2021–22 A-League Men

The 2021–22 A-League Men, known as the Isuzu UTE A-League for sponsorship reasons, is the 45th season of national level men's football in Australia, and the 17th since the establishment of the competition as the A-League in 2004.

A-League Men
Season2021–22
Dates19 November 2021 – 28 May 2022
Matches played24
Goals scored51 (2.13 per match)
Top goalscorerBeka Mikeltadze
Valentino Yuel
(3 goals each)
Biggest home winNewcastle Jets 4–0 Wellington Phoenix
(10 December 2021)
Biggest away winMelbourne Victory 0–3 Perth Glory
(5 December 2021)
Longest winning run3 matches
Macarthur FC
Western United
Longest unbeaten run4 matches
Macarthur FC
Longest winless run4 matches
Adelaide United
Brisbane Roar
Sydney FC
Longest losing run2 matches
Brisbane Roar
Central Coast Mariners
Wellington Phoenix
2022–23 →
All statistics correct as of 12 December 2021.

Melbourne City are the defending champions and premiers, having won their first titles respectively the previous season.

Clubs

Twelve clubs participate in the 2021–22 season.

Club City Home ground Capacity
Adelaide United Adelaide Coopers Stadium 16,500
Brisbane Roar Brisbane Moreton Daily Stadium 11,500
Central Coast Mariners Gosford Central Coast Stadium 20,059
Macarthur FC Sydney Campbelltown Stadium 20,000
Melbourne City Melbourne AAMI Park 30,050
Melbourne Victory Melbourne AAMI Park 30,050
Newcastle Jets Newcastle McDonald Jones Stadium 33,000
Perth Glory Perth HBF Park 20,500
Sydney FC Sydney Netstrata Jubilee Oval
Leichhardt Oval		 20,500
20,000
Wellington Phoenix Wellington
Auckland
Wollongong		 Sky Stadium
Eden Park
WIN Stadium		 34,500
50,000
23,000
Western Sydney Wanderers Sydney CommBank Stadium 30,000
Western United Geelong
Melbourne
Launceston
Ballarat		 GMHBA Stadium
AAMI Park
UTAS Stadium
Mars Stadium		 36,000
30,000
12,000
11,000

Personnel and kits
Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Kit sponsor
Adelaide United Carl Veart Stefan Mauk UCAN[1][2] Flinders University[3][2]
Australian Outdoor Living[A][4][5]
Brisbane Roar Warren Moon Tom Aldred New Balance[6] ActronAir[7]
Central Coast Mariners Nick Montgomery Oliver Bozanic Paladin Sports[8] MATE[9]
Macarthur FC Ante Milicic Ulises Dávila Macron[10] Wisdom Homes[11]
Melbourne City Patrick Kisnorbo Scott Jamieson Puma[12] Etihad Airways
Melbourne Victory Tony Popovic Joshua Brillante Macron[13] Metricon[14]
Newcastle Jets Arthur Papas Matthew Jurman VIVA[15] Port of Newcastle[15]
Ampcontrol[A][16]
Perth Glory Richard Garcia Brandon O'Neill Macron[17] BHP[18]
Sydney FC Steve Corica Alex Wilkinson Under Armour[19] The Star[20]
Wellington Phoenix Ufuk Talay Alex Rufer Paladin Sports[21] Spark[22]
Oppo[A][22]
Western Sydney Wanderers Carl Robinson Rhys Williams Kappa[23] Voltaren[24]
Turner Freeman Lawyers[A][25]
Western United John Aloisi Alessandro Diamanti Kappa[26] Simonds Homes[26]
  • ^
    Away kit.

    • Managerial changes
    Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position on table Incoming manager Date of appointment
    Melbourne Victory Steve Kean (caretaker) End of contract 10 June 2021 Pre-season Tony Popovic 22 April 2021[27]
    Newcastle Jets Craig Deans Resigned[28] 3 June 2021 Arthur Papas 28 June 2021[29]
    Western United Mark Rudan Sacked[30] 8 June 2021 John Aloisi 15 July 2021[31]
    Central Coast Mariners Alen Stajcic Resigned[32] 17 June 2021 Nick Montgomery 2 July 2021[33]

