem_season = [[2020–21 A-League\|2020–21]] \| most_prems = [[Sydney FC]] (4 titles) \| most_appearances = [[Nikolai Topor-Stanley]] (350) \| top_goalscorer = [[Besart Berisha]] (136) \| tv = {{plainlist\| * '''Australia:''' * [[Network 10]], [[Paramount+#Sports programming\|Paramount+]] * '''New Zealand:''' * [[Prime (New Zealand TV channel)\|Prime]], [[Sky Sport (New Zealand)\|Sky Sport]] * '''International:''' * [[A-League#Current broadcasters\|Broadcasters]] }} \| website = [https://keepup.com.au/news/a-league-men keepup.com.au] \| current = [[2021–22 A-League Men]] }} 🎶 Nandos City, we've won it again 🎶 '''Josep''' "'''Pep'''" '''Guardiola Sala''' (<small>Catalan pronunciation:</small> [[Help:IPA/Catalan\|[ʒuˈzɛb ɡwəɾðiˈɔlə]]]; born 18 January 1971) is a Spanish professional [[Association football\|football]] [[Manager (association football)\|manager]] and former player, who is the current manager of [[Premier League]] club [[Manchester City F.C.\|Manchester City]]. He is often considered to be one of the greatest managers of all time and holds the records for the most consecutive league games won in [[La Liga]], the [[Bundesliga]] and the Premier League. Guardiola was a [[defensive midfielder]] who usually played in a [[Playmaker#Deep-lying%20playmakers\|deep-lying playmaker]]'s role. He spent the majority of his career with [[FC Barcelona\|Barcelona]], forming a part of [[Johan Cruyff]]'s ''[[FC Barcelona#Dream%20Team\|Dream Team]]'' that won the club's first [[European Cup]] in 1992, and four successive [[List of Spanish football champions\|Spanish league titles]] from 1991 to 1994. He captained the team from 1997 until his departure from the club in 2001. Guardiola then had stints with [[Brescia Calcio\|Brescia]] and [[A.S. Roma\|Roma]] in Italy, [[Al-Ahli (Doha)\|Al-Ahli]] in Qatar, and [[Dorados de Sinaloa]] in Mexico. He was capped 47 times for the [[Spain national football team\|Spanish national team]] and appeared at the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]], as well as at [[UEFA Euro 2000]]. He also played friendly matches for [[Catalonia national football team\|Catalonia]]. ==History== ===Origins=== A national [[round-robin tournament]] existed in various forms prior to the formation of the A-League, with the most notable being the [[National Soccer League]] (NSL). The formation of the NSL came after [[Australia national soccer team\|Australia]]'s qualification for the [[1974 FIFA World Cup]], which led to discussion of a national league, with 14 teams eventually chosen to participate in the [[1977 National Soccer League\|inaugural season]] of the NSL in 1977.<ref name="worldgamedownunder">{{cite book \| title=The World Game Downunder \| publisher=Australian Society for Sports History \| date=2006 \|editor1=Hay, Roy \|editor2=Murray, Bill \| location=Melbourne \| page=120 \| isbn=0975761668}}</ref> Under the guidance of the then-governing body, the Australian Soccer Federation (later Soccer Australia), the NSL flourished through the 1980s and early 1990s but then fell into decline with the increasing departure of Australian players to overseas leagues, a disastrous television deal with the [[Seven Network]] and the resulting lack of sponsorship.<ref name="roar-briefhistorynsl">{{cite web \| url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/04/19/a-brief-history-of-the-nsl-part-iv/ \| title=A brief history of the NSL: Part IV \| work=The Roar \| date=19 April 2011 \| access-date=9 April 2013}}</ref>{{unreliable source?\|date=August 2014}} Few clubs continued to grow with [[Sydney Olympic FC\|Sydney Olympic]], [[Perth Glory FC\|Perth Glory]], and the newly established [[Adelaide United FC\|Adelaide United]] the exception in a dying league.<ref name="sydneyolympic-origins">{{cite web \| url=http://www.sydneyolympicfc.com/history/origins \| title=Origins \| publisher=Sydney Olympic Football Club \| access-date=9 April 2013 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419083514/http://www.sydneyolympicfc.com/history/origins \| archive-date=19 April 2013 \| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="ffa-history-wanderers">{{cite web\|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/howe-opinion-display/History-against-the-Wanderers/61310 \|title=History against the Wanderers \|work=footballaustralia.com.au \|publisher=Football Federation Australia \|date=21 February 2013 \|access-date=9 April 2013 \|author=Howe, Andrew \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140411063031/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/howe-opinion-display/History-against-the-Wanderers/61310 \|archive-date=11 April 2014 }}</ref><ref name="roar-wanderers-ghosts">{{cite web \| url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/02/25/wanderers-help-lay-some-ex-nsl-ghosts-to-rest/ \| title=Wanderers help lay some ex-NSL ghosts to rest \| work=The Roar \| date=25 February 2013 \| access-date=9 April 2013}}</ref>{{unreliable source?\|date=August 2014}} In April 2003, the [[Australian Government\|Australian Federal Government]] initiated the Independent Soccer Review Committee to investigate the governance and management of the sport in Australia, including that of the NSL.<ref name="age-crawford-for-all">{{cite news \| url=http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/crawford-wants-sport-to-be-for-all-not-just-the-privileged-20091118-il27.html \| title=Crawford wants sport to be for all, not just the privileged \| work=The Age \| date=18 November 2009 \| access-date=9 April 2013 \| author=Baum, Greg \| location=Melbourne}}</ref> In December 2003, the [[2003 Report of the Independent Soccer Review Committee\|Crawford Report]] found that the NSL was financially unviable, and in response the chairman of the sports new governing body, [[Frank Lowy]] of the [[Football Australia\|Football Federation Australia]], announced that a task force would be formed to create a new national competition as a successor to the NSL which dissolved at the conclusion of the [[2003–04 National Soccer League\|2003–04 season]] after 27 years of operation.<ref name="NSL-A-League">{{cite web \| url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/simon-says-10-years-on-from-last-nsl-game-the-past-and-present-are-starting-to-share-the-future/story-e6frf4gl-1226877457498 \| title=Simon Says: 10 years on from last NSL game, the past and present are starting to share the future \| work=Fox Sports \| date=8 April 2014 \| access-date=17 June 2014 \| author=Hill, Simon \| author-link=Simon Hill}}</ref> ===Foundations=== The A-League was announced in April 2004, as a successor to the NSL.<ref name="NSL-A-League"/> Eight teams would be part of the new national competition, with one team from each city of Sydney, [[Melbourne]], [[Brisbane]], [[Adelaide]], [[Perth]], [[Newcastle, New South Wales\|Newcastle]], plus a New Zealand team and one from a remaining expressions of interest from either Melbourne or Sydney. The competition start date was set for August 2005.<ref name="age-jobs-on-hold">{{cite news \| url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=AGE040323JKS7R6E192E \| title=Hundreds of jobs on hold in league revamp \| work=The Age \| date=23 March 2004 \| access-date=5 September 2014 \| author=Lynch, Michael \| quote=If the 'eighth best' application comes from Sydney or Melbourne, either of those cities would have two teams.}}</ref><ref name="a-leagueHistory">{{cite web \| url=http://www.a-league.com.au/about/our-history/ubjd1030hnyy1bgqqajtntuuy \| title=Our History \| work=Hyundai A-League \| publisher=Football Federation Australia \| access-date=15 February 2013}}</ref> By June of that year, 20 submissions had been received and a month later 12 consortiums sent in their final bids for the eight spots. Three bids were received from Melbourne, two each from Sydney and Brisbane, one from each of the remaining preferred cities and a bid from the [[New South Wales]] [[Central Coast (New South Wales)\|Central Coast]] city of [[Gosford]]. Over the next three months, each bid was reviewed and on 1 November 2004, the eight successful bidders and the major sponsor were revealed, for what would be known as the Hyundai A-League, with the [[Hyundai Motor Company]] unveiled as the official naming rights sponsor for the league.<ref name="a-leagueHistory"/> The eight founding teams for the league were [[Adelaide United FC\|Adelaide United]], [[Central Coast Mariners FC\|Central Coast Mariners]], [[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]], [[Newcastle Jets FC\|Newcastle Jets]], [[New Zealand Knights FC\|New Zealand Knights]], [[Perth Glory FC\|Perth Glory]], [[Brisbane Roar FC\|Queensland Roar]] and [[Sydney FC]], with four former NSL clubs taking part, those being Adelaide United, Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory, as well as NSL club [[Queensland Lions FC\|Brisbane Lions]] who withdrew their first team from the Queensland State league and entered it in to the competition as Queensland Roar<ref>{{Cite web\|title=About Us – Lions FC\|url=https://qldlionsfc.com.au/about-us/\|language=en-AU\|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> plus New Zealand Knights who were formed from [[Football Kingz FC\|New Zealand Football Kingz]]. Each club was given a five-year exclusivity deal in its own market as part of the league's "one-city, one-team" policy. This was intended to allow clubs to grow and develop an identity in their respective region without local competition.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Was one-team one-city a mistake by the FFA?\|url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/12/18/was-one-team-one-city-a-mistake-by-the-ffa/\|work=The Roar\|access-date=8 January 2013}}</ref>{{unreliable source?\|date=August 2014}} ===Initial seasons=== On 26 August 2005, 16 months after the demise of the NSL, the [[2005–06 A-League\|inaugural season]] of the A-League began.<ref name="a-leagueHistory"/> The first season would see Adelaide United win the premier's plate by seven points over Sydney FC with Central Coast and Newcastle filling the final two spots in the final series.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3169&pageid=11\|title=Final four confirmed\|date=30 January 2006\|first=Marc\|last=Fox\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060904022337/http://a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3169&pageid=11\|archive-date=4 September 2006}}</ref> In the final series, it was Sydney that took out the title after they defeated Central Coast by a [[Steve Corica]] goal to claim the first title on 5 March 2006.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3603\|title=Sydney FC prevails\|date=5 March 2006\|first=Adam\|last=Lucas\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903044639/https://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3603\|archive-date=3 September 2006}}</ref> The following season saw [[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]] claim the A-League premiers plate when they smashed [[Adelaide United FC\|Adelaide United]] 6–0 in the final at the [[Docklands Stadium\|Telstra Dome]] with [[Archie Thompson]] scoring five goals in the rout.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-02-18/thompson-haul-guides-victory-to-a-league-crown/2197628\|title=Thompson haul guides Victory to A-League crown\|date=10 February 2007\|access-date=6 May 2019\|first=Chris\|last=Paine\|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> But the season wasn't without a change with the [[New Zealand Knights FC\|New Zealand Knights]] being replaced by the [[Wellington Phoenix FC\|Wellington Phoenix]] after the Knights were taken over by [[New Zealand Football]] after the team only won six times in forty-two games and selected overseas talent instead of local.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/soccer/new-franchise-keeps-nz-in-a-league/story-e6frfg8x-1111113185168\|title=New franchise keeps NZ in A-League\|work=Herald Sun\|date=20 March 2007\|access-date=6 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/a-league-soccer/news/article.cfm?c_id=523&objectid=10415329\|title=Soccer: NZ Soccer willing to rescue 'embarrassing' Knights\|date=14 December 2006\|access-date=6 May 2019\|first=Daniel\|last=Gilhooy\|newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]]}}</ref> ===Development=== {{See also\|List of A-League Men seasons}} Both [[Gold Coast United FC\|Gold Coast United]] and [[North Queensland Fury FC\|North Queensland Fury]] joined the league in the [[2009–10 A-League\|2009–10 season]]. On 12 June 2009, [[Melbourne City FC\|Melbourne Heart]] was awarded a licence to join the [[2010–11 A-League\|2010–11 season]].<ref>{{Cite news\|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25629397-5000940,00.html?from=public_rss\|title=Melbourne awarded licence for second A-League team\|last=Reed\|first=Ron\|date=13 June 2009\|work=[[Fox Sports (Australia)\|Fox Sports]]\|access-date=12 October 2009}}</ref> On 1 March 2011 [[North Queensland Fury FC\|North Queensland Fury]]'s A-League licence was revoked for financial reasons.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/197619,hal-hath-no-fury.aspx \|title=HAL Hath No Fury \|work=[[FourFourTwo (Australia)\|Australian FourFourTwo]] \|date=1 March 2011 \|access-date=22 December 2012}}</ref> On 29 February 2012, [[Gold Coast United FC\|Gold Coast United]] also had its licence revoked.