Adelaide United Football Club

2003–2005: Beginnings

In August 2003, Adelaide City withdrew from the National Soccer League (NSL), leaving Adelaide with no NSL presence for the first time since the league's inception in 1977. West Adelaide had previously withdrawn from the NSL in 1999. In response, Adelaide United was created on 12 September 2003, with real estate businessman Gordon Pickard funding the new club and former Soccer Australia and FIFA executive Basil Scarsella as chairman. On 13 September, former Brisbane Strikers and Newcastle Breakers manager John Kosmina was officially announced as the manager. Within a few weeks, a team was assembled, mostly with the remnants of the Adelaide City squad to compete in the clubs inaugural season. On 17 October 2003, Adelaide United won its first NSL match against Brisbane Strikers, with a score of 1–0. After a successfulhome-and-away season, including an unbeaten seven-match streak during November and December 2003, Adelaide United reached the NSL preliminary final, ultimately losing to Perth Glory. The NSL concluded at the end of the 2003–04 season after 28 seasons, with The Reds only participating in the final season. The governing body, Australian Soccer Association (later Football Federation Australia), shut down the league in preparation for the launch of the fully professional A-League almost 12 months later, on 26 August 2005.

2005–2010: Early days in the A-League

Adelaide United was announced as one of eight teams to compete in the…

Domestic

A-League Men Championship Winners (1): 2016 Runners-up (2): 2007, 2009 A-League Men Premiership Winners (2): 2005–06, 2015–16 Runners-up (3): 2006–07, 2008–09, 2025–26 Australia Cup Winners (3): 2014, 2018, 2019 Runners-up (1): 2017 A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup Winners (2): 2006, 2007

Continental

AFC Champions League Elite Runners-up (1): 2008

Worldwide

FIFA Club World Cup Fifth–place (1): 2008

Other

The Aurelio Vidmar Club Champion (Player of the Year)