    Foreign players
    Club Visa 1 Visa 2 Visa 3 Visa 4 Visa 5 Non-visa foreigner(s) Former player(s)
    Adelaide United Michael Jakobsen Javi López Juande Isaías1
    Brisbane Roar Juan Lescano Matti Steinmann Jay O'Shea Tom Aldred Aidan Munford2
    Central Coast Mariners Moresche Marco Ureña Beni Nkololo Nicolai Müller Cy Goddard Dan Hall2
    Storm Roux2
    Macarthur FC Jordon Mutch Craig Noone Adrian Mariappa Ulises Dávila Filip Kurto Antonis Martis2
    Melbourne City Florin Berenguer Manuel Pucciarelli Nuno Reis Stefan Colakovski2
    Melbourne Victory Ivan Kelava Francesco Margiotta Marco Rojas Roderick Miranda Rai Marchán
    Newcastle Jets Daniel Penha Olivier Boumal Beka Mikeltadze Savvas Siatravanis Mario Arqués Dane Ingham2
    Valentino Yuel2
    Perth Glory Darryl Lachman Daniel Sturridge Kosuke Ota Adrián Sardinero Bruno Fornaroli Andy Keogh1
    Sydney FC Bobô Adam Le Fondre Kosta Barbarouses Miloš Ninković Elvis Kamsoba2
    Wellington Phoenix Gary Hooper David Ball Matthew Bozinovski2
    Western Sydney Wanderers Jack Rodwell Tomer Hemed Keijiro Ogawa Ziggy Gordon Tomás Mejías Adama Traoré1
    Western United Alessandro Diamanti Tomoki Imai Aleksandar Prijović Rene Krhin Léo Lacroix Jamie Young2

    The following do not fill a Visa position:
    1Those players who were born and started their professional career abroad but have since gained Australian citizenship (or New Zealand citizenship, in the case of Wellington Phoenix);[34]
    2Australian citizens (or New Zealand citizens, in the case of Wellington Phoenix) who have chosen to represent another national team;
    3Injury replacement players, or National team replacement players;
    4Guest players (eligible to play a maximum of fourteen games)

    Salary cap exemptions and captains
    Club First Marquee Second Marquee Captain Vice-captain
    Adelaide United None None Stefan Mauk[35] Ben Halloran[36]
    Brisbane Roar None None Tom Aldred[37] None
    Central Coast Mariners None None Oliver Bozanic[38] None
    Macarthur FC None None Ulises Dávila[39] None
    Melbourne City Jamie Maclaren[40] None Scott Jamieson[41] None
    Melbourne Victory Marco Rojas[42] Chris Ikonomidis[42] Joshua Brillante[43] Leigh Broxham
    Roderick Miranda
    Newcastle Jets None None Matthew Jurman[44] None
    Perth Glory Daniel Sturridge[45] Bruno Fornaroli[46] Brandon O'Neill[47] None
    Sydney FC None None Alex Wilkinson[48] None
    Wellington Phoenix None None Alex Rufer[49] Oliver Sail[49]
    Western Sydney Wanderers None None Rhys Williams[50] None
    Western United Alessandro Diamanti[51] None Alessandro Diamanti[52] Josh Risdon[52]

    Transfers
    Further information: A-League Men transfers for 2021–22 season

    Regular season

    League table
    Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
    1 Macarthur FC 4 3 1 0 5 1 +4 10 Qualification to Finals series, 2022 FFA Cup round of 32,
    and 2023 AFC Champions League group stage
    2 Melbourne Victory 4 3 0 1 6 4 +2 9 Qualification to Finals series, 2022 FFA Cup round of 32,
    and 2023 AFC Cup group stage[lower-alpha 1]
    3 Western United 4 3 0 1 3 1 +2 9 Qualification to Finals series and 2022 FFA Cup round of 32[lower-alpha 1]
    4 Melbourne City 4 2 1 1 5 4 +1 7
    5 Central Coast Mariners 4 2 0 2 5 4 +1 6
    6 Newcastle Jets 4 1 2 1 9 6 +3 5
    7 Western Sydney Wanderers 4 1 2 1 4 4 0 5 Qualification to 2022 FFA Cup round of 32[lower-alpha 2]
    8 Perth Glory 4 1 1 2 4 3 +1 4
    9 Wellington Phoenix[lower-alpha 3] 4 1 1 2 3 8 −5 4
    10 Adelaide United 4 0 3 1 4 5 −1 3
    11 Sydney FC 4 0 2 2 2 5 −3 2
    12 Brisbane Roar 4 0 1 3 1 6 −5 1
    Updated to match(es) played on 12 December 2021. Source: A-League Men
    Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Least red cards; 5) Least yellow cards; 6) Toss of a coin in an event of a tie of two clubs.
    Notes:
    1. The top two teams enter the Finals series at the semi-finals, while the teams ranked third to sixth enter the Finals series at the elimination-finals.
    2. The top 8 teams qualify for the round of 32, while the bottom four teams participate in a playoff round.[53]
    3. Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for Asian Football Confederation competitions as they come from New Zealand, which is under the Oceania Football Confederation.