<ref>{{cite news\| url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/gold-coast-owner-clive-palmer-loses-a-league-licence/story-e6frg7mf-1226285136612 \| first=Ray \| last=Gatt \| title=Gold Coast owner Clive Palmer loses A-League licence \| date=29 February 2012 \| work=The Australian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/news/1095969/Glimmer-of-hope-for-Gold-Coast-s-future \|title=Glimmer of hope for Gold Coast's future \|work=The World Game \|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service \|date=4 March 2012 \|access-date=22 December 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416024100/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/news/1095969/Glimmer-of-hope-for-Gold-Coast-s-future \|archive-date=16 April 2012 \|url-status=dead }}</ref> On 4 April 2012, it was announced that a new Western Sydney-based club, [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC\|Western Sydney Wanderers]], would join the league for the [[2012–13 A-League\|2012–13 season]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/New-Hyundai-ALeague-club-for-Western-Sydney/46702\|title=New Hyundai A-League club for Western Sydney\|publisher=Football Federation Australia\|access-date=22 December 2012\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720011124/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/New-Hyundai-ALeague-club-for-Western-Sydney/46702\|archive-date=20 July 2012}}</ref> In January 2014, Melbourne Heart was acquired by the [[City Football Group]] and was renamed [[Melbourne City FC\|Melbourne City]] ahead of the [[2014–15 A-League\|2014–15 season]].<ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite web\|title=Manchester City buy A-League's Melbourne Heart\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jan/23/manchester-city-buy-melbourne-heart\|work=The Guardian\|access-date=23 January 2014}}</ref> In February 2018, officials announced that the league would expand to 12 teams for the 2019–20 season.<ref name="The Sydney Morning Herald">{{cite web\|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/ffa-announce-aleague-expansion-to-12-teams-but-clubs-are-wary-of-smokescreen-20180216-h0w8ao.html\|title=FFA announce A-League expansion to 12 teams but clubs are wary of 'smokescreen'\|work=The Sydney Morning Herald\|date=16 February 2018}}</ref> Later that year, the league announced that [[Western United FC]] would join the competition in 2019–20 and [[Macarthur FC\|Macarthur]] would enter the following season (2020–21).<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-13/a-league-adds-west-melbourne-macarthur-south-west-sydney/10614156\|title=A-League approves Western Melbourne, Macarthur South-West Sydney expansion bids\|work=ABC News\|date=21 December 2018}}</ref> In the lead-up to the expansion announcements in 2019, club stakeholders entered into discussions with [[Football Federation Australia]] (FFA) to take over ownership of the competition. The league had been created and operated by the FFA since its inception in 2004, though by 2018 the FFA and clubs were at loggerheads over the permanent ownership structure of the league.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/football-s-heart-and-soul-deserting-the-game-amid-governance-gridlock\|title=Football's 'heart and soul' deserting the game amid governance gridlock\|work=The World Game\|publisher=SBS\|date=3 August 2018}}</ref> A [[FIFA]]-backed congress review working group issued a sweeping 100-page report in August 2018, recommending an expanded domestic congress and an independent A-League, controlled and operated by the clubs.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league-could-go-independent-by-2019\|title=A-League could go independent by 2019\|work=The World Game\|publisher=SBS\|date=7 August 2018}}</ref> On 1 July 2019, the FFA and Australian Professional Football Clubs Association (the body representing the A-League clubs) announced an agreement had been reached for the FFA to relinquish control of the league to the clubs by the following month, in time for the start of the [[2019–20 A-League\|2019–20 season]].<ref name=IndependenceAchieved>{{cite web\|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/ffa-to-relinquish-control-of-a-league-after-independence-deal-reached-20190701-p522vy.html\|title=FFA to relinquish control of A-League after independence deal reached\|work=The Sydney Morning Herald\|author=Vince Rugari\|date=1 July 2019}}</ref> The agreement brought the sport in line with the governance structure utilised in most [[Football in Europe\|European]] leagues.<ref name=IndependenceAchieved/><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.ffa.com.au/news/new-leagues-working-group-nlwg-reaches-principle-agreement-recommendations-a-new-era-football\|title=New Leagues Working Group (NLWG) update\|work=Football Federation Australia\|date=30 June 2019}}</ref> The new ownership body is called the Australian Professional Leagues, a consortium of the A-League clubs and their owners, with certain rights held by the FFA, and a capital investment & ownership stake held by American firm [[Silver Lake (investment firm)\|Silver Lake.]] In 2020, football experts concluded A-League is entering a new crisis era, due to lack of major competitiveness and that total reforms must be done to improve the league, including the introduction of promotion and relegation system, and this has started to be debated.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/relegation-and-promotionemotion-vital-for-the-a-league-548078\|title=Relegation and promotion 'emotion' vital for the A-League}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://worldfootballindex.com/2020/10/australia-football-a-league-promotion-relegation-expansion/\|title = A-League in Crisis? - Expansion and Promotion-Relegation Could be Key\|date = 8 October 2020}}</ref> In response, A-League officials in May 2021 announced that the league will align to the Domestic Match Calendar to avoid clashing with FIFA Days, as well as introducing Domestic Transfer System and National Club Licensing frameworks.<ref name=ftblseconddivision>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/final-model-major-a-league-second-division-meeting-set-for-june-565022\|title='Final model': Major A-League second division meeting set for June}}</ref><ref>https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/football-australia-national-second-division-step-closer-following-formation-of-domestic-match-calendar/news-story/a0cc7e5830907abc240841bcb8a7b8a2</ref> ==Competition format== ===Regular season=== The regular season runs mainly during the Australian summer, from early October to April of the following year. The competition consists of 33 rounds, with each team playing every other team three times. The teams allotted two home matches against an opponent in one season are allotted one home match against that opponent in the following season. Each match sees the winning team awarded three competition points, with one point each for a [[Tie (draw)\|draw]]. The club at the top of this ladder is crowned A-League Premiers, and since the [[2005–06 A-League\|2005–06 season]] has been entered into the [[AFC Champions League]].<ref name="AFCCL">{{cite web \|url=http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3823 \|title=Grand Final rematch to open HAL season \|work=A-League.com.au \|publisher=Football Federation Australia \|date=1 May 2006 \|access-date=3 November 2006 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903095643/http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3823 \|archive-date=3 September 2006 }}</ref><ref name="foxsports-newfinals">{{cite news \| url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/a-league-season-full-fixture-list-and-new-finals-series/story-e6frf4gl-1226400860929 \| title=2012–2013 A-League season: full fixture list and new finals series \| work=Fox Sports \| date=19 June 2012 \| access-date=2 January 2013}}</ref> The Premier is presented with a trophy known as the Premier's Plate.<ref>{{cite web\|title=A-League: HAL 7 (2011–2012 Season)\|url=http://back-of-the-net.com/2011-2012/R25/R25-Review.htm\|publisher=back-of-the-net.com\|access-date=3 December 2014}}</ref> At the completion of the regular season the top six placed teams on the league table progress to the finals series. The position of each team is determined by the highest number of points accumulated during the regular season. If two or more teams are level on points, the following criteria are applied in order until one of the teams can be determined as the higher ranked:<ref name="competitionrules">{{cite web \|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/competition-rules\|title=Competition Rules\|work=A-League\|access-date=18 September 2020}}</ref> # Highest goal difference; # Highest number of goals scored; # Highest number of points accumulated in matches between the teams concerned; # Highest goal difference in matches between the teams concerned; # Highest number of goals scored in matches between the teams concerned; # Lowest number of red cards accumulated; # Lowest number of yellow cards accumulated; # Toss of a coin.<ref name="competitionrules"/> ===Finals series=== {{See also\|A-League Finals}} [[File:Melbourne Victory 2007 A-League Grand Final.jpg\|thumb\|[[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]] celebrating after their [[2007 A-League Grand Final]] victory.]] The top six clubs at the conclusion of the regular season progress to the finals series. The finals series culminates to the A-League grand final, where the winner is crowned A-League champion and receives a place in the [[AFC Champions League]]. The club that wins the grand final is presented with the A-League Champions Trophy. The finals series consists of six teams who are placed by rank, as determined at the end of the regular season. The finals series runs over four weeks. In the first week of fixtures, the third-through-sixth ranked teams play a single-elimination match, with the two winners of those matches joining the first and second ranked teams in two-legged ties played over two weeks. The two winners of those matches meet in the grand final. This method was initially adopted for the 2021–22 season.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/extra-finals-adds-drama-202122-isuzu-ute-a-league-season\|title=Extra finals adds to drama for 2021/22 Isuzu UTE A-League season\|work=A-League\|date=29 October 2021}}</ref> Of the two grand finalists, the team that finished higher on the ladder at the conclusion of the regular season hosts the grand final. The only exception to this is if the FA deems that team's [[Home (sports)\|home ground]] to be an inappropriate venue. For example, in [[2008 A-League Grand Final\|2008]], [[Central Coast Mariners FC\|Central Coast Mariners]] (as the higher-placed team) hosted the grand final against the [[Newcastle Jets FC\|Newcastle Jets]] at [[Sydney Football Stadium]], due to FFA deciding that Central Coast Mariners home stadium, [[Central Coast Stadium]] with a capacity of 20,000, was too small for the event.<ref>{{cite news \| url=http://news.smh.com.au/sport/sfs-to-host-aleague-grand-final-20080212-1rrl.html \| title=SFS to host A-League grand final \| work=The Sydney Morning Herald \| date=12 February 2008 \| access-date=9 June 2013 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017184255/http://news.smh.com.au/sport/sfs-to-host-aleague-grand-final-20080212-1rrl.html \| archive-date=17 October 2013 \| url-status=dead}}</ref> '''Grand final host stadium''' {\| class="wikitable sortable" \|- ! Stadium !! Location !! {{Abbr\|No.\|Number}} hosted !! Years hosted \|- \|[[Sydney Football Stadium]]\|\|[[Sydney]]\|\|4\|\|[[2006 A-League Grand Final\|2006]], [[2008 A-League Grand Final\|2008]], [[2013 A-League Grand Final\|2013]], [[2017 A-League Grand Final\|2017]] \|- \|[[Docklands Stadium]]\|\|[[Melbourne]]\|\|3\|\|[[2007 A-League Grand Final\|2007]], [[2009 A-League Grand Final\|2009]], [[2010 A-League Grand Final\|2010]] \|- \|[[Lang Park]]\|\|[[Brisbane]]\|\|3\|\|[[2011 A-League Grand Final\|2011]], [[2012 A-League Grand Final\|2012]], [[2014 A-League Grand Final\|2014]] \|- \|[[Melbourne Rectangular Stadium]]\|\|[[Melbourne]]\|\|2\|\|[[2015 A-League Grand Final\|2015]], [[2021 A-League Grand Final\|2021]] \|- \|[[Adelaide Oval]]\|\|[[Adelaide]]\|\|1\|\|[[2016 A-League Grand Final\|2016]] \|- \|[[Hunter Stadium]]\|\|[[Newcastle, New South Wales\|Newcastle]]\|\|1\|\|[[2018 A-League Grand Final\|2018]] \|- \|[[Perth Stadium]]\|\|[[Perth]]\|\|1\|\|[[2019 A-League Grand Final\|2019]] \|- \|[[Western Sydney Stadium]]\|\|[[Sydney]]\|\|1\|\|[[2020 A-League Grand Final\|2020]] \|} ===Continental qualification=== {{See also\|Australian clubs in the AFC Champions League}} [[File:2010 AFC Champions League Adelaide United vs Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.jpg\|thumb\|[[Adelaide United FC\|Adelaide United]] against [[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]] in the [[AFC Champions League]] in 2010.]] In 2004–05, Australia was still a part of the [[Oceania Football Confederation]] and [[Sydney FC]] won the right to compete in the [[OFC Champions League\|Oceania Club Championship]] after defeating the [[Central Coast Mariners FC\|Central Coast Mariners]] in a qualifying tournament. A-League clubs are eligible for participation in the [[AFC Champions League]] competition each season since the [[2007 AFC Champions League\|2007 edition of the tournament]].<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=4304 \|title=Australia received two spots in AFC Champions League \|date=18 July 2006 \|access-date=8 August 2006 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306115719/http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay \|archive-date=6 March 2011 \|url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Wellington Phoenix FC\|Wellington Phoenix]] are not eligible to compete in the Asian Champions League, nor do they compete in the [[OFC Champions League]]. The only Australian side to win the Asian Champions League are the [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC]]. Qualification is determined by league finishing positions and who wins the A-League Grand Final, and the number of positions determined by the Asian Football Confederation club competition ranking. The ACL is split into West & East Asian halves until the Grand Final, and Australia has generally been 4th placed in East Asia and received two direct entry positions and one qualification play-off berth. It is unlikely the A-League will receive more than 3 positions until the competition expands beyond 10 teams.