2008–09 Adelaide United FC season


The 2008–09 Adelaide United FC season was the club's fourth A-League season since the inception in the Australian football league since it first started in 2005. The club competed in the 2008–09 A-League, 2008 AFC Champions League and 2008 FIFA Club World Cup.
For the 2008–09 season, Adelaide United made some significant signings to strengthen the squad, most notably striker Cristiano from Willem II for two years on a free transfer. Another key signing to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Richie Alagich was Alemão formerly of CA Juventus. Saša Ognenovski joined the club from Queensland Roar to help shore up the defence, midfielder Paul Reid joined from Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., while promising youngsters Scott Jamieson, Daniel Mullen, Mark Birighitti and Robert Younis also signed. Bobby Petta, Shaun Ontong, Milan Susak, Dez Giraldi and Robert Bajic were all released, Bruce Djite was sold for an A-League record of A$850,000 to Genclerbirligi, whilst Nathan Burns also transferred to pursue his European dreams, joining Greek first division outfit AEK Athens for A$500,000. Kristian Sarkies, Lucas Pantelis and Fabian Barbiero all had their contracts renewed.
This season, Adelaide United passed the one millionth spectator milestone of total crowds since the inception of the A-League. They reached this achievement when their 7,052nd fan passed through the gate, for the Round 3 match against Wellington. Adelaide United are only the third A-League club to do so thus far, the other two being Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC.
The round 18 A-League match against Sydney FC at the Adelaide Oval saw $23,002 donated to the Starlight Foundation as $1 from every ticket sold for the match went to the charity.
By the end of round 27, Adelaide had drawn level for first, equalling Melbourne's 38 points on the ladder, having needed to win 2–0 against the Central Coast Mariners away to win the premiership and only securing a 1–0 win. Adelaide was pushed down to second because of goal difference. The Reds, along with Melbourne, the Queensland Roar and Central Coast, proceeded to the finals where they lost 1–0 against Melbourne Victory in the grand final at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne.
An early highlight for the season was Adelaide's run to the final of the AFC Champions League against Gamba Osaka. Because of this performance, Adelaide participated in the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup. They played in the play-off round against Waitakere United on 11 December, defeating them 2–1. The Reds' next game was played against AFC Champions League rivals, Gamba Osaka, in the quarterfinal round on 14 December in Toyota, Japan. This match, despite Adelaide's grown skill since their first meeting with ACL champions, was won by Gamba Osaka 0–1. Adelaide's last appearance in the Club World Cup was against Al Ahly, from Egypt, to determine the fifth-placed club. The match was played on 18 December, and Adelaide defeated Al-Ahly 0–1.
This season also saw the introduction of the Adelaide United W-League team and the A-League National Youth League team. Former Adelaide player Richie Alagich, along with Michael Barnett and former Socceroos Tony Vidmar and Joe Mullen joined the coaching staff of these teams.

Players

Squad information

First Team roster

Youth Team roster

Transfers

First Team

In
NamePositionMoving fromFee
Mark BirighittiGoalkeeper Australian Institute of SportFree
Saša OgnenovskiDefender Queensland RoarFree
Daniel MullenDefender Australian Institute of SportFree
Scott JamiesonDefender Bolton WanderersFree
AlemãoDefender CA JuventusFree
Paul ReidMidfielder Brighton & Hove AlbionFree
CristianoStriker Willem II TilburgFree
Robert YounisStriker APIA LeichhardtFree

Out
NamePositionMoving toFee
Robert BajicGoalkeeperReleased–
Milan SusakDefenderReleased–
Richie AlagichDefenderRetired–
Bobby PettaMidfielder Para Hills KnightsFree
Shaun OntongMidfielder Newcastle JetsFree
Bruce DjiteStriker Gençlerbirliği€500,000
Dez GiraldiStrikerReleased–
Nathan BurnsStriker AEK Athens€290,000