    Fixtures and results
    Home \ Away ADE BRI CCM MAC MCY MVC NEW PER SYD WEL WSW WUN ADE BRI CCM MAC MCY MVC NEW PER SYD WEL WSW WUN
    Adelaide United 30 Apr '22 26 Feb '22 8 Apr '22 2–2 1–2 11 Mar '22 23 Dec '21 4 Feb '22 1 Jan '22 19 Jan '22 23 Apr '22 15 Jan '22 2 Apr '22
    Brisbane Roar 0–0 9 Jan '22 13 Feb '22 27 Dec '21 25 Feb '22 3 Apr '22 18 Dec '21 25 Apr '22 12 Mar '22 29 Jan '22 26 Mar '22 TBD 6 Apr '22
    Central Coast Mariners 26 Mar '22 5 Mar '22 31 Dec '21 6 Apr '22 TBD 15 Jan '22 13 Feb '22 2–0 27 Dec '21 18 Dec '21 30 Apr '22 19 Mar '22 9 Apr '22
    Macarthur 19 Feb '22 15 Apr '22 1–0 26 Mar '22 23 Apr '22 19 Dec '21 5 Jan '22 26 Dec '21 1–1 TBD 14 Jan '22 1 May '22 13 Mar '22
    Melbourne City 5 Jan '22 2–1 9 Jan '22 9 Jan '22 18 Dec '21 18 Feb '22 1–0 TBD 1 Apr '22 22 Dec '21 0–1 12 Mar '22 6 Apr '22
    Melbourne Victory 8 Jan '22 3–0 19 Feb '22 4 Mar '22 9 Apr '22 12 Feb '22 0–3 26 Jan '22 29 Apr '22 27 Mar '22 26 Dec '21 2 Jan '22 5 Feb '22
    Newcastle Jets 30 Jan '22 5 Feb '22 1–2 26 Feb '22 1 Jan '22 16 Apr '22 10 Apr '22 25 Mar '22 4–0 26 Dec '21 19 Jan '22 23 Apr '22 18 Mar '22
    Perth Glory 1–1 18 Feb '22 12 Mar '22 28 Jan '22 22 Feb '22 6 Apr '22 TBD 30 Apr '22 15 Jan '22 2 Apr '22 26 Feb '22 5 Mar '22 19 Mar '22
    Sydney 19 Apr '22 15 Jan '22 30 Jan '22 0–1 26 Feb '22 19 Mar '22 2–2 2 Jan '22 19 Dec '21 16 Apr '22 12 Feb '22 2 Apr '22 12 Mar '22
    Wellington Phoenix 12 Feb '22 5 Jan '22 2–1 6 Feb '22 6 Mar '22 29 Jan '22 8 Jan '22 26 Mar '22 19 Feb '22 0–2 9 Apr '22 16 Apr '22 24 Apr '22
    Western Sydney Wanderers 20 Mar '22 9 Apr '22 5 Feb '22 0–2 11 Feb '22 16 Jan '22 2–2 8 Jan '22 0–0 27 Feb '22 1 Jan '22 20 Apr '22 5 Mar '22
    Western United 17 Dec '21 1–0 2 Apr '22 19 Apr '22 29 Jan '22 0–1 5 Mar '22 1–0 7 Jan '22 TBD 20 Feb '22 19 Mar '22 16 Apr '22
    Updated to match(es) played on 12 December 2021. Source: A-League
    Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
    For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

    Positions by round
    Leader and qualification to AFC Champions League group stage, Finals series, FFA Cup round of 32
    Qualification to AFC Cup group stage, Finals series, FFA Cup round of 32
    Qualification to Finals series, FFA Cup round of 32
    Qualification to FFA Cup round of 32
    Updated to match(es) played on 5 December 2021. Source: ultimatealeague.com

    Finals series

    Format

    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.[54] This season is the first in this format.