<ref name="ffa-ACLcut">{{cite web\|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/AFC-cuts-Champions-League-slots/54279 \|title=AFC cuts Champions League slots \|publisher=Football Federation Australia \|date=29 November 2012 \|access-date=1 March 2013 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101072710/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/AFC-cuts-Champions-League-slots/54279 \|archive-date=1 November 2014 }}</ref><ref name="twg-acl-cut">{{cite news \| url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/afc-champions-league/news/1131051/A-League-misses-out-on-automatic-ACL-spot \| title=A-League misses out on automatic ACL spot \| work=The World Game \| publisher=Special Broadcasting Service \| date=30 November 2012 \| agency=Australian Associated Press \| access-date=1 March 2013 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018033342/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/afc-champions-league/news/1131051/A-League-misses-out-on-automatic-ACL-spot \| archive-date=18 October 2013 \| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="twg-micallef-acl">{{cite news \| url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/philip-micallef/blog/1131333/AFC-ruling-clouds-A-League-finals \| title=AFC ruling clouds A-League finals \| work=The World Game \|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service\| date=3 December 2012 \| access-date=1 March 2013 \| author=Micallef, Philip}}</ref><ref name="abc-misses-acl-spot">{{cite news \| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-30/a-league-misses-out-on-automatic-acl-spot/4400180 \| title=A-League misses out on automatic ACL spot \| work=ABC News \| date=30 November 2012 \| access-date=17 October 2013 \| publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|title=A-League wins extra Asia spot\|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/a-league-wins-extra-asia-spot/story-fn63e0vj-1226769971483\|work=The Australian\|access-date=11 May 2014}}</ref> ===Other competitions=== Since 2014 clubs also compete in the annual [[FFA Cup]] knock-out tournament.<ref name="FFA Cup How Draw Works">{{cite web\|title=FFA Cup How Draw Works\|url=http://www.theffacup.com.au/about/how-the-draw-wor/726r1tfqt3y813r95pn5ml8b2\|publisher=[[Football Federation Australia]]\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306042936/http://www.theffacup.com.au/about/how-the-draw-wor/726r1tfqt3y813r95pn5ml8b2\|archive-date=6 March 2016}}</ref> From 2020, the top nine teams qualify for the [[2020 FFA Cup]] – entering at the Round of 32 – while the bottom two teams will play-off for a spot in the Round of 32.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/a-league-s-worst-teams-to-play-off-for-spot-in-ffa-cup-20191219-p53lmd.html\|title=A-League's worst teams to play off for spot in FFA Cup\|last=Bossi\|first=Vince Rugari, Dominic\|date=2019-12-19\|website=The Sydney Morning Herald\|language=en\|access-date=2019-12-19}}</ref> Between 2005 and 2008 clubs participated in the [[A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup]] prior to each A-League regular season. In 2013 and 2014 an [[A-League All Stars Game]] was also played as a pre-season [[Exhibition game\|friendly game]] between the league's finest players and a high-profile international team.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Stage set for Manchester United to play A-League all-stars\|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/stage-set-for-manchester-united-to-play-a-league-all-stars/story-fn63e0vj-1226515422264\|newspaper=[[The Australian]]\|access-date=20 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|title=Italian giants Juventus coming to Sydney \|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/aleagueallstars/news-display/italian-giants-juventus-coming-to-sydney/81283 \|publisher=[[Football Federation Australia]] \|access-date=20 December 2013 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221104448/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/aleagueallstars/news-display/italian-giants-juventus-coming-to-sydney/81283 \|archive-date=21 December 2013 }}</ref> Most A-League Men clubs have teams in the [[A-League Youth]] competition, which runs in conjunction with the A-League Men as a national youth developmental and reserve league. All players in the youth teams are between the ages of 16 and 21 as of the start of the calendar year for each new season, while four over-age players from each of the senior teams also allowed to be selected. In addition, the [[A-League Women]] operates as the top division of women's league with affiliations to the men's competition.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/InsideFFA/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=22966 \|title=Women in a league of their own \|date=28 July 2008 \|publisher=[[Football Federation Australia]] \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203151814/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/InsideFFA/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=22966 \|archive-date=3 December 2013 }}</ref> In response to the debate about the development of a new professional second division, the [[Australian Championship]] has been proposed to support the A-League, with the aim to avoid the American franchise-based system and to put in line with European football leagues.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.espn.com.au/football/australia-aus/story/4441281/football-australia-adds-national-second-tier-to-football-pyramid-in-calendar-restructure\|title=Football Australia adds national second tier to football pyramid in calendar restructure\|first=Joey\|last=Lynch\|publisher=[[ESPN]]\|date=30 July 2021}}</ref><ref name=ftblseconddivision/> ==Clubs== {{See also\|List of A-League Men clubs}} {{A-League 2020–2024 map}} The A-League Men is currently contested by 12 teams: eleven from Australia and one from New Zealand. A total of 15 teams have competed at some stage in the league's short history. Only four of these clubs – [[Adelaide United FC\|Adelaide United]], the [[Brisbane Roar FC\|Brisbane Roar]] (as the [[Queensland Lions FC\|Queensland Lions]]), the [[Newcastle Jets FC\|Newcastle Jets]], and the [[Perth Glory FC\|Perth Glory]] – existed before the A-League was formed. [[Gold Coast United FC\|Gold Coast United]], the [[New Zealand Knights FC\|New Zealand Knights]], and the [[Northern Fury FC\|North Queensland Fury]] have formerly competed in the league. Unlike most leagues from across the world, there is no system for [[promotion and relegation]] of teams. The A-Leagues system thus shares some [[Professional sports league organization#Systems around the world\|franchising]] elements with most other professional leagues in Australia, [[Major League Soccer]], and other [[Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada\|major North American-based sports leagues]]. {\| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:left" \|- ! colspan="8" \|Current clubs \|- ! Team ! City ! Stadium ! Capacity ! Founded ! Joined ! Head coach ! Captain \|- \| '''[[Adelaide United FC\|Adelaide United]]''' \| [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]] \| [[Hindmarsh Stadium\|Coopers Stadium]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 17,000 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2003 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2005 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Carl Veart]] \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Stefan Mauk]] \|- \| '''[[Brisbane Roar FC\|Brisbane Roar]]''' \| [[Brisbane]], [[Queensland]] \| [[Dolphin Stadium (Brisbane)\|Moreton Daily Stadium]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 11,500 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 1957 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2005 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Warren Moon (soccer)\|Warren Moon]] \| {{flagicon\|SCO}} [[Tom Aldred]] \|- \| '''[[Central Coast Mariners FC\|Central Coast Mariners]]''' \| [[Gosford]], [[New South Wales]] \| [[Central Coast Stadium]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 20,059 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2004 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2005 \| {{flagicon\|SCO}} [[Nick Montgomery]] \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Oliver Bozanic]] \|- \| '''[[Macarthur FC]]''' \| [[Macarthur, New South Wales\|Macarthur]], [[New South Wales]] \| [[Campbelltown Stadium]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 20,000 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2017 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2020 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Ante Milicic]] \| {{Flagicon\|MEX}} [[Ulises Dávila]] \|- \| '''[[Melbourne City FC\|Melbourne City]]''' \| [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)\|Victoria]] \| [[Melbourne Rectangular Stadium\|AAMI Park]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 30,050 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2009 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2010 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Patrick Kisnorbo]] \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Scott Jamieson]] \|- \| '''[[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]]''' \| [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)\|Victoria]] \| [[Melbourne Rectangular Stadium\|AAMI Park]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 30,050 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2004 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2005 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Tony Popovic]] \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Joshua Brillante]] \|- \| '''[[Newcastle Jets FC\|Newcastle Jets]]''' \| [[Newcastle, New South Wales\|Newcastle]], [[New South Wales]] \| [[Newcastle International Sports Centre\|McDonald Jones Stadium]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 33,000 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2000 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2005 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Arthur Papas]] \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Matthew Jurman]] \|- \| '''[[Perth Glory FC\|Perth Glory]]''' \| [[Perth]], [[Western Australia]] \| [[Perth Oval\|HBF Park]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 20,500 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 1995 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2005 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Richard Garcia]] \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Brandon O'Neill]] \|- \| '''[[Sydney FC]]''' \| [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]] \| [[Jubilee Oval\|Netstrata Jubilee Stadium]]<br />[[Leichhardt Oval]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 20,500<br />20,000 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2004 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2005 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Steve Corica]] \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Alex Wilkinson]] \|- \| '''[[Wellington Phoenix FC\|Wellington Phoenix]]''' \| [[Wellington]], New Zealand (temporarily [[Wollongong]], [[New South Wales]]) \| [[Wellington Regional Stadium\|Sky Stadium]]<br />[[WIN Stadium]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 34,500<br />23,000 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2007 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2007 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Ufuk Talay]] \| {{flagicon\|NZL}} [[Alex Rufer]] \|- \| '''[[Western Sydney Wanderers FC\|Western Sydney Wanderers]]''' \| [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]] \| [[Western Sydney Stadium\|CommBank Stadium]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 30,000 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2012 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2012 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[Mark Rudan]] \| {{Flagicon\|AUS}} [[Rhys Williams (soccer, born 1988)\|Rhys Williams]] \|- \| '''[[Western United FC\|Western United]]''' \| [[City of Wyndham\|Wyndham]], [[Victoria (Australia)\|Victoria]] \| [[Kardinia Park (stadium)\|GMHBA Stadium]]<br />[[Eureka Stadium\|Mars Stadium]]<br />[[AAMI Park]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 36,000<br />11,000<br />30,050 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2017 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2019 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} [[John Aloisi]] \| {{flagicon\|ITA}} [[Alessandro Diamanti]] \|} {\| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:left" \|- ! colspan="7" \|Defunct teams \|- ! Team ! City ! Stadium ! Capacity ! Founded ! Joined ! Left Competition \|- \| '''[[Gold Coast United FC\|Gold Coast United]]''' \| [[Gold Coast, Queensland\|Gold Coast]], [[Queensland]] \| [[Robina Stadium\|Skilled Park]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 27,400 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2008 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2009 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2012 \|- \| '''[[New Zealand Knights FC\|New Zealand Knights]]''' \| [[Auckland]], New Zealand \| [[North Harbour Stadium]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 25,000 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 1998 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2005 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2007 \|- \| '''[[Northern Fury FC\|North Queensland Fury]]''' \| [[Townsville]], [[Queensland]] \| [[Willows Sports Complex\|Dairy Farmers Stadium]] \| style="text-align:center;"\| 26,500 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2008 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2009 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2011 \|} ===Timeline=== <timeline> DateFormat = yyyy ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20 Period = from:2005 till:2023 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal PlotArea = right:20 left:0 