2010–11 Adelaide United FC season
Introduction The '''2010–11 Adelaide United FC season''' was the club's sixth A-League season. It includes the 2010–11 A-League season as well as any other competitions of the 2010–11 football season, including the 2010 AFC Champions League. Adelaide United competed in the continental competition for its third time, making the club the most successful Australian club in Asia.
Overview For the first time in the club's history, the Adelaide United will be managed by an international manager in Rini Coolen, moving away from the Adelaide United tradition of local coaches seen in its prior seasons.As of 9 September 2010, Adelaide United has made Australian football history by becoming the first team to climb from the bottom of the table to the top, whilst the 2009–10 premiers and champions, Sydney FC, remain rooted at the bottom. Adelaide United also claimed the record for longest undefeated streak in A-League history with their win over Wellington Phoenix in Week 11 of the league, consisting of thirteen games stretching back to the penultimate round of the 2009–10 A-League season. This surpasses Central Coast Mariners's previous record of twelve games undefeated set back in the 2005–06 A-League season. Unfortunately for Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar surpassed this newly set record, when the Roar comprehensively won their Week 16 fixture against Central Coast Mariners at Bluetongue Stadium.Following 18 months under Football Federation Australia (FFA) financial administration, it was announced on 8 November 2010 that a South Australian consortium had taken over ownership of the club with a ten-year licence. New co-owner Greg Griffin stepped in as Chairman of the club, whilst North Adelaide Football Club CEO, Glenn Elliott replaced Sam Ciccarello, who then took up a role at the FFA.During the January 2011 transfer window, Coolen made a move to strengthen United's squad by signing former Uruguayan youth international Francisco Usúcar, and former Dutch international Andwélé Slory. Both have signed until the end of the season and have replaced former imports Lloyd Owusu and Inseob Shin, whose contracts were mutually terminated to allow the transfers to occur early in the year. Cameron Watson was also signed on as a mainstay squad member after his injury replacement contract expired at the end of December. Iain Fyfe, arguably Adelaide's most consistent defender in the season transferred to K-League outfit Busan I'Park for an undisclosed transfer fee, where he will join up with former teammate Shin. As a replacement, Coolen brought in former Croatian youth international Dario Bodrušić to cover in defensive duties.On 9 January 2011, Adelaide broke its longest winless streak against its rival club Melbourne Victory by posting a 4–1 away win in Melbourne at AAMI Park. Adelaide United then went on to make A-League history by recording the highest winning margin in the league's history with an 8–1 win over North Queensland Fury on 21 January 2011.This also marked the first time two players from the same side scored hat-tricks in one game (Sergio van Dijk and Marcos Flores), and matched the all-time highest match aggregate score of 9 goals scored in one match.After a form slump in the second half of the season, United saw itself lose 10 of its last 19 games, but rebounded well in the final week of competition by winning 2–1 at Adelaide Oval against Melbourne Victory in front of 21,038 spectators – the club's largest crowd of the season. This ensured the club third place in overall standings at the end of the season, and hosting rights for at least the first week of the knock-out Finals series.Adelaide United went on to defeat Wellington Phoenix in the first week of the Finals under torrential rain, but succumbed to Gold Coast United in the second week and were knocked out of the competition on the back of a 2–3 home loss.=== Awards and recognition ===At the end of the season A-League Awards night, Adelaide midfielder Marcos Flores was awarded the league's most prestigious award, the Johnny Warren Medal. Striker Sergio van Dijk was awarded the league's Golden Boot award, with a total of 17 goals in the season.Club awards were also presented at the end of the season with defender Cássio awarded his second Club Champion award, edging out teammates Marcos Flores and Sergio van Dijk.
