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2020–21 A-League

Melbourne Rectangular Stadium interior

The 2020–21 A-League was the 44th season of national level soccer in Australia, and the 16th since the establishment of the A-League in 2004. The season was started on 28 December 2020 and concluded with the Grand Final on 27 June 2021.[3] The start of the season was later than previous seasons as a result of both the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and New Zealand, and as part of a gradual shift to move the competition from summer to winter.[4] Wellington Phoenix played the majority of their home matches at Wollongong Showground in Wollongong due to international travel restrictions.[5]

Sydney FC were the defending champions and premiers, having won their record fifth and fourth titles respectively the previous season. Melbourne City won their first premiership and championship title, leaving Sydney FC in second on both.

Clubs

Adelaide United
Brisbane Roar
Central Coast Mariners
Macarthur FC
Melbourne City
Melbourne Victory
Newcastle Jets
Perth Glory
Sydney FC
Wellington Phoenix
Western United
Western Sydney Wanderers

There were 12 clubs participating in this season. Macarthur FC made their A-League debut this season.[6]

Personnel and kits

  • ^
    Away kit.

    • Managerial changes

    1. ^ The stadium will be undergoing construction during the season, which will reduce the stadium's capacity to around 26,000.[7][8] The stadium will have a capacity of 40,000 once construction is complete.[9]
    2. ^ Deans was initially appointed as interim coach, but the move was made permanent on 10 February 2021.[53]

    Foreign players

    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);[57]
    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

    Transfers

    Regular season

    The regular season commenced on 28 December 2020 and ended on 10 June 2021.

    League table

    Source: A-Leagues
    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.
    (C) Champions
    Notes:
    1. ^ a b c The top two teams entered the finals series at the semi-finals, while the teams ranked third to sixth entered the finals series at the elimination-finals.
    2. ^ Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for Asian Football Confederation competitions as they are based in New Zealand, which is under the Oceania Football Confederation.
    3. ^ The top 8 teams qualified for the round of 32, while the bottom four teams participated in a playoff round.[84]
    4. ^ Qualified as the 2021 FFA Cup winners.

    Fixtures and results

    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.

    Finals series

    Elimination-finals

    Semi-finals

    Grand Final

    AAMI Park, Melbourne
    Attendance: 14,017
    Referee: Chris Beath

    Statistics

    Top scorers

    Including Finals matches[85]

    Hat-tricks

    Awards

    Annual awards

    The following end of the season awards were announced at the 2020–21 Dolan Warren Awards night on 23 June 2021.[90]