bottom:50 top:5 #> to display a count on left side of graph, use "left:20" to suppress the count, use "left:20"<# Colors = id:barcolor id:line value:pink id:bg value:white id:Full value:rgb(0.742,0.727,0.852) # Use this color to denote a team that is a current league member id:Former value:rgb(0.4,0.80,0.67) # Use this color to denote a team that is a former league member id:Future value:rgb(0.5,0.7,0.95) PlotData= width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s bar:1 color:Full from:2005 till:end text:Adelaide United (2005/06–present) bar:2 color:Full from:2005 till:end text:Queensland Roar (2005/06–2008/09), then Brisbane Roar (2009/10–present) bar:3 color:Full from:2005 till:end text:Central Coast Mariners (2005/06–present) bar:4 color:Full from:2005 till:end text:Melbourne Victory (2005/06–present) bar:5 color:Full from:2005 till:end text:Newcastle Jets (2005/06–present) bar:6 color:Full from:2005 till:end text:Perth Glory (2005/06–present) bar:7 color:Full from:2005 till:end text:Sydney FC (2005/06–present) bar:8 color:Former from:2005 till:2007 text:New Zealand Knights (2005/06–2006/07) bar:9 color:Full from:2007 till:end text:Wellington Phoenix (2007/08–present) bar:10 color:Former from:2009 till:2012 text:Gold Coast United (2009/10–2011/12) bar:11 color:Former from:2009 till:2011 text:North Queensland Fury (2009/10–2010/11) bar:12 color:Full from:2010 till:end text:Melbourne Heart (2010/11–2013/14), then Melbourne City (2014/15–present) bar:13 color:Full from:2012 till:end text:Western Sydney Wanderers (2012/13–present) bar:14 color:Full from:2019 till:end text:Western United (2019/20–present) bar:15 color:Full from:2020 till:end text:Macarthur FC (2020/21–present) ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:4 start:2005 TextData = fontsize:L textcolor:black pos:(0,30) tabs:(400-center) text: </timeline> {{Font color\|\|{{RGB\|190\|186\|218}}\|League member}} {{Font color\|\|{{RGB\|102\|205\|170}}\|Former member}} {{Font color\|\|{{RGB\|127\|179\|244}}\|Future member}} === Expansion === {{Main\|Expansion of the A-League}} While making a relatively modest start to ensure future stability, both the FFA and the soccer media indicated significant interest in expanding the league. The eight foundation clubs had exclusivity clauses for their respective cities valid for five years, but this did not exclude teams from other areas joining the league. Before the introduction of the A-League, FFA chairman [[Frank Lowy]] speculated that he hoped to expand the league into other cities, mentioning [[Canberra]], [[Hobart]], [[Wollongong, New South Wales\|Wollongong]], [[Geelong]], [[Bendigo]], [[Cairns]], [[Ballarat]], [[Albury–Wodonga]], [[Launceston, Tasmania\|Launceston]], [[Christchurch]], [[Auckland]], [[Sunshine Coast, Queensland\|Sunshine Coast]] and possibly [[Darwin, Northern Territory\|Darwin]] and later [[Singapore]].<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=601 \| title=ASA announce several significant initiatives \| publisher=[[Football Federation Australia\|Australian Soccer Association]]\|date=22 March 2004 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060909222618/http://a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=601 \| archive-date=9 September 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=629 \| title=A-League launch speech by FFA chairman Mr Frank Lowy AC \| date=13 November 2004 \| publisher=[[Football Federation Australia\|Australian Soccer Association]]\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060912075020/http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=629 \| archive-date=12 September 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|first=Paul \|last=Osbourne \|title=Chief talks up Townsville \|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20081770-5000940,00.html \|work=[[Fox Sports (Australia)\|Fox Sports]] \|date=10 August 2006 \|access-date=6 February 2007 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312010117/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0%2C8659%2C20081770-5000940%2C00.html \|archive-date=12 March 2007 \|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web \| url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/119653,gippsland%E2%80%99s-aleague-call.aspx \| title=Gippsland's A-League Call \| work=[[FourFourTwo (Australia)\|Australian FourFourTwo]] \| date=4 January 2010 \| access-date=22 December 2012 \| last=Ormond \| first=Aidan}}</ref> In February 2018, officials announced that the league would expand to 12 teams for the 2019–20 season.<ref name="The Sydney Morning Herald"/><ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/a-league/aleague-expansion-plans-revealed-with-two-new-teams-to-join-in-201819/news-story/bc654d06b2b6e24ea013dfd84878073f \| title=A-League expansion plans revealed with two new teams to join in 2018–19 \| work=Herald Sun\| date=5 December 2016 \| access-date=28 January 2017 \| last=Davutovic \| first=David}}</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jul/26/a-league-expansion-further-delayed-as-ffa-focus-on-operating-model A-League expansion further delayed as FFA focus on operating model]{{in lang\|en}}</ref> In December 2018, the FFA announced they accepted the bids of [[Western United FC\|Western United]] who joined the league in the [[2019–20 A-League\|2019–20 season]] and of [[Macarthur FC\|Macarthur]], who joined the league in the [[2020–21 A-League\|2020–21 season]].<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/13/ffa-settle-on-staggered-a-league-expansion-over-next-two-years\|title=FFA settle on staggered A-League expansion over next two years\|first=Mike\|last=Hytner\|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]\|date=13 December 2018}}</ref> In 2021, further steps were taken in an attempt to expand from the recent 12 clubs, with goals being set to get 14 clubs in 2022 and a potential 16 clubs in 2023.<ref>https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/aleague-could-grow-as-early-as-next-season-to-ensure-a-fairer-competition/news-story/bf5d2cd979f53d019533fd8fd03711d1</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/football/news/a-league-men-expansion-which-clubs-could-join-the-competition/1fj9a8tqt2v1v1wk6riqnyg027\|title = A-League Men expansion: Which clubs could join the competition?}}</ref> === Rivalries === There are several key rivalries and [[List of association football rivalries#Australia\|local derbies]] that have formed in the A-League, including: '''''"[[Melbourne Derby (A-League)\|Melbourne Derby]]"''' – [[Melbourne City FC\|Melbourne City]] v [[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]]''<br /> The two Melbourne clubs first met on 8 October 2010 in a lively game at [[AAMI Park]] in front of 25,897 fans. Melbourne City (known at the time as Melbourne Heart) came out on top with a 2–1 victory.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.melbourneheartfc.com.au/default.aspx?s=aleague_newsdisplay&id=35811\|title=Heart Claim Inaugural Derby Win\|date=8 October 2010\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220210913/http://www.melbourneheartfc.com.au/default.aspx?s=aleague_newsdisplay&id=35811\|archive-date=20 February 2011\|publisher=Melbourne Heart}}</ref> A significant narrative in derby history is the role of Melbourne Victory as a more successful club both on and off the field, having joined the A-League five years earlier than City. The rivalry is one of the most intense and well respected in the A-League, producing noticeable atmosphere and some of the largest attendances in the league.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Melbourne Derby: Does Victory v. City trump Sydney derby as A-League's biggest rivalry?\|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/breaking-news/melbourne-derby-does-victory-v-city-trump-sydney-derby-as-aleagues-biggest-rivalry/news-story/af8cb5e397f2db4f6cebe25740ea130e\|publisher=foxsports.com.au\|access-date=31 January 2016}}</ref> '''''"[[Adelaide United FC–Melbourne Victory FC rivalry\|The Original Rivalry]]"''' – [[Adelaide United FC\|Adelaide United]] v [[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]] ''<br /> The rivalry stems from the traditional cross-border rivalry between sporting teams from South Australia and Victoria but was strengthened by multiple incidents in the 2006–07 season, such as the confrontation between Melbourne Victory captain [[Kevin Muscat]] and Adelaide United coach [[John Kosmina]].{{citation needed\|date=August 2019}} The two clubs contested the [[2007 A-League Grand Final\|2007]] and [[2009 A-League Grand Final]]s, with Melbourne winning the 2009 Grand Final 1–0 against a 10-man Adelaide United side. The two clubs were also involved in the first and only occasion in the A-League during the [[2008–09 A-League]] season, where they both finished on the top of the ladder equal on both points and goal difference. '''''"[[Sydney Derby (A-League)\|Sydney Derby]]"''' – [[Sydney FC]] v [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC\|Western Sydney Wanderers]]''<br /> The derby was contested for the first time in the 2012–13 season with the introduction of the second Sydney-based club, Western Sydney Wanderers, into the league. Sydney FC grabbed bragging rights by winning the first derby 1–0 at [[Parramatta Stadium]],<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/aleague/matchcentre/matchreport/Western-Sydney-Wanderers-FC-v-Sydney-FC-Hyundai-A-League/2613\|title=Del Piero does it again\|date=20 October 2012\|publisher=A-League\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403055626/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/aleague/matchcentre/matchreport/Western-Sydney-Wanderers-FC-v-Sydney-FC-Hyundai-A-League/2613\|archive-date=3 April 2013}}</ref> however Western Sydney Wanderers won the return match at [[Sydney Football Stadium\|Allianz Stadium]] 2–0. A Sydney Derby held early in the 2015 season broke the Allianz Stadium record for attendance during a regular season in any football code, dating back to the stadium's opening in 1988.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2014/10/19/flourishing-league-smashes-more-records \|title=FLOURISHING A-LEAGUE SMASHES MORE RECORDS \|work=The World Game\|publisher=SBS \|access-date=20 October 2014}}</ref> A match in 2016 between the two teams broke the record A-League crowd with 61,880 fans attending the match at [[ANZ Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/sydney-fcs-epic-second-half-blows-away-wanderers-0\|title=Sydney FC's epic second half blows away Wanderers\|date=8 October 2016\|access-date=23 April 2019\|first=Aidan\|last=Ormond}}</ref> Sydney Derby is intensified by the geographic distinction between the two clubs within Sydney, as well as historical grievances related to the foundation of Sydney FC. '''''"[[The Big Blue (A-League)\|The Big Blue]]"''' – [[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]] v [[Sydney FC]]''<br /> This match is so named because blue is the main colour of both teams' playing kits, and is also Australian slang for a fight or a contest.<ref name="macquarie-blue">{{cite encyclopedia \| title=Blue \| encyclopedia=The Macquarie Essential Dictionary \| publisher=The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd \| year=1999 \| pages=81}}</ref> The rivalry has emerged as a result of a number of spiteful encounters between the teams in recent years, and due to the longstanding rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's two largest cities. The teams have competed against each other in three grand finals; in [[2010 A-League Grand Final\|2010]] & [[2017 A-League Grand Final\|2017]], with Sydney winning 4–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw on both occasions and in [[2015 A-League Grand Final\|2015]], with Victory winning 3–0.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/match/melbourne-victory-v-sydney-fc-a-league-17-05-2015/796853\|title=Victory outclass Sydney FC in Grand Final\|date=17 May 2015\|access-date=23 April 2019\|first=John\|last=Greco}}</ref> In 2010, Sydney FC won the A-League Premiership on the final day of the season by defeating Victory 2–0. A Big Blue match is traditionally played on [[Australia Day]] each year. '''''"[[F3 Derby\|The F3 Derby]]"''' – [[Central Coast Mariners FC\|Central Coast Mariners]] v [[Newcastle Jets FC\|Newcastle Jets]]''<br /> Named after the former name of [[Pacific Motorway (Sydney–Newcastle)\|the freeway]] that connects the cities of Newcastle and Gosford,<ref name="smh-fanssteamed">{{cite news \| url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/football/fans-steamed-up-for-derby--if-they-get-there/2006/11/10/1162661897396.html \| title=Fans steamed up for derby – if they get there \| work=The Sydney Morning Herald\| date=11 November 2006 \| access-date=12 November 2006}}</ref> this match features the only two clubs in the A-League that are not based in state capital cities. The two teams' stadiums are just one hour apart, and the derby was intensified when they competed against each other for the premiership in the [[2007–08 A-League\|2007–08 A-League season]] and eventually met in the [[2008 A-League Grand Final\|Grand Final]], which was won 1–0 by the Jets. '''''"[[Melbourne Victory FC–Western United FC rivalry\|The Westgate Derby / The Battle of the Bridge]]"''' – [[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]] v [[Western United FC\|Western United]]'' <br /> Upon joining the A-League in the 2019–20 season as the 3rd club in Melbourne, Western United has developed a rivalry with Melbourne Victory. Despite the rivalry's short existence, it has garnered a reputation for producing talking points, controversy, tension, goals and drama.