Players === Squad information ======= First Team ====* Squad list current as of 19 January 2011=== Players in / out ==='''Re-signed''' Name  Position  Duration  Contract Expiry  Notes  Robert Cornthwaite  Defender  3 years  2013   Eugene Galeković  Goalkeeper  4 years  2014   Mark Birighitti  Goalkeeper  2 years  2012   Lucas Pantelis  Midfielder  2 years  2012 '''In''' Name  Position  Moving from  Notes  Nigel Boogaard  Defender   Central Coast Mariners  - 2-year contract  Marcos Flores  Midfielder   Curicó Unido  - 2-year contract  Sergio van Dijk  Striker   Brisbane Roar  - 6-month contract for ACL- 3-year contract extension  Iain Ramsay  Midfielder   Sydney Olympic  - 1-year contract  Cameron Watson  Midfielder   Oakleigh Cannons  - Injury replacement for Barbiero- Injury replacement for D. Mullen  Joseph Keenan  Midfielder   South Melbourne  - Injury replacement for Boogaard- 4-week contract- Short-term contract extension to 15 October 2010- 6-week injury replacement contract for Leckie  Bradley Norton  Midfielder   Northcote City  - 1 year youth contract- 2-year senior contract  Francisco Usúcar  Midfielder   Central Español  - Initial 6-month contract, with an option for a 1-year extension  Andwélé Slory  Midfielder   Levski Sofia  - Guest player contract for a maximum of 10 games; including Finals. Osama Malik  Midfielder   North Queensland Fury  - Secured early release to transfer in January 2011  Dario Bodrušić  Defender   Rudeš  - Contract until end of season starting January 2011'''Out''' Name  Position  Moving to  Notes  Kristian Sarkies  Midfielder   Melbourne Heart   Michael Marrone  Defender   Melbourne Heart   Mark Rudan  Defender  ''Released''   Cristiano  Striker  ''Released''    Alemão  Defender  ''Released''    Scott Jamieson  Defender   Sydney FC   Lloyd Owusu  Striker  ''Released''  - Mutual termination of contract as of 1 January 2011  Inseob Shin  Midfielder   Busan I'Park  - Drafted into the K-League side as of 1 January 2011  Iain Fyfe  Defender   Busan I'Park  - Transferred during January transfer period- Reported transfer fee of $300,000
Player statistics === Squad stats ======= Delisted players ======= Disciplinary records ======= A-League ======== AFC Champions League ======= Scorers ======= A-League ====TotalPlayerGoals per Round  1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8     9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27  28  29  3016  Sergio van Dijk      2    2    1    1     1  1  1  1   1   2  3    8  Marcos Flores     1   1      1         1       1  3    5  Travis Dodd            1       1          1  1    14  Mathew Leckie    1   1  1  1                         Iain Fyfe   1           1   1  1                 Iain Ramsay    2       1                  1    2  Paul Reid                  1              11  Daniel Mullen     1                            Robert Cornthwaite                 1                Joseph Keenan                      1           Fabian Barbiero                          1       A goal was scored from a penalty kick  Two goals were scored from penalty kicks==== AFC Champions League ====TotalPlayerGoals per Round MD1  MD2  MD3  MD4  MD5  MD6  R16 2   Mathew Leckie  1  1         Sergio van Dijk   1      1   Robert Cornthwaite    1     11   Travis Dodd    1        Cássio    1      A goal was scored from a penalty kick  Two goals were scored from penalty kicks
Club === Coaching staff ====== Managerial Changes ===Outgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyTableIncoming managerDate of appointmentTable Aurelio VidmarPromoted to Olyroos coach & Socceroos assistant coach3 June 201010th (09–10) Rini Coolen5 July 2010Pre-season=== Attendance at home games === Round  Date  Opponent  Score     Attendance  Weekday 1   6 August 2010      Newcastle Jets  0–0  8,479  Friday 3   20 August 2010     Melbourne Heart   3–2  7,370  Friday 6   11 September 2010  Newcastle Jets  2–1  9,571  Saturday 8   24 September 2010  Perth Glory   2–0  13,310  Friday 11  22 October 2010    Wellington Phoenix   3–0  11,206  Friday 14  10 November 2010   Perth Glory   2–0  10,023  Wednesday 17  26 November 2010   Gold Coast United  2–1  12,005  Friday 19  10 December 2010   North Queensland Fury  2–0  8,786  Friday 20  17 December 2010   Melbourne Heart   1–2  10,011  Friday 23  29 December 2010   Sydney FC  2–0  16,429  Wednesday 24  2 January 2011     Brisbane Roar   0–1  14,420  Sunday 26  21 January 2011    North Queensland Fury  8–1  10,986  Friday 27  29 January 2011    Central Coast Mariners  1–2  12,109  Saturday 29  5 February 2011    Wellington Phoenix   0–1  7,498  Saturday 30  11 February 2011   Melbourne Victory   2–1  21,083  Friday
Competitions === Pre-season ====== A-League ======= Results summary ======== Results by round ======== Matches ======== Finals Series ====
References
External links *  Official website*  AFC Champions League 2010 Club Profile