Youth Team

In
NamePositionMoving fromFee
Lucas AndreucciGoalkeeperSouth Australian Sports InstituteFree
Alex SunaskyDefenderAustralian Institute of SportFree
Michael DoyleDefender Adelaide GalaxyFree
Scott WeidnebachDefender Adelaide CityFree
Michael MarroneDefender Para Hills KnightsFree
Joel AllwrightMidfielder Para Hills KnightsFree
Andrew CiarlaMidfielder North Eastern MetroStarsFree
Matthew MullenMidfielderAustralian Institute of SportFree
Osama MalikMidfielder Adelaide RaidersFree
Angelo ArambatsisStriker Adelaide Blue EaglesFree
Francesco MonterossoStriker South Australian Sports InstituteFree
Shane TobiasStriker Para Hills KnightsFree

Out

Technical staff

Statistics

Squad statistics

1 – does not include own goal
* – player who competed in the ACL but not in the 2008–09 A-League season or the CWC
** – player who competed in the CWC but not in the 2008–09 A-League season or the ACL

Goal scorers

Attendance at home games

Competitions

Pre-season

A-League

League table

Matches

RoundDateHome TeamScoreAway TeamAttendanceStadium
117 August 2008Adelaide United1–0
Dodd
Perth Glory10,510Hindmarsh Stadium
224 August 2008Queensland Roar1–1
Dodd 		Adelaide United12,761Suncorp Stadium
330 August 2008Adelaide United3 -0
Pantelis
Cristiano, 		Wellington Phoenix7,832Hindmarsh Stadium
412 September 2008Melbourne Victory1–0Adelaide United24,812Telstra Dome
520 September 2008Sydney FC3–0Adelaide United12,462Sydney Football Stadium
627 September 2008Adelaide United2–0
Cristiano, 		Newcastle Jets8,111Hindmarsh Stadium
73 October 2008Adelaide United3–3
Dodd
Cornthwaite
Cristiano 		Central Coast Mariners9,074Hindmarsh Stadium
817 October 2008Queensland Roar0–1
Cornthwaite 		Adelaide United11,117Suncorp Stadium
926 October 2008Adelaide United2–1
Alemão
Dodd 		Perth Glory10,126Hindmarsh Stadium
1031 October 2008Adelaide United2–3
Dodd
Cássio 		Melbourne Victory13,191Hindmarsh Stadium
1115 November 2008Central Coast Mariners3–0Adelaide United7,865Bluetongue Stadium
1222 November 2008Adelaide United2–0
Ognenovski
Dodd 		Sydney FC9,509Hindmarsh Stadium
1330 November 2008Newcastle Jets1–1
Ognenovski 		Adelaide United7,136Energy Australia Stadium
145 December 2008Adelaide United6–1
Ognenovski
Cristiano,
Cassio,
Dodd 		Wellington Phoenix9,442Hindmarsh Stadium
156 January 2009Melbourne Victory1–0Adelaide United27,196Telstra Dome
1614 January 2009Adelaide United0–0Queensland Roar14,450Hindmarsh Stadium
1726 December 2008Perth Glory0–1
Sarkies 		Adelaide United12,581Members Equity Stadium
183 January 2009Adelaide United2–0
Cassio
Alemão 		Sydney FC23,002Adelaide Oval
199 January 2009Adelaide United2–0
Barbiero
Pantelis 		Newcastle Jets13,585Hindmarsh Stadium
2018 January 2009Wellington Phoenix1–1
Reid 		Adelaide United8,241Westpac Stadium
2125 January 2009Central Coast Mariners0–1
Cristiano 		Adelaide United12,351Bluetongue Stadium

Finals series

FIFA Club World Cup

FinalDateTeam 1ScoreTeam 2AttendanceStadium
Play-off11 December 2008Adelaide United2–1
Mullen
Dodd 		Waitakere United19,777National Stadium, Tokyo
Quarter14 December 2008Adelaide United0–1Gamba Osaka38,141Toyota Stadium, Toyota
Fifth Place18 December 2008Al Ahly0–1
Cristiano 		Adelaide United35,154International Stadium Yokohama