<ref>{{cite web \|last1=Comito \|first1=Matthew \|title=Rudan: United's erupting rivalry with Victory helping A-League become 'one of the best products in the world' \|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/melbourne-victory-v-western-united-reaction-analysis-highlights-video \|website=A-League \|access-date=28 February 2021}}</ref> In the team's first meeting, in November 2019 at Marvel Stadium, Western United won 3–2 despite going 2–0 down within the first 7 minutes. In February 2021 at Marvel Stadium, despite conceding the first goal of the match and despite being reduced to 10 men for the final half-hour of the match, Western United won 4–3, with Victor Sanchez scoring in the final minute of stoppage time. After keeping the Victory winless for the first 5 matches of the rivalry (4 wins, 1 draw), Melbourne Victory ended their losing run in emphatic fashion on 28 May 2021, beating Western United 6–1 at AAMI Park. ==Organisation== ===Logo and trophies=== [[File:A-League Trophy.png\|thumb\|The A-League Trophy was designed to resemble a [[laurel wreath]].]] [[File:New Premier's Plate.png\|thumb\|The Premier's Plate is awarded to the highest finishing team in the regular season.]] The current A-League logo was unveiled in January 2017 by [[Football Federation Australia]]. The logo formed part of a wider rebranding branding of the A-League and its subsidiary competitions, the [[W-League (Australia)\|W-League]] and [[National Youth League (Australia)\|Youth League]]. The logo design was "inspired by football's three outstanding features – atmosphere, diversity and unity" and has colour alterations tailored to each of the 12 A-League clubs. The changes came into effect before the [[2017–18 A-League\|2017/18 season]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2017/01/25/ffa-reveal-new-branding-and-league-logo\|work=SBS Australia\|title=FFA reveal new branding and A-League logo\|date=24 January 2017}}</ref> The original A-League logo was designed by Coast Design Sydney. It was the inaugural logo of the league. The two-toned [[ochre]] colours represented the sun, earth and desert while the 'glow' emanating from the centre of the logo depicted the playing season's spring and summer time span. The eight 'A' figures that made up the ball shape represented the eight foundation clubs of the league.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Logo signals refreshing new era \|url=http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=616 \|work=A-League.com.au \|publisher=Football Federation Australia \|date=1 November 2004 \|access-date=19 December 2006 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060912080024/http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=616 \|archive-date=12 September 2006 \|url-status=dead }}</ref> A-league decided to rebrand with a new logo in 2021 designed by R/GA, a creative agency in Sydney, leading to a major controversy and narrowly avoided legal trouble with building company in Adelaide over design similarities.<ref>{{Cite news\|last1=Conrad\|first1=Alex\|last2=Monteverde\|first2=Marco\|date=2021-09-30\|title=A-League avoids legal stoush over new logo\|work=news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site\|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/aleague-avoids-legal-stoush-with-building-company-over-new-logo/news-story/3e214fb183fd6688d135d4545075b98e\|access-date=2021-10-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|last=Bossi\|first=Dominic\|date=2021-09-30\|title='Quite bizarre': Adelaide company might take action over A-League logo\|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/quite-bizarre-adelaide-company-may-take-action-over-a-league-logo-20210930-p58w2j.html\|access-date=2021-10-03\|website=The Sydney Morning Herald\|language=en}}</ref> The A-League has two trophies which are competed for during the season: the Premier's Plate and the A-League Trophy.<ref name="fourfourtwo-trophy">{{cite news \| url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/features/3372,gold-medal-trophy.aspx \| title=Gold medal trophy \| work=[[FourFourTwo (Australia)\|Australian FourFourTwo]] \| date=19 March 2007 \| access-date=17 October 2013 \| author=Ormond, Aidan}}</ref> The Premier's Plate is awarded to the A-League Premiers, the regular season winners, and the A-League Trophy is awarded to the A-League Champions, the winner of the Grand Final. Both pieces of silverware were designed by Sydney design company D3 Design. The A-League Trophy is nicknamed the "Toilet Seat" due to its shape.<ref name="fox-toiletseat">{{cite news \| url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/goal-line-technology-toilet-seats-and-mrps-simon-hill-reveals-his-hopes-and-dreams-for-football/story-e6frf423-1226546632480 \| title=Goal-line technology,'toilet seats' and MRPs: Simon Hill reveals his hopes and dreams for football \| work=Fox Sports \| date=2 January 2013 \| access-date=15 February 2015 \| author=Hill, Simon \| author-link=Simon Hill}}</ref><ref name="toiletseat">{{cite news \| url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2014/10/02/top-10-league-flops \| title=The top 10 A-League flops \| work=The World Game \| date=2 October 2014 \| access-date=15 February 2015 \| quote=Then there's the A-League prize – a shiny metal ring that looks like something you stick your rear end in to eject fecal waste through. Aptly nicknamed the 'toilet seat', the A-League trophy is actually an impressive piece of kit close up, but in the lexicon of famous football championship bling, it's a definite flop.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|title=EPL trophy influenced FFA Cup design \|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/EPL-trophy-influenced-FFA-Cup-design/89622 \|publisher=[[Football Federation Australia]] \|access-date=11 May 2014 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413130208/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/EPL-trophy-influenced-FFA-Cup-design/89622 \|archive-date=13 April 2014 }}</ref> Where as the Premier's Plate follows a traditional trophy design, the A-League Trophy differs. In 2005, [[John O'Neill (sport administrator)\|John O'Neill]], FFA CEO commented during the unveiling of the A-League Trophy, "We have a new national league and we feel it is important to re-define the conventional view of a trophy to reflect this". Clive Solari of D3 Design explained the trophy's design, saying "We wanted our trophy concept to embody the historical significance of sport in a contemporary design. So we looked to history to see how great achievements have been rewarded across all types of games for thousands of years. The winners of the world's original sporting competition, the [[Olympic Games]], were presented with a [[laurel wreath]] on their heads. We used this model as a basis for a unique, cutting-edge design – our trophy is a modern and versatile translation of the wreath. The winners can hold it above their heads as a symbol of success".<ref>{{cite web\|title=New A-League trophy revealed\|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/647980/new-a-league-trophy-revealed\|work=The World Game\|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service\|access-date=27 February 2014\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302222201/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/647980/new-a-league-trophy-revealed\|archive-date=2 March 2014\|url-status=dead}}</ref> ===Squad formation and salary cap=== {{See also\|List of foreign A-League Men players\|Marquee player (A-League Men)}} [[File:Alex Del Piero Sydney FC 2 cropped.jpg\|thumb\|upright\|[[Alessandro Del Piero]] joined the league in 2012, as Sydney FC's marquee player.]] The A-League match-day squad includes the typical 11 players, and five substitutes of which one must be a goalkeeper. Prior to the [[2013–14 A-League\|2013–14 season]], just four substitutes including one goalkeeper were allowed to be named in the starting line-ups for the teams.<ref>{{cite web\|title=A-League increases available substitutes to five\|url=https://www.sbnation.com/2013/8/15/4624170/a-league-substitutes\|author=Orr, Michael\|work=SBnation.com\|date=15 August 2013\|access-date=30 May 2014}}</ref> An A-League squad must comprise a minimum of 20 players with a maximum of 26, subject to several limitations. Within the squad, there can be a maximum of five "foreign" or "[[Visa (document)\|Visa]]" players, from outside Australia (and New Zealand, in the case of [[Wellington Phoenix FC\|Wellington Phoenix]]), that hold a temporary working-visa. Three players in the squad must also be under 20 years of age. In addition to these three under 20 players, clubs are allowed to sign an additional three youth players onto full-time contracts at a lower pay rate than the rest of the squad.<ref name="smh-cap-open">{{cite news \| url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/open-slather-as-clubs-push-for-squad-quotas-to-be-scrapped-20120129-1qo1l.html \| title=Open slather as clubs push for squad quotas to be scrapped \| work=The Sydney Morning Herald \| date=30 January 2012 \| access-date=23 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="PFA_CBA">{{cite web\|url=http://www.pfa.net.au/index.php?id=81 \|title=A-League Collective Bargaining Agreement 2008–2013\|publisher=Australian PFA \|date=2 May 2010\|access-date=19 January 2011}}</ref><ref name="dailytele-salarycaprise">{{cite news \| url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/soccer/a-league-salary-cap-to-rise/story-e6frey4r-1111113393772 \| title=A-League salary cap to rise \| work=The Daily Telegraph \| date=23 April 2007 \| access-date=11 February 2011}}</ref> The A-League had initially proposed that the quota of five visa players per A-League club be reduced to four in the 2015–16 season, with the limit of four possibly become "3+1", which means three imports from anywhere and one from Asia (following regulations in the [[AFC Champions League]]).<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/football/reducing-the-aleague-imports-to-four-will-only-help-the-development-of-our-young-australian-players/story-fnk6pqhe-1226855909589 \| title=Reducing the A-League imports to four will only help the development of our young Australian players \| work=The Courier-Mail \| date=15 March 2014 \| access-date=15 June 2014 \| author=Moore, Craig \| author-link=Craig Moore}}</ref> However, after opposition to the proposal by both players and managers, the move was placed on hold.<ref name="fox-visasports-backflip">{{cite news \| url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/a-league-chiefs-are-set-to-backflip-and-not-reduce-visa-spots-for-next-season/story-e6frf4gl-1227195813689 \| title=A-League chiefs are set to backflip and not reduce visa spots for next season \| work=Fox Sports \| date=24 January 2015 \| access-date=16 February 2015 \| author=Davutovic, David}}</ref> Although A-League clubs have restricted salaries ([[salary cap]]), the league allows each club to have two "marquee" players whose salaries are exempt from the cap, plus a number of other 'exemptions' or 'allowances' to incentivise clubs to spend in specific areas. Guest players are also excluded for up to a maximum of 14 league matches.<ref name="msn.com">{{cite web\|title=Sweeping changes to A-League cap unveiled\|website = [[MSN]]\|url=https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/football/sweeping-changes-to-a-league-cap-unveiled/ar-BBlD3CO?ocid=mailsignout\|access-date=11 August 2015}}</ref> From the formation of the league, clubs have been allowed to sign one international marquee player. From the 2008–09 season, A-League clubs have been permitted a junior marquee player; one that is under the age of 23. Now known as the 'Homegrown Player allowance', clubs can spend up to a collective $150,000 on three Australian players aged 23 or younger that have come through the club's youth system.<ref name="A-League Salary Cap Summary">{{cite news\|title=A-League Salary Cap Summary \|url=http://www.a-league.com.au/about/competition-rules/1aw1ybfl0o1uo1k3rz9suqvqbb\|publisher=[[Football Federation Australia]]}}</ref> On 19 April 2010, the A-League announced that, in addition to the international marquee and junior marquee, clubs would be allowed an Australian marquee player from the 2010–11 season.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news\|url=http://www.pfa.net.au/index.php?id=81 \|title=A-League CBA\|publisher=Australian PFA \|date=2 May 2010\|access-date=2 May 2010\| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100419210857/http://www.pfa.net.au/index.php?id=81\| archive-date= 19 April 2010 \| url-status= live}}</ref> Notable marquee and guest players in the A-League have included [[Alessandro Del Piero]], [[William Gallas]], [[Dwight Yorke]], [[Emile Heskey]], [[Robbie Fowler]], [[Shinji Ono]], [[David Villa]] and former [[FIFA World Player of the Year]] [[Romário]]. Famous Australian Marquees include [[Harry Kewell]], [[John Aloisi]], [[Brett Emerton]], [[Joshua Kennedy]] and [[Tim Cahill]]. Commencing in the 2015–16 season, players who have played at their club for 5–10 years will be covered by a "loyalty player allowance", allowing up to $200,000 of their salary to be exempted from the cap. Additionally, clubs are now permitted a mature-age rookie whose wages are outside the salary cap.<ref name="msn.com"/> The 2016–17 season saw the introduction of a third 'Full Season Guest Marquee' spot, designed to attract high-profile players on short-term deals.<ref name="Guest Marquee">{{cite web\|title=FFA finalise third "guest" marquee\|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/ffa-finalise-third-guest-marquee\|access-date=16 July 2016\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712002606/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/ffa-finalise-third-guest-marquee\|archive-date=12 July 2016\|url-status=dead}}</ref> The salary cap for A-League clubs is $2.1 million for the [[2020–21 A-League\|2020–21 season]]. In the case for [[Western United FC\|Western United]] and debuting [[Macarthur FC]], they are entitled to a $333,000 allowance thus increasing their salary cap to $2.433 million. Clubs must spend at least the salary floor which is $1.7 million. The salary cap applies to the 18 to 23 players that clubs have registered to their A-League player roster, the top 2 highest-paid players (Designated Players) don't count in the cap. Unless specifically exempt, all payments and benefits (e.g. cars, accommodation, etc.) provided by a club to a player are included in the club's salary cap. Players registered at a club for more than 4 consecutive years as a professional are considered as Loyalty Players and have the following amounts exempt from a club's salary cap; Year 4 – 12.5%, Year 5 – 25%, and 5% increments after that up until a max of 50%. Teams can spend an unlimited amount on 4 U-23 Australian players who have come from the youth team, called Homegrown Players. Teams can sign up to 9 U-20 players on minimum wage called Scholarship Players who don't count in the squad unless they are one of the 3 U21's in the squad, any payments above the national minimum wage to these Players are included in the club's Salary Cap.