      Elimination-finals   Semi-finals   Grand Final
                                   
      3 3rd placed   1 1st placed  
      6 6th placed   Lower ranked elimination-final winner    
      (Pairings are reseeded after the first round)     Higher ranked semi-final winner
          Lower ranked semi-final winner
      4 4th placed   2 2nd placed    
      5 5th placed   Higher ranked elimination-final winner      

    Elimination-finals
    3rd placedv6th placed
    TBD
    4th placedv5th placed
    TBD

    Semi-finals

    Summary

    Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
    13–15 May 20–22 May
    13–15 May 20–22 May

    Matches

    Lowest ranked elimination-final winnerv1st placed
    TBD
    1st placedvLowest ranked elimination-final winner
    TBD
    Highest ranked elimination-final winnerv2nd placed
    TBD
    2nd placedvHighest ranked elimination-final winner
    TBD

    Grand Final
    Highest ranked semi-final winnervLowest ranked semi-final winner
    TBD

    Statistics

    Top scorers
    As of 12 December 2021, including Finals matches[55]
    RankPlayerClubGoals
    1 Beka Mikeltadze Newcastle Jets 3
    Valentino Yuel Newcastle Jets
    3 Bruno Fornaroli Perth Glory 2
    Tomer Hemed Western Sydney Wanderers
    Gary Hooper Wellington Phoenix
    Lachlan Rose Macarthur FC
    Marco Ureña Central Coast Mariners
    Dylan Wenzel-Halls Western United
    9 30 players Various 1

    Clean sheets
    As of 12 December 2021, including Finals matches[56]
    RankPlayerClubClean sheets
    1 Jamie Young Western United 3
    Filip Kurto Macarthur FC
    3 Ivan Kelava Melbourne Victory 2
    Tomás Mejías Western Sydney Wanderers
    5 Mark Birighitti Central Coast Mariners 1
    Cameron Cook Perth Glory FC
    James Delianov Adelaide United FC
    Jack Duncan Newcastle Jets
    Macklin Freke Brisbane Roar FC
    Tom Glover Melbourne City
    Andrew Redmayne Sydney FC