    Team of the season

    See also

    References

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    2. ^ "Attendance Statistics 2020-21". Ultimate A-League. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
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    4. ^ "A-League set for winter switch after securing new Fox Sports deal". The Sydney Morning Herald. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
    5. ^ Hewett, William (24 November 2020). "Football: Wellington Phoenix based in Wollongong for A-League season". Newshub.
    6. ^ "Revealed: Two teams to join expanded Hyundai A-League". A-League. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
    7. ^ "More fans to enjoy live football as Geelong's GMHBA Stadium increases capacity limits". Western United. 5 November 2021.
    8. ^ "Cats keep nine at GMHBA". K Rock Football. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
    9. ^ "GMHBA Stadium". Austadiums.
    10. ^ "United announce club-record Global Technical Partnership with UCAN and unveil new home kit". Adelaide United. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
    11. ^ "Reds announce Flinders University as new Premier Partner". Adelaide United. A-League. 10 October 2019.
    12. ^ "United announce Australian Outdoor Living as Platinum Partner". Adelaide United. 29 September 2020.
    13. ^ "Brisbane Roar and Umbro announce long-term partnership". Brisbane Roar. 15 August 2014. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
    14. ^ "Brisbane Roar FC launch five kits for 2019/20". A-League. 15 September 2019.
    15. ^ "Brisbane Roar & ActronAir to Roar for Two More". Brisbane Roar. 18 July 2020.
    16. ^ Herd, Emma (20 September 2019). "Central Coast Mariners' new A-League strip a tribute to the past". The Daily Telegraph.
    17. ^ "Mariners release new Umbro playing kits for 20/21". Central Coast Mariners. 3 December 2020.
    18. ^ "Central Coast Mariners launch new Umbro playing kit". A-League. 20 September 2019.
    19. ^ "MATE continues sponsorship of the Central Coast Mariners". MATE. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
    20. ^ "Macarthur FC Lock In Italian Sportwear Giant Macron with Long-term Apparel and Retail Partnership Deal". Macarthur FC. 29 July 2020.
    21. ^ "$15m in corporate support sets solid foundations for Macarthur FC". A-League. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
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    27. ^ "Newcastle Jets announces new partnership with Apelle". Newcastle Jets. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
    28. ^ "A Show of Commitment". Newcastle Jets. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
    29. ^ Morgan, Gareth (15 January 2021). "Glory confirms four-year extension to Macron partnership". Perth Glory.
    30. ^ Morgan, Gareth (30 June 2020). "BHP to continue as club's principal partner for 2020/21 season". Perth Glory. A-League.
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    32. ^ "Sydney FC To Remain In Champions Kit". Sydney FC. 8 October 2020.
    33. ^ "Sydney FC & The Star Sydney Sign Four Year Deal". Sydney FC. 8 October 2019.
    34. ^ "Wellington Phoenix Announce Paladin New Zealand As New Strip Partner". Wellington Phoenix. 5 August 2019.
    35. ^ "Wellington Phoenix Announce KPMG as Principal Partner". Wellington Phoenix. 24 December 2020.
    36. ^ "Wellington Phoenix Announce MCR as Principal Sponsor". Wellington Phoenix. 5 April 2021.
    37. ^ "Wanderers announce three-year partnership with Kappa Australia". Western Sydney Wanderers. 17 September 2020.
    38. ^ "Voltaren sign on as Wanderers Co-Major". Western Sydney Wanderers. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
    39. ^ "Wanderers x JD Sports: A Co-Major Partnership Continued". Western Sydney Wanderers. 24 September 2020.
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    44. ^ Lynch, Michael (24 August 2020). "Grant Brebner named new coach of Melbourne Victory". The Age.
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    51. ^ "Wanderers announce Carl Robinson as head coach". Western Sydney Wanderers. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
    52. ^ "A-League: Carl Robinson and Kenny Miller depart". Newcastle Jets. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
    53. ^ Gardiner, James (10 February 2021). "A-League: Wait over after Craig Deans installed as Newcastle Jets head coach". The Newcastle Herald.
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    55. ^ Lynch, Michael (17 April 2021). "Brebner out after Victory's 7-0 humiliation against Melbourne City". The Sydney Morning Herald.
    56. ^ "Steve Kean confirmed as interim Head Coach". Melbourne Victory. 19 April 2021.
    57. ^ "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.
    58. ^ Monteverde, Marco (1 December 2020). "A-League: Reds proudly go local in appointing Stefan Mauk as their new captain". news.com.au.
    59. ^ Filosi, Gianluca (1 December 2020). "Mauk proud to be Reds' new Captain". Adelaide United.
    60. ^ Jackson, Ed (1 October 2019). "Roar name A-League recruit Aldred captain". The Newcastle Herald.
    61. ^ Bossi, Dominic (7 July 2017). "Central Coast Mariners set to sign Daniel De Silva from Serie A giants AS Roma". The Sydney Morning Herald.
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    64. ^ Bossi, Dominic (30 July 2020). "Former Socceroos captain signs marquee deal with Macarthur". The Sydney Morning Herald.
    65. ^ Monteverde, Marco (23 October 2020). "A-League: Former Socceroos skipper Mark Milligan named as inaugural captain of new club Macarthur". news.com.au.
    66. ^ 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
    67. ^ "Melbourne City FC announces Scott Jamieson as Captain". Melbourne City. 13 October 2018.
    68. ^ "'Really special': Socceroo confirms Victory return". Herald Sun. 23 July 2019. Kruse to fill the second and final designated player...
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    76. ^ Morgan, Gareth (17 October 2018). "Castro confirmed as Glory skipper". Perth Glory. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
    77. ^ Morgan, Gareth (8 January 2021). "Glory A-League squad confirmed". Perth Glory. ...while Diego Castro and Neil Kilkenny have been named captain and vice-captain respectively.
    78. ^ "Wilkinson to captain Sydney FC". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Service. 18 July 2019.
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    86. ^ Rugari, Vince (12 February 2021). "Gold standard: Derbyshire nets hat-trick as Bulls trample Adelaide in first home win". The Sydney Morning Herald.
    87. ^ Reed, Sarah (19 February 2021). "Tomi Juric converts three penalty kicks to help Adelaide United come from behind to win 3-2 over Central Coast Mariners". ABC.
    88. ^ D’Urbano, Nick (17 April 2021). "A-League giants humiliated as star bags FIVE in historic derby belting". Fox Sports Australia.
    89. ^ Garb, Daniel (16 May 2021). "Andy Keogh scores four as Perth Glory thrash Western Sydney Wanderers". The Australian.
    90. ^ Monteverde, Marco (23 June 2021). "A-League: Milos Ninkovic and Ulises Davila share Johnny Warren medal honours". The Australian.