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=Salary Cap System\|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/salary-cap-system\|access-date=25 December 2020\|website=A-League\|date=August 2017}}</ref> {\| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ A-League salaries and marquees \|- !width=14%\|Season !width=14%\|Marquee player !width=14%\|Australian marquee !width=14%\|Junior marquee !width=14%\|Mature-aged rookie !width=14%\|Salary cap !width=14%\|Minimum salary \|- \| [[2005–06 A-League\|2005–06]] \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}}\|\| {{No}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $1,500,000<ref name="Can our talent reside in the A-League?">{{cite web\|title=Can our talent reside in the A-League?\|url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/22/can-our-better-talent-reside-in-the-a-league/\|publisher=theroar.com.au}}</ref> \|\| \|- \| [[2006–07 A-League\|2006–07]]\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}}\|\| {{No}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $1,600,000<ref name="A-League lifts its salary cap to $1.8m">{{cite web\|title=A-League lifts its salary cap to $1.8m\|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/ALeague-lifts-its-salary-cap-to-18m/2007/04/23/1177180562411.html\|work=[[The Age]]\|date=23 April 2007}}</ref> \|\| \|- \| [[2007–08 A-League\|2007–08]]\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}}\|\| {{No}}\|\| {{No}} \|\| $1,800,000<ref name="A-League lifts its salary cap to $1.8m" /> \|\| \|- \| [[2008–09 A-League\|2008–09]]\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $1,900,000<ref>{{cite news\|title=New Season To Start with a Bang \|url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/75151,new-season-to-start-with-a-bang.aspx \|work=[[FourFourTwo (Australia)\|Australian FourFourTwo]] \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503031516/http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/75151%2Cnew-season-to-start-with-a-bang.aspx \|archive-date=3 May 2008 }}</ref> \|\| \|- \| [[2009–10 A-League\|2009–10]]\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $2,250,000<ref>{{cite web\|title=Football federation ignored Sydney FC's alleged breach of salary cap\|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/football-federation-ignored-sydney-fcs-alleged-breach-of-salary-cap-20110617-1g87w.html\|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]\|date=17 June 2011}}</ref> \|\| \|- \| [[2010–11 A-League\|2010–11]]\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}}\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $2,350,000<ref name="Can our talent reside in the A-League?" /> \|\| \|- \| [[2011–12 A-League\|2011–12]]\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}}\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $2,400,000<ref>{{cite news\|title=FFA, players on collision course \|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/ffa-players-on-collision-course/story-fn63e0vj-1226211746016\|work=[[The Australian]]}}</ref> \|\| \|- \| [[2012–13 A-League\|2012–13]]\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}}\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $2,468,000<ref name="A-League players strike a deal for a minor increase to salary cap, minimum wages" /> \|\|$48,000<ref>{{cite news\|title=A-League clubs to see slight salary cap raise under new pay deal\|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-01/clubs-see-slight-raise-in-new-a-league-pay-deal/4791864\|work=ABC News\|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation\|access-date=23 September 2014}}</ref> \|- \| [[2013–14 A-League\|2013–14]]\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}}\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $2,500,000<ref name="A-League players strike a deal for a minor increase to salary cap, minimum wages" /> \|\|$50,000<ref name="A-League players strike a deal for a minor increase to salary cap, minimum wages">{{cite news\|title=A-League players strike a deal for a minor increase to salary cap, minimum wages \|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/football/a-league-players-strike-a-deal-for-a-minor-increase-to-salary-cap-minimum-wages/story-fnii0fc4-1226672749091\|newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)\|The Advertiser]]}}</ref> \|- \| [[2014–15 A-League\|2014–15]]\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}}\|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $2,550,000<ref name="A-League players strike a deal for a minor increase to salary cap, minimum wages" /> \|\|$51,000<ref name="Foreign marquee quota doubled in revised salary cap">{{cite web\|title=Foreign marquee quota doubled in revised salary cap\|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2015/08/11/foreign-marquee-quota-doubled-revised-salary-cap?cid=trending\|publisher=SBS website\|access-date=11 August 2015}}</ref> \|- \| [[2015–16 A-League\|2015–16]]\|\|colspan=2 {{Yes\|2}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| $2,600,000<ref name="A-League Salary Cap Summary"/> \|\| $55,000<ref name="A-League Salary Cap Summary"/> \|- \| [[2016–17 A-League\|2016–17]]\|\|colspan=2 {{Yes\|3}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| $2,650,000<ref name="A-League salary cap could be scrapped">{{cite news\|title=A-League salary cap could be scrapped when new CBA is negotiated in 2018 \|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/aleague-salary-cap-could-be-scrapped-when-new-cba-is-negotiated-in-2018/news-story/501dc89288a96e9d4906f57fef485a3f\|work=[[Fox Sports (Australia)]]}}</ref> \|\| $55,715<ref name="A-League salary cap could be scrapped"/> \|- \| [[2017–18 A-League\|2017–18]]\|\| colspan=2 {{Yes\|2}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| $2,928,000<ref name="A-League salary cap could be scrapped"/> \|\| $61,287<ref name="A-League salary cap could be scrapped"/> \|- \| [[2018–19 A-League\|2018–19]]\|\| colspan=2 {{Yes\|2}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| $3,063,000<ref name="New A-League expansion teams to be given bigger salary cap">{{cite news\|title=New A-League expansion teams to be given bigger salary cap \|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/new-a-league-expansion-teams-to-be-given-bigger-salary-cap-20190506-p51kn7.html\|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]}}</ref> \|\| $64,113<ref name="A-League salary cap could be scrapped"/> \|- \| [[2019–20 A-League\|2019–20]]\|\| colspan=2 {{Yes\|2}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $3,200,000<ref name="New A-League expansion teams to be given bigger salary cap"/> \|\| $47,792–$64,113<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/salary-cap-system\|title=Salary Cap System\|website=Hyundai A-League\|date=August 2017\|language=en\|access-date=26 July 2019}}</ref> \|- \| [[2020–21 A-League\|2020–21]]\|\| colspan=2 {{Yes\|2}} \|\| {{Yes\|1}} \|\| {{No}} \|\| $2,100,000<ref name="sbs cap">{{Cite web\|last=Davidson\|first=John\|date=5 October 2020\|title=A-League clubs and PFA reach payment deal\|url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league-clubs-and-pfa-reach-payment-deal\|access-date=2 January 2021\|website=[[The World Game]]}}</ref> \|\| $45,000–$62,500<ref name="sbs cap"/> \|- \| [[2021–22 A-League\|2021–22]]\|\| \|\| \|\| \|\| \|\| \|\| \|} ===Stadiums=== {{Main\|List of A-League Men stadiums}} A-League games have been played in 33 stadiums since the inaugural season of the A-League in 2005. [[Dolphin Stadium (Brisbane)\|Dolphin Stadium]], the home of [[Brisbane Roar]], is currently the smallest used in the A-League, with a capacity of 11,500. ===Sponsorship=== Since its formation, the A-League has been sponsored by an official naming rights partner.<ref name="a-leagueHistory"/> In 2004, the [[Hyundai Motor Company]] was announced as the sponsor for the first three seasons of the league, known for commercial purposes as the "Hyundai A-League". In 2008, Hyundai renewed its initial contract with [[Football Federation Australia\|FFA]] for another four seasons until 2012, and that contract was further extended by four seasons until 2016.<ref name="hyundai-extends">{{cite press release \| url=http://www.hyundai.com.au/about-hyundai/news/articles/hyundai-extends-a-league-partnership-until-2016 \| title=Hyundai Extends A-League Partnership Until 2016 \| publisher=Hyundai Motor Company, Australia \| access-date=10 May 2014 \| url-status=dead \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512222908/http://www.hyundai.com.au/about-hyundai/news/articles/hyundai-extends-a-league-partnership-until-2016 \| archive-date=12 May 2014}}</ref> This sponsorship deal was then further extended to the end of the [[2019–20 A-League]] season.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.myfootball.com.au/news/hyundai-extends-partnership-ffa-through-2020\|title=Hyundai extends partnership with FFA through to 2020\|website=MyFootball\|date=25 July 2016\|language=en\|access-date=12 June 2019}}</ref> On 23 December 2020, it was announced that the new major sponsor of the A-League and [[W-League (Australia)\|W-League]] would be home improvement store [[Bunnings Warehouse]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/leagues-sign-historic-deal-bunnings\|title=Leagues sign historic deal with Bunnings\|publisher=A-League\|date= 23 December 2020}}</ref> On October 6, 2021, [[Isuzu]] [[Isuzu D-Max\|UTE]] was announced as the naming rights partner of the A-League Men in a 3-year deal, with the league known as the Isuzu UTE A-League Men.<ref>{{Cite web\|date=2021-10-06\|title=Isuzu UTE Australia becomes first naming rights partner of A-League Men\|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/isuzu-ute-australia-becomes-first-naming-rights-partner-a-league-men\|access-date=2021-10-05\|website=A-League\|language=en}}</ref> ==League championships== {{See also\|List of Australian soccer champions}} As of the end of the 2020–21 regular season, 14 different clubs have competed in the league, with seven having won the trophy, and eight winning at least one premier's plate. {\| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; white-space:nowrap;" \|- ! Team ! Champions ! Year(s) won ! Premiers ! Year(s) won ! Total combined ! A-League seasons \|- \| [[Sydney FC]] \| 5 \| [[2006 A-League Grand Final\|2006]], [[2010 A-League Grand Final\|2010]], [[2017 A-League Grand Final\|2017]], [[2019 A-League Grand Final\|2019]], [[2020 A-League Grand Final\|2020]] \| 4 \| [[2009–10 A-League\|2009–10]], [[2016–17 A-League\|2016–17]], [[2017–18 A-League\|2017–18]], [[2019–20 A-League\|2019–20]] \| 9 \| 16 \|- \| [[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]] \| 4 \| [[2007 A-League Grand Final\|2007]], [[2009 A-League Grand Final\|2009]], [[2015 A-League Grand Final\|2015]], [[2018 A-League Grand Final\|2018]] \| 3 \| [[2006–07 A-League\|2006–07]], [[2008–09 A-League\|2008–09]], [[2014–15 A-League\|2014–15]] \| 7 \| 16 \|- \| [[Brisbane Roar FC\|Brisbane Roar]] \| 3 \| [[2011 A-League Grand Final\|2011]], [[2012 A-League Grand Final\|2012]], [[2014 A-League Grand Final\|2014]] \| 2 \| [[2010–11 A-League\|2010–11]], [[2013–14 A-League\|2013–14]] \| 5 \| 16 \|- \| [[Central Coast Mariners FC\|Central Coast Mariners]] \| 1 \| [[2013 A-League Grand Final\|2013]] \| 2 \| [[2007–08 A-League\|2007–08]], [[2011–12 A-League\|2011–12]] \| 3 \| 16 \|- \| [[Adelaide United FC\|Adelaide United]] \| 1 \| [[2016 A-League Grand Final\|2016]] \| 2 \| [[2005–06 A-League\|2005–06]], [[2015–16 A-League\|2015–16]] \| 3 \| 16 \|- \| [[Melbourne City FC\|Melbourne City]] \| 1 \| [[2021 A-League Grand Final\|2021]] \| 1 \| [[2020–21 A-League\|2020–21]] \| 2 \| 12 \|- \| [[Newcastle Jets FC\|Newcastle Jets]] \| 1 \| [[2008 A-League Grand Final\|2008]] \| 0 \| – \| 1 \| 16 \|- \| [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC\|Western Sydney Wanderers]] \| 0 \| – \| 1 \| [[2012–13 A-League\|2012–13]] \| 1 \| 9 \|- \| [[Perth Glory FC\|Perth Glory]] \| 0 \| – \| 1 \| [[2018–19 A-League\|2018–19]] \| 1 \| 16 \|- \| [[Western United FC\|Western United]] \| 0 \| – \| 0 \| – \| 0 \| 2 \|- \| [[Macarthur FC]] \| 0 \| – \| 0 \| – \| 0 \| 1 \|} ==Records== {{main\|A-League all-time records}} [[File:Berisha Victory Training May 2015.jpg\|thumb\|[[Besart Berisha]] is the leading A-League goalscorer, scoring his 100th A-League goal in April 2017.]] [[Brisbane Roar FC\|Brisbane Roar]] hold the record for the longest unbeaten run in the competition with 36 league matches without defeat.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=Roar record to stand for a while\|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/archive/sport-old/brisbane-roar-record-to-stand-for-a-while-says-ange-postecoglou/news-story/6b27f60d49fded7ea6971715ecafa7f0\|date=2011-02-04\|website=The Courier-Mail\|language=en\|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> [[Besart Berisha]] holds the record for the greatest number of A-League goals, with 142 goals, playing for Brisbane Roar, [[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]] and [[Western United FC\|Western United]].<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.ultimatealeague.com/records.php?type=pg&season=overall\|title=Statistics: Goals (Overall) \|access-date=18 February 2013 \|publisher=ultimatealeague.com}}</ref> The A-League record for most goals in a single match is held by [[Archie Thompson]], scoring 5 goals against [[Adelaide United FC\|Adelaide United]] on 18 February 2007, during the [[2007 A-League Grand Final]]; and [[Jamie Maclaren]] who scored 5 goals against [[Melbourne Victory FC\|Melbourne Victory]] on 17 April 2021. [[Jamie Maclaren]] has scored the [[List of A-League hat-tricks\|most A-League hat-tricks]] with 6. [[Shane Smeltz]] and [[Bobô (footballer, born 1985)\|Bobô]] are the only players to have scored hat-tricks in consecutive matches.<ref>{{cite news \| url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/hat-trick-to-shane-smeltz-sees-perth-glory-knock-out-melbourne-heart/story-e6frfg8x-1226315912798 \| title=Hat-trick to Shane Smeltz sees Perth Glory knock out Melbourne Heart \| work=[[Herald Sun]] \| date=1 April 2012 \| access-date=25 April 2014 \| author=Quartermaine, Braden}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.sydneyfc.com/news/sydney-fc-smash-perth-six-end-2017\|title=Sydney FC Smash Perth For Six To End 2017\|first=Julian\|last=Baumbach\|publisher=[[Sydney FC]]\|date=30 December 2017}}</ref> [[Henrique Andrade Silva\|Henrique]] was the first, and so far only, player to score a hat-trick coming on as a substitute, for Brisbane Roar against [[Newcastle Jets FC\|Newcastle Jets]].<ref>{{cite news\|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]\|date=14 November 2014\|access-date=14 November 2014\|title=Henrique hat-trick leads Brisbane Roar to first win of A-League season over Newcastle Jets\|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-14/roar-beat-jets-for-first-a-league-victory/5893238?section=sport}}</ref> In 2015, Austrian striker [[Marc Janko]] broke the record for scoring in consecutive matches when he scored in seven games for [[Sydney FC]].<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/marc-janko-races-past-del-pieros-sydney-fc-goal-scoring-record/story-fn63e0vj-1227263840745\|title=Marc Janko races past Del Piero's Sydney FC goal-scoring record\|last=Gatt\|first=Ray\|date=15 March 2015\|newspaper=The Australian\|access-date=6 May 2019}}</ref> ==Media coverage== ===In Australia=== [[File:Newcastle-Sydney EnergyAustralia.jpg\|thumb\|[[Newcastle Jets FC\|Newcastle Jets]] against [[Sydney FC]] at [[Newcastle International Sports Centre\|Newcastle Stadium]] in 2007.]] From the start of the 2005–06 season to the 2012–13 season, television coverage of the A-League in Australia had been restricted to the [[Pay television\|subscription]]-only [[Fox Sports (Australia)\|Fox Sports]] channel, to which only 7% of Australian residents had access.<ref>{{cite press release \| url=http://www.foxtel.com.au/about-foxtel/communications/foxtel-announces-solid-growth-despite-difficult-consumer-env-140568.htm \| title=FOXTEL Announces Solid Growth Despite Difficult Consumer Environment \| publisher=Foxtel \| date=11 August 2011 \| access-date=9 January 2013}}</ref> On 19 November 2012, [[free-to-air]] Australian [[public broadcasting]] [[Television broadcasting in Australia\|television network]] [[Special Broadcasting Service\|SBS]] secured the shared rights, alongside long-time A-League broadcasters Fox Sports, to the A-League from the 2013–14 season with a [[Australian dollar\|A$]]160 million four-year broadcast deal.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Football returns to free-to-air TV on SB\|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1129433/football-returns-to-free-to-air-tv-on-sbs\|work=The World Game\|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service\|access-date=16 February 2013\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306075631/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1129433/Football-returns-to-free-to-air-TV-on-SBS\|archive-date=6 March 2013\|url-status=dead}}</ref> SBS's coverage ended in the 2016–17 season, with [[Network Ten]] securing [[free-to-air]] broadcast rights. Ten simulcasted the [[Fox Sports (Australia)\|Fox Sports]] coverage of the Saturday night fixture on its digital multichannel [[One (Australian TV channel)\|One]].<ref name="a-league1">{{cite web\|title=New TV deal for Football\|url=http://www.a-league.com.au/article/new-tv-deal-for-football/6phf6g6mrfew1m28c535u1f42\|website=Hyundai A-League\|publisher=Football Federation Australia\|access-date=2 June 2017}}</ref> From the 2019–20 season, [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation\|ABC TV]] has broadcast one game a weekend (Saturday 5pm) live on its primary channel. It also has the right to broadcast delayed coverage of some finals matches and the Grand Final.<ref name=ABCdeal>{{cite web\|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/abc-tv-becomes-free-air-broadcast-partner-hyundai-a-league-westfield-w-league-caltex-socceroos\|title=ABC TV becomes Free-to-Air Broadcast Partner of the Hyundai A-League\|work=A-League\|date=3 October 2019}}</ref> Fox Sport's contract with the A-League, which was renegotiated in June 2020 amidst the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Australia\|COVID-19 pandemic]], concluded in July 2021.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/foxtel-and-ffa-come-to-an-agreement-over-a-league-and-w-league-631926\|title=Foxtel and FFA come to an agreement over A-League and W-League\|work=mumbrella\|date=22 June 2020}}</ref> Since August 2021, as part of a five-year deal with [[ViacomCBS]], the A-Leagues are being broadcast by [[Network 10]] (one A-League Men match and one A-League Women match on free-to-air television) and [[Paramount+#Sports programming\|Paramount+ streaming service]] (all remaining games).<ref>{{cite web \| website=ABC News (Australia) \|title=A-League announces Channel 10 as new broadcast partner in five-year deal \| date=26 May 2021 \| url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-26/a-league-announces-new-broadcast-partner-channel-10/100166894 \| access-date=28 May 2021}}</ref> ===Other countries=== In New Zealand the league has been broadcast on [[Sky Sport (New Zealand)\|Sky Sport]] since its inaugural season. In the 2019–20 season, the league also broadcast on Qatari [[BeIN Sports (Australian TV channel)\|beIN Sports]] after [[Sky (New Zealand)\|Sky]] ink four-year partnership for extensive soccer coverage, especially the A-league.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/sky-nz-bein-sports-channel-champions-league-la-liga\|title=Champions League and La Liga headline Sky NZ's co-branded BeIN channel – SportsPro Media\|website=sportspromedia.com\|date=3 September 2019\|access-date=24 October 2019}}</ref> The growth of coverage of the A-League outside Australia saw the league broadcast in 65 countries around the world in 2013/14.<ref name="global broadcast">{{cite web\|title=Hyundai A-League broadcast to global audience in 2013/14\|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/hyundai-a-league-broadcast-to-global-audience-in-2013/14/76856\|publisher=footballaustralia.com.au\|access-date=10 October 2013\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106031749/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/hyundai-a-league-broadcast-to-global-audience-in-2013/14/76856\|archive-date=6 January 2014\|url-status=dead}}</ref> Full match broadcasts are available in the United States, China, Italy, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Canada, the Caribbean, Hong Kong, Singapore and Myanmar.<ref name="global broadcast" /> In addition to the full match broadcasts, highlights of A-League matches can be viewed in 53 countries throughout Asia and the Middle East, including Japan and South Korea.<ref name="global broadcast" /> In 2014, a three-season deal with [[Sony TEN]] allowed the league to be broadcast live in Asian nations including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.<ref name="Football Federation Australia">{{cite web\|title=A-League and FFA Cup's Asia TV deal \|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/ALeague-and-FFA-Cups-Asia-TV-deal/90362 \|publisher=[[Football Federation Australia]] \|access-date=12 May 2014 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512231409/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/ALeague-and-FFA-Cups-Asia-TV-deal/90362 \|archive-date=12 May 2014 }}</ref> Every A-League match is also [[Streaming media\|live streamed]] globally, allowing games to be viewed online through a subscription service provided in a partnership with the [[Football Federation Australia\|FFA]].<ref>{{cite web\|title=Watch A-League's Top Football LIVE!\|url=http://www.aleague.livesport.tv/about\|publisher=aleague.livesport.tv\|access-date=10 October 2013\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906093040/http://www.aleague.livesport.tv/about\|archive-date=6 September 2013\|url-status=dead}}</ref> All games also broadcast live in the United States on [[ESPN+]]. Most games in the United Kingdom are broadcast by [[BT Sport]] but use Fox Sports' live feed for every live game. For the 2014–15 Season, the A-League was broadcast in 173 countries.<ref name="A-League 2014/15 Season Report">{{cite web\|title=Hyundai A-League 2014/15 Season Report\|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/dct/ffa-dtc-performgroup-eu-west-1/Hyundai%20A-League%202014-15%20season%20report_1s167ph9g7tdu1dx6bsd0fcwh4.pdf\|access-date=26 November 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208020038/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/dct/ffa-dtc-performgroup-eu-west-1/Hyundai%20A-League%202014-15%20season%20report_1s167ph9g7tdu1dx6bsd0fcwh4.pdf\|archive-date=8 December 2015\|url-status=dead}}</ref> ===Promotion=== The A-League has been promoted using a number of different advertising slogans and strategies since its inception. At the start of the inaugural season, a {{A$}}3 million dollar advertising campaign was launched, with the television and film advertisements produced by [[Ridley Scott]]'s production company [[Scott Free Productions]]. The theme for the campaign was: "Football, but not as you know it". A new television advertisement was created for the start of the [[2007–08 A-League\|2007–08 season]], which debuted on Foxtel's program Total Football. It was filmed at [[Bob Jane Stadium]] in Melbourne. Other campaigns include the "90 minutes, 90 emotions", which was used for two seasons from 2007 to 2009 and was accompanied by the music track "My People" from Australian act [[The Presets]].<ref name="fourfourtwo-newad">{{cite news \| url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/58536,aleague-ad-hits-the-screens.aspx \| title=New A-League ad hits the screens \| work=[[FourFourTwo (Australia)\|Australian FourFourTwo]] \| date=9 August 2007 \| access-date=6 January 2008}}</ref> ===Current broadcasters=== Broadcasters as of the 2021–22 season are as follows:<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://keepup.com.au/our-international-broadcasters\|title=Our International Broadcasters - KEEPUP}}</ref> {\| class="wikitable" \|- !Territory !Network \|- \| rowspan="2" \| {{AUS}} \| [[Network 10]] \|- \| [[Paramount+#Sports programming\|Paramount+]] \|- \| rowspan="2" \| {{NZL}} \| [[Prime (New Zealand TV channel)\|Prime]] \|- \| [[Sky Sport (New Zealand)\|Sky Sport]] \|- \| rowspan="2" \| Pacific Islands \| [[ABC Australia (Southeast Asian TV channel)\|Australia TV]] \|- \| [[Pasifika TV]]<ref>{{cite web\|title=Cash block to Phoenix A-League licence extension \|date=27 October 2014\|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/10666528/Cash-block-to-Phoenix-A-League-licence-extension\|publisher=[[Stuff NZ]]\|access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref> \|- \| Southeast Asia \|[[BeIN Sports (Australian TV channel)\|beIN Sports]] \|- \| rowspan="2" \| International \|[[News24 (website)\|Sport24]] (in-flight and ship only) \|- \|[[YouTube]] (unsold markets only) \|- \| {{ALB}} \| rowspan="2" \| [[Tring Sport]] \|- \| {{KOS}} \|- \| {{AUT}} \| rowspan="3" \| [[Sportdigital]], [[DAZN]] \|- \| {{DEU}} \|- \| {{CHE}} \|- \| {{ARM}} \| [[Shant TV]] \|- \| Balkans \| [[Arena Sport]] \|- \| Baltic \| [[All Media]] \|- \| {{BEL}} \| rowspan="3" \| [[Eleven Sports]] \|- \| {{LUX}} \|- \| {{POL}} \|- \| {{BUL}} \| [[BNT 3]] \|- \| {{BRA}} \| [[BandSports\|Band Sports]] \|- \| {{CAN}} \| [[OneSoccer]] \|- \| Caribbean \| [[TV Monde]], [[Sports Max]] \|- \| Central Asia \| [[Setanta Sports Eurasia]] \|- \| {{CHN}} \| [[China Sports Media]] \|- \| {{CYP}} \| [[Cytavision]] \|- \| {{CZE}} \| rowspan="3" \| [[Eurosport]] \|- \| {{HUN}} \|- \| {{SVK}} \|- \| {{FIJ}} \| [[FBC TV]] \|- \| {{FRA}} \| [[Orange S.A.#Orange Sport\|Orange Sports]] \|- \| {{GEO}} \| [[Adjarasport]] \|- \| {{GRC}} \| [[Nova Sports]] \|- \| {{GRL}} \| [[DR (broadcaster)#Online\|DRT 3]] \|- \| {{HKG}} \| [[TVB]] \|- \| {{IRE}} \| rowspan="2" \| [[BT Sport]] \|- \| {{GBR}} \|- \| {{ISR}} \| [[Sports Channel (Israel)\|Sport 5]] \|- \| {{ITA}} \| [[Sportitalia]], [[DAZN]] \|- \| {{JPN}} \| [[TV Asahi]] \|- \| {{PRK}} & {{KOR}} \| [[JTBC Golf&Sports\|JTBC]] \|- \| {{MAC}} \|[[Macau Cable]] \|- \| Mexico & Central America \| [[TUDN (TV network)\|TUDN]] \|- \| Middle East & North Africa \| [[AD Sports\|Abu Dhabi Sports]] \|- \|- \| {{MNG}} \| [[Fox Sports Asia]] \|- \| {{MYA}} \| [[Sky Net]] \|- \| {{NED}} \| [[Ziggo Sport]] \|- \| {{PNG}} \| [[NBC PNG\|NBC TV]] \|- \| {{POR}} \| [[Sport TV]] \|- \| {{ROM}} & {{MLD}} \| [[Look Sport]] \|- \| {{RUS}} & {{BLR}} \|[[Match TV]] \|- \| Scandinavia \| [[V Sport\|Viasat Sport]] \|- \| {{SVN}} \| [[Šport TV (Slovenia)\|Šport TV]] \|- \| South America \| [[TyC Sports]] \|- \| South Asia \| [[Eurosport (Indian TV channel)\|DSport]] \|- \| {{ESP}} \| [[Movistar Deportes]] \|- \| Sub-Saharan Africa \| [[SuperSport (South African TV channel)\|SuperSport]], [[Canal+ Sport (France)\|Canal+ Sport]] \|- \| {{TWN}} \| [[Sportcast]] \|- \| {{TUR}} & {{AZE}} \| [[Türk Telekom\|Tivibu]] \|- \| {{UKR}} \| [[Volia TV]] \|- \| {{USA}} \| \|- \| {{VIE}} \| [[VieON]] \|} ==Logos== <gallery> File:Hyundai A-League logo (2004–2017).svg\|The original Hyundai A-League logo (in use from 2004 to 2017) File:Hyundai A-League logo (2017–2020).svg\|Hyundai A-League logo (in use from 2017 to 2020) File:Isuzu_UTE_A-League_Men.svg\|Current ISUZU Ute A-League Men logo (in use from 2021) </gallery> ==See also== {{Portal\|Australia\|soccer}} [[A-League Women]] [[A-League Youth]] [[E-League (Australia)\|E-League]] [[List of A-League head coaches]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{commons category}} * {{official website}} {{AFC Leagues}} {{A-League}} {{Soccer in Australia}} {{Sports leagues of Australia}} [[Category:A-League Men\| ]] [[Category:2004 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Football Federation Australia]] [[Category:Fox Sports (Australian TV network)]] [[Category:Multi-national professional sports leagues]] [[Category:Professional sports leagues in Australia]] [[Category:Silver Lake (investment firm) companies]] [[Category:Soccer leagues in Australia\|1]] [[Category:Sports leagues established in 2004]] [[Category:Summer association football leagues]] [[Category:Top level football leagues in Asia\|Australia]]'