    See also

    References
    1. "United announce club-record Global Technical Partnership with UCAN and unveil new home kit". Adelaide United. 16 September 2020.
    2. "Reds and UCAN drop new home kit for 2021/22". Adelaide United. 13 September 2021.
    3. "Reds announce Flinders University as new Premier Partner". Adelaide United. 10 October 2019.
    4. "United announce Australian Outdoor Living as Platinum Partner". Adelaide United. 29 September 2020.
    5. "Reds and UCAN reveal eye-catching away kit for 2021/22". Adelaide United. 17 September 2021.
    6. "New Balance to Bring The Roar as new Official Apparel Partner". Brisbane Roar. 6 August 2021.
    7. "Brisbane Roar & ActronAir to Roar for Two More". Brisbane Roar. 18 July 2020.
    8. "Mariners partner with Paladin Sports as official kit supplier". Central Coast Mariners. 10 September 2021.
    9. "MATE become better "mates" with Mariners as they take on role of major sponsor for 2021/22". Central Coast Mariners. 16 September 2021.
    10. "Macarthur FC Lock In Italian Sportwear Giant Macron with Long-term Apparel and Retail Partnership Deal". Macarthur FC. 29 July 2020.
    11. "$15m in corporate support sets solid foundations for Macarthur FC". A-League. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
    12. "Manchester City replaces Nike with Puma in kit deal". BBC News. 28 February 2019.
    13. "Victory joins forces with Macron". Melbourne Victory. 30 July 2021.
    14. "Melbourne Victory extends its Principal Partnership with Metricon Homes". Melbourne Victory. 15 November 2021.
    15. "Jets unveil 2021/22 playing kits, Bonded by Gold with Port of Newcastle as Major Partner". Newcastle Jets. 22 September 2021.
    16. "Ampcontrol unveiled as a Major Partner for 2021/22 A-League Men's Season". Newcastle Jets. 5 November 2021.
    17. Morgan, Gareth (15 January 2021). "Glory confirms four-year extension to Macron partnership". Perth Glory.
    18. Morgan, Gareth (2 August 2021). "BHP to remain Glory's principal partner for 2021/22 season". Perth Glory.
    19. "Sydney FC In Australian First Partnership With Under Armour". Sydney FC. 1 July 2019.
    20. "Sydney FC & The Star Sydney Sign Four Year Deal". Sydney FC. 8 October 2019.
    21. "Wellington Phoenix Announce Paladin New Zealand As New Strip Partner". Wellington Phoenix. 5 August 2019.
    22. "Wellington Phoenix Unveils New Playing Kits; Announces Spark and OPPO as Principal Sponsors". Wellington Phoenix. 21 September 2021.
    23. "Wanderers announce three-year partnership with Kappa Australia". Western Sydney Wanderers. 17 September 2020.
    24. "Voltaren sign two-year Co-Major Partnership extension". Western Sydney Wanderers. 16 September 2021.
    25. "Turner Freeman Lawyers sign Co-Major Partnership". Western Sydney Wanderers. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
    26. "Western United and Kappa drop new season kit designs for 2021/22". Western United. 17 September 2021.
    27. Colangelo, Anthony (22 April 2021). "'Hard work ahead': Popovic named Victory coach". The Age.
    28. Kerry, Craig (3 June 2021). "A-League: Craig Deans to step down as coach of Newcastle Jets". The Newcastle Herald.
    29. "Arthur Papas finally gets A-League job as tide turns on NPL coaches". FTBL. 28 June 2021.
    30. Monteverde, Marco (8 June 2021). "Mark Rudan axed following Western United's shocking run to finish season". Fox Sports.
    31. Monteverde, Marco (15 July 2021). "A-League: John Aloisi signs two-year coaching deal with Western United". News.com.au.
    32. "Uncertainty again for Mariners as Alen Stajcic quits A-League club". The Guardian. 17 June 2021.
    33. "Nick Montgomery appointed as A-League Head Coach!". Central Coast Mariners. 2 July 2021.
    34. "A-League Collective Bargaining Agreement – 2008/9 – 2012/13" (PDF). Australian Professional Footballers' Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
    35. Monteverde, Marco (1 December 2020). "A-League: Reds proudly go local in appointing Stefan Mauk as their new captain". news.com.au.
    36. Seven News Adelaide [@7NewsAdelaide] (29 October 2021). ".@AdelaideUnited vice-captain Ben Halloran is full of pride for teammate @JoshuaCavallo as the sporting world continues to embrace his decision to come out as gay. Halloran has taken on a bigger leadership role and says the team couldn't be more united" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    37. "Tom Aldred commits long-term future to Brisbane Roar". Brisbane Roar. 4 February 2021. Captain Tom Aldred has today committed his long-term future to Brisbane Roar
    38. Hull, Skaie (30 December 2020). "MARINERS NAME NEW CAPTAIN FOR F3 DERBY". NBN News.
    39. "The Bulls announce Ulises Dávila as Captain". Macarthur FC. 6 November 2021.
    40. McKay, Ben (5 February 2019). "Jamie Maclaren says the lure of playing in front of family was crucial to his decision to sign for Melbourne City". Fox Sports. signed a long-term deal that elevates him to marquee next season
    41. "Scott Jamieson re-signs for two years". Melbourne City. 2 July 2021. Melbourne City FC is delighted to announce the re-signing of Captain Scott Jamieson until the end of the 2022/23 season.
    42. "Melbourne Victory signs Chris Ikonomidis". Melbourne Victory. 21 July 2021. Ikonomidis will join Marco Rojas as the Club's second designated player for the 2021/22 season.
    43. "Melbourne Victory announces its 2021/22 Club Captains". Melbourne Victory. 15 November 2021.
    44. Newcastle Jets [@NewcastleJetsFC] (11 November 2021). "Now here's someone we can all get behind… We're pleased to announce Matt Jurman as our new @aleaguemen Captain" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    45. Morgan, Gareth (1 October 2021). "Glory in sensational swoop for former Liverpool and England star Sturridge". Perth Glory.
    46. Taylor, Nick (15 June 2021). "Marquee striker Bruno Fornaroli calls Perth Glory home for another two A-League seasons". The West Australian.
    47. Taylor, Nick (28 October 2021). "Brandon O'Neill and Natasha Rigby to lead Perth Glory into new A-League era as captains". The West Australian.
    48. "Captain Alex Wilkinson Back To Break More Records". Sydney FC. 17 July 2021.
    49. "Rufer and Sail to lead the Wellington Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 18 November 2021.
    50. "Rhys Williams named Wanderers captain". Western Sydney Wanderers. 4 November 2021.
    51. "Western United Captain Alessandro Diamanti signs two-year extension". A-League. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
    52. "Alessandro Diamanti and Josh Risdon to lead Western United this season". Western United. 10 November 2021.
    53. "FFA Cup to introduce Hyundai A-League play-off process from 2020". Football Federation Australia. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
    54. "Extra finals adds to drama for 2021/22 Isuzu UTE A-League season". A-League. 29 October 2021.
    55. "Player Statistics (Goals)". Ultimate A-League. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
    56. "Player Statistics (Clean Sheets)". Ultimate A-League. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.