Unified diff of changes made by edit (`edit_diff`)	'@@ -35,11 +35,10 @@ }} -'''A-League Men''' (known as the '''Isuzu UTE A-League''' for sponsorship reasons) is the highest-level [[professionalism in association football\|professional]] men's [[association football\|soccer]] league in Australia and New Zealand. At the top of the [[Australian soccer league system\|Australian league system]], it is the country's primary men's competition for the sport. A-League Men was established in 2004 as the '''A-League''' by the [[Football Australia\|Football Federation Australia]] (FFA) as a successor to the [[National Soccer League]] (NSL) and competition commenced in August 2005. The [[sports league\|league]] is currently contested by twelve teams; eleven based in Australia and one based in New Zealand. The men's, [[A-League Women\|women's]] and [[A-League Youth\|youth]] leagues brought together under a unified '''A-Leagues''' banner.<ref>[https://www.a-league.com.au/news/a-leagues-reveal-a-new-identity-australian-football Official site] on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.</ref> +🎶 Nandos City, we've won it again 🎶 -Seasons run from October to May and include a 26-round [[Season (sports)#Regular season\|regular season]] followed by a Finals Series [[playoffs\|playoff]] involving the six highest-placed teams, culminating in a [[grand final]] match. The winner of the regular season tournament is dubbed the 'Premier' while the winner of the grand final is the season's 'Champion'. This differs from the other major football codes in Australia, where 'premier' refers to the winner of the grand final and the winner of the regular season is the '[[Minor premiership\|minor premier]]'. -Successful A-League Men clubs gain qualification into the Asian continental club competition, the [[AFC Champions League\|Asian Football Confederation Champions League]] (ACL), also known as the "AFC Champions League". In [[2014 AFC Champions League\|2014]], the [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC\|Western Sydney Wanderers]] became the first and only winning Australian club. Similar to the United States and Canada's [[Major League Soccer]], as well as other professional sports leagues in Australia, A-League Men does not practice [[promotion and relegation]]. +'''Josep''' "'''Pep'''" '''Guardiola Sala''' (<small>Catalan pronunciation:</small> [[Help:IPA/Catalan\|[ʒuˈzɛb ɡwəɾðiˈɔlə]]]; born 18 January 1971) is a Spanish professional [[Association football\|football]] [[Manager (association football)\|manager]] and former player, who is the current manager of [[Premier League]] club [[Manchester City F.C.\|Manchester City]]. He is often considered to be one of the greatest managers of all time and holds the records for the most consecutive league games won in [[La Liga]], the [[Bundesliga]] and the Premier League. -Since the league's [[2005–06 A-League\|inaugural season]], a total of seven clubs have been crowned A-League Premiers and six clubs have been crowned A-League Champions. The current premier is [[Melbourne City FC]], who finished first in the [[2020–21 A-League]]. The current champions are [[Melbourne City FC]], who won the [[2021 A-League Grand Final]] and their first championship. +Guardiola was a [[defensive midfielder]] who usually played in a [[Playmaker#Deep-lying%20playmakers\|deep-lying playmaker]]'s role. He spent the majority of his career with [[FC Barcelona\|Barcelona]], forming a part of [[Johan Cruyff]]'s ''[[FC Barcelona#Dream%20Team\|Dream Team]]'' that won the club's first [[European Cup]] in 1992, and four successive [[List of Spanish football champions\|Spanish league titles]] from 1991 to 1994. He captained the team from 1997 until his departure from the club in 2001. Guardiola then had stints with [[Brescia Calcio\|Brescia]] and [[A.S. Roma\|Roma]] in Italy, [[Al-Ahli (Doha)\|Al-Ahli]] in Qatar, and [[Dorados de Sinaloa]] in Mexico. He was capped 47 times for the [[Spain national football team\|Spanish national team]] and appeared at the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]], as well as at [[UEFA Euro 2000]]. He also played friendly matches for [[Catalonia national football team\|Catalonia]]. ==History== '
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Lines added in edit (`added_lines`)	[ 0 => '🎶 Nandos City, we've won it again 🎶 ', 1 => ''''Josep''' "'''Pep'''" '''Guardiola Sala''' (<small>Catalan pronunciation:</small> [[Help:IPA/Catalan\|[ʒuˈzɛb ɡwəɾðiˈɔlə]]]; born 18 January 1971) is a Spanish professional [[Association football\|football]] [[Manager (association football)\|manager]] and former player, who is the current manager of [[Premier League]] club [[Manchester City F.C.\|Manchester City]]. He is often considered to be one of the greatest managers of all time and holds the records for the most consecutive league games won in [[La Liga]], the [[Bundesliga]] and the Premier League.', 2 => 'Guardiola was a [[defensive midfielder]] who usually played in a [[Playmaker#Deep-lying%20playmakers\|deep-lying playmaker]]'s role. He spent the majority of his career with [[FC Barcelona\|Barcelona]], forming a part of [[Johan Cruyff]]'s ''[[FC Barcelona#Dream%20Team\|Dream Team]]'' that won the club's first [[European Cup]] in 1992, and four successive [[List of Spanish football champions\|Spanish league titles]] from 1991 to 1994. He captained the team from 1997 until his departure from the club in 2001. Guardiola then had stints with [[Brescia Calcio\|Brescia]] and [[A.S. Roma\|Roma]] in Italy, [[Al-Ahli (Doha)\|Al-Ahli]] in Qatar, and [[Dorados de Sinaloa]] in Mexico. He was capped 47 times for the [[Spain national football team\|Spanish national team]] and appeared at the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]], as well as at [[UEFA Euro 2000]]. He also played friendly matches for [[Catalonia national football team\|Catalonia]].' ]
Lines removed in edit (`removed_lines`)	[ 0 => ''''A-League Men''' (known as the '''Isuzu UTE A-League''' for sponsorship reasons) is the highest-level [[professionalism in association football\|professional]] men's [[association football\|soccer]] league in Australia and New Zealand. At the top of the [[Australian soccer league system\|Australian league system]], it is the country's primary men's competition for the sport. A-League Men was established in 2004 as the '''A-League''' by the [[Football Australia\|Football Federation Australia]] (FFA) as a successor to the [[National Soccer League]] (NSL) and competition commenced in August 2005. The [[sports league\|league]] is currently contested by twelve teams; eleven based in Australia and one based in New Zealand. The men's, [[A-League Women\|women's]] and [[A-League Youth\|youth]] leagues brought together under a unified '''A-Leagues''' banner.<ref>[https://www.a-league.com.au/news/a-leagues-reveal-a-new-identity-australian-football Official site] on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.</ref>', 1 => 'Seasons run from October to May and include a 26-round [[Season (sports)#Regular season\|regular season]] followed by a Finals Series [[playoffs\|playoff]] involving the six highest-placed teams, culminating in a [[grand final]] match. The winner of the regular season tournament is dubbed the 'Premier' while the winner of the grand final is the season's 'Champion'. This differs from the other major football codes in Australia, where 'premier' refers to the winner of the grand final and the winner of the regular season is the '[[Minor premiership\|minor premier]]'.', 2 => 'Successful A-League Men clubs gain qualification into the Asian continental club competition, the [[AFC Champions League\|Asian Football Confederation Champions League]] (ACL), also known as the "AFC Champions League". In [[2014 AFC Champions League\|2014]], the [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC\|Western Sydney Wanderers]] became the first and only winning Australian club. Similar to the United States and Canada's [[Major League Soccer]], as well as other professional sports leagues in Australia, A-League Men does not practice [[promotion and relegation]].', 3 => 'Since the league's [[2005–06 A-League\|inaugural season]], a total of seven clubs have been crowned A-League Premiers and six clubs have been crowned A-League Champions. The current premier is [[Melbourne City FC]], who finished first in the [[2020–21 A-League]]. The current champions are [[Melbourne City FC]], who won the [[2021 A-League Grand Final]] and their first championship.' ]
All external links added in the edit (`added_links`)	[]
All external links removed in the edit (`removed_links`)	[ 0 => 'https://www.a-league.com.au/news/a-leagues-reveal-a-new-identity-australian-football' ]
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Whether or not the change was made through a Tor exit node (`tor_exit_node`)	false
Unix timestamp of change (`timestamp`)	1645566518

 }}
+🎶 Nandos City, we've won it again 🎶
-'''A-League Men''' (known as the '''Isuzu UTE A-League''' for sponsorship reasons) is the highest-level [[professionalism in association football|professional]] men's [[association football|soccer]] league in Australia and New Zealand. At the top of the [[Australian soccer league system|Australian league system]], it is the country's primary men's competition for the sport. A-League Men was established in 2004 as the '''A-League''' by the [[Football Australia|Football Federation Australia]] (FFA) as a successor to the [[National Soccer League]] (NSL) and competition commenced in August 2005. The [[sports league|league]] is currently contested by twelve teams; eleven based in Australia and one based in New Zealand. The men's, [[A-League Women|women's]] and [[A-League Youth|youth]] leagues brought together under a unified '''A-Leagues''' banner.<ref>[https://www.a-league.com.au/news/a-leagues-reveal-a-new-identity-australian-football Official site] on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.</ref>
-Seasons run from October to May and include a 26-round [[Season (sports)#Regular season|regular season]] followed by a Finals Series [[playoffs|playoff]] involving the six highest-placed teams, culminating in a [[grand final]] match. The winner of the regular season tournament is dubbed the 'Premier' while the winner of the grand final is the season's 'Champion'. This differs from the other major football codes in Australia, where 'premier' refers to the winner of the grand final and the winner of the regular season is the '[[Minor premiership|minor premier]]'.
+'''Josep''' "'''Pep'''" '''Guardiola Sala''' (<small>Catalan pronunciation:</small> [[Help:IPA/Catalan|[ʒuˈzɛb ɡwəɾðiˈɔlə]]]; born 18 January 1971) is a Spanish professional [[Association football|football]] [[Manager (association football)|manager]] and former player, who is the current manager of [[Premier League]] club [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]. He is often considered to be one of the greatest managers of all time and holds the records for the most consecutive league games won in [[La Liga]], the [[Bundesliga]] and the Premier League.
-Successful A-League Men clubs gain qualification into the Asian continental club competition, the [[AFC Champions League|Asian Football Confederation Champions League]] (ACL), also known as the "AFC Champions League". In [[2014 AFC Champions League|2014]], the [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC|Western Sydney Wanderers]] became the first and only winning Australian club. Similar to the United States and Canada's [[Major League Soccer]], as well as other professional sports leagues in Australia, A-League Men does not practice [[promotion and relegation]].
+Guardiola was a [[defensive midfielder]] who usually played in a [[Playmaker#Deep-lying%20playmakers|deep-lying playmaker]]'s role. He spent the majority of his career with [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]], forming a part of [[Johan Cruyff]]'s ''[[FC Barcelona#Dream%20Team|Dream Team]]'' that won the club's first [[European Cup]] in 1992, and four successive [[List of Spanish football champions|Spanish league titles]] from 1991 to 1994. He captained the team from 1997 until his departure from the club in 2001. Guardiola then had stints with [[Brescia Calcio|Brescia]] and [[A.S. Roma|Roma]] in Italy, [[Al-Ahli (Doha)|Al-Ahli]] in Qatar, and [[Dorados de Sinaloa]] in Mexico. He was capped 47 times for the [[Spain national football team|Spanish national team]] and appeared at the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]], as well as at [[UEFA Euro 2000]]. He also played friendly matches for [[Catalonia national football team|Catalonia]].
-Since the league's [[2005–06 A-League|inaugural season]], a total of seven clubs have been crowned A-League Premiers and six clubs have been crowned A-League Champions. The current premier is [[Melbourne City FC]], who finished first in the [[2020–21 A-League]]. The current champions are [[Melbourne City FC]], who won the [[2021 A-League Grand Final]] and their first championship